Austin Community College (ACC) has been named the nation’s top Toyota and Lexus Technician Training and Education Network (T-TEN)-producing school.

The College received the Toyota Supra distinction for being the No. 1 T-TEN-producing school at the annual T-TEN instructor conference. Toyota also recognized ACC’s T-TEN program in several areas of student achievement:

  • A 70% or higher graduation rate for 2026
  • The number of second-year returning students is greater than 50%, plus a 90% or higher graduation rate for them for 2026
  • Students passing ASE L1 and/or L3 certification tests

The recognition highlights the Automotive Technology program’s close partnership with Toyota and 12 participating dealerships across Central Texas, as well as its approach to combining classroom instruction with hands-on dealership experience.

For ACC’s Automotive Technology faculty and staff, the recognition is a testament to the work happening every day in the program. Students gain hands-on experience, build connections with industry, and develop the skills they need to enter the automotive service field.

A Direct Path From the Classroom to the Dealership

ACC’s T-TEN program is structured around a close connection between students, the College, Toyota, and participating dealerships. The program begins with an important requirement: Students must secure employment with a partnering Toyota or Lexus dealership before entering the program.

Dealerships work with ACC to select the students who then spend eight weeks in T-TEN classes on campus, followed by eight weeks at their dealership to complete their internship requirements. While working at the dealership, students are paired with a mentor who supports their on-the-job development. This structure allows students to apply what they learn in the classroom directly to a professional automotive environment while building relationships with the dealership where they are developing their careers.

“I am especially proud of our Automotive Technology department’s Toyota T-TEN partnership because it is a program that truly delivers for students and for Toyota,” said Troy DeFrates, dean of the School of Applied Technologies. “Learners are traveling from across Central Texas to participate, knowing they will receive industry-relevant training, recognized credentials, and an opportunity for an associate degree that leads to strong career opportunities. Seeing our graduates move into well-paying, family-sustaining careers is what makes this partnership so meaningful to me.”

Building Skills Through Hands-On Training

“Having a well-balanced and skilled T-TEN team made up of two former T-TEN graduates who together have over 50 years of experience in Toyota dealerships, and a T-TEN coordinator” is one contributor to the program’s success, Kristin Land, program assistant for Automotive Technology, said. She also highlighted the active involvement of local dealerships and the equipment and vehicle resources Toyota provides.

The T-TEN program is supported by 12 Toyota and Lexus dealership partners from Waco to San Antonio. Dealerships play an active role in supporting students throughout their training by providing workplace mentors and allowing students time away from their jobs to attend classes, along with assistance with tuition and fees, tool allowances, living expenses, and wages while students are in class.

ACC’s T-TEN inventory includes 51 Toyota and Lexus vehicles, along with engines, transmissions, automotive parts, special service tools, equipment, and diagnostic technology. The total inventory is valued at approximately $2.7 million.

“The equipment and vehicle resources provided by TMNA also allow our students to learn about the latest technology and systems, making them extremely relevant to the current industry,” said Land.

Earning Industry-Recognized Credentials

Students in the program are also building industry credentials as they progress through their training. Across its first three cohorts, ACC’s T-TEN program has maintained an overall graduation rate of 76.33%, with individual cohort graduation rates ranging from 69% to 85%.

To date, ACC T-TEN students have collectively earned 195 ASE certifications across 38 students. These certifications include the ASE Automotive certification tests A1-A8, as well as advanced-level L1 and L3 certifications.

The 195 certifications include:

  • Cohort one: 62 certifications earned by 11 students who graduated in May 2024
  • Cohort two: 45 certifications earned by six students who graduated in May 2025
  • Cohort three: 62 certifications earned by 11 students who graduated in May 2026
  • Cohort four: 26 certifications earned by 10 second-year students beginning fall 2026

The program also reports a 70% ASE pass rate and a retention rate above 70%, two measures the Automotive Technology team cites as contributing to the program’s national recognition.

Toyota further supports students by paying for two ASE certification test attempts per student.

Preparing Students to Build for What’s Next

As ACC’s T-TEN program continues to grow, its partnerships with Toyota and Central Texas dealerships remain central to its success. The program enrolls a new cohort each fall, with an average class size of 16 students. 

“Our T-TEN program stands as a benchmark for student retention, academic excellence, and community impact at Austin Community College,” said Michael Shoebroek, department chair of Automotive Technology. 

National recognition provides another measure of the program’s success, but its most meaningful impact is seen in students who graduate with industry credentials, professional experience, and a pathway to careers in automotive technology.