The Porsche Technology Apprenticeship Program recently marked 20 years of training men and women to become expert technicians who help ensure that customers get the best out of their vehicles.
Walt Langley, Universal Technical Institute Vice President – Industry Alliances, said that the PTAP’s success “is due to the commitment and dedication of our students, instructors and – of course – Porsche itself.”
“Just as Porsche vehicles continue to advance and evolve, we’ve adapted this apprenticeship program so our students graduate with the state-of-the-industry training necessary to succeed as Porsche technicians,” Langley told Mega Dealer News.
Since 1999, the PTAP has graduated more than 700 U.S. technicians. These alumni comprise more than one-third of the over 1,100 Porsche technicians in 191 dealerships nationwide, according to a press release.
To qualify for a PTAP interview, Langley explained, UTI students must accrue a 98 percent attendance rate and a 3.5 GPA in the institute’s core automotive program. They are also required to possess a good motor vehicle history with no more than two violations, with prior work experience in the automotive industry a plus.
“The PTAP program is paid in full by Porsche and is no cost to students who qualify, apply and are selected,” Langley said.
The program’s annual capacity is 72 students, with three locations in Georgia, Pennsylvania and California, each running two 23-week classes of 12 each year. Housing is provided for students while attending the program; students pay no rent but must remit a nominal monthly maintenance fee.
While enrolled, students are required to work a part time job of at least 20 hours. And just before commencement, they will engage in a more than 200-mile “test drive” of various Porsche models.
Langley said that the high demand for automotive technicians is caused by “more trucks and cars on the road than ever before, powered by technology that is increasingly advanced.”
“Nationwide, an estimated 120,000 openings for trained automotive and diesel technicians must be filled each year just to meet demand,” he said. “These are high-skill jobs with strong earnings, but too many young people have outdated perceptions about what it means to be a transportation technician in the 21st century. It’s imperative for all of us to break these stereotypes about a sector that literally keeps America moving.”
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