Students take the Auto Service Technician Sampler Course for a variety of reasons — to find out if it might be a career option, to get a head start on apprenticeship when they’ve already made their choice, or to learn how to take care of their own vehicles.
“The students experience all different aspects of automotive services in a total of 120 hours,” said Tom Williamson, school district career coordinator.
“The more students experience all kinds of trades as career options, the more they will choose trades as a viable career. Only two in 10 students will go on to university.”
Tasks to be completed during the course include a vehicle service inspection, putting a vehicle on a hoist, doing an oil change, a vehicle diagnostic scan and removing and installing a tire on a rim and balance. The course has 15 new, extensive tool stations this year thanks to a grant from the Career Education Society/Industry Training Authority.
“We couldn’t do this program without the grant for the tools, there just wouldn’t be enough tools for all the students,” said Williamson.
The students also recognize the value of the tools.
“The new tools have helped us with efficiency so we can work faster and learn better,” said Michael Scheuerman.
The program works on engines that are donated, the students’, their families’ and teachers’ vehicles with payment made only for the parts used.
Ryan Kerr is a Grade 10 student who has decided to start an automotive service technician apprenticeship.
“It has been my dream to do this. It’s great to do the training and have it paid for. I’ve always liked working on engines and I liked taking the trades sampler in Grade 8 and general mechanics in Grade 9,” he said.
Kerr will go to Okanagan College in Kelowna in Grade 11 for the Level One Technical automotive service course and do his foundation Grade 11 courses, with dual credit for the apprenticeship towards his trade certification and high school graduation. He will do his Grade 12 foundation courses at Seaton and will get dual credit for his paid work-based part of the apprenticeship.
There are many apprenticeship programs available to students on the same model.
Students have their tuition and work experience paid while they are in high school but if they wait until graduation to start, they must pay the college tuition themselves so it is possible to save while doing the work part to go back to finish the additional technical levels and finish their education with no debt.
Even if students are not planning a career in automotive service, they like what they learn in the course.
“I want to be more knowledgeable about cars because it’s something you need to know in life,” said Manon Leger.
Williamson gives much of the credit for the program’s success at Seaton to technology education teacher Paul Elmont. Elmont trained as a mechanic in England in the 1960s and continued to build his credentials, achieving Red Seal Automotive Technician Heavy Duty and Commercial Vehicle Safety Inspection certification, among other advanced qualification. After a workplace accident took three of his fingers, he went to university to train as a teacher.
“The students get a mark in this course and they also get a sheet showing all the skills they’re competent at so they can show it when they apply for apprenticeship programs or employment,” said Elmont.
“I like seeing the change in the students as they keep learning more skills and become more confident.”
The students recognize his dedication. He has several thank you notes on his desk, one that reads, “Dear Mr. Elmont, Thank you for teaching automotive at Seaton! We appreciate you! Us.”
For more information about the apprenticeship programs e-mail Williamson at tomwilliamson@sd22.bc.ca.
