Ford Technician Training Gives Students Solid Practical Experience
There are certain fields that require you to be fully comfortable and have experience prior to moving into your desired position. For those who are interested in becoming Ford technicians, the first step is to be employed by a Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd. Dealership. The second step is to take a post-secondary Ford Technician training, such as the program offered at Centennial College, which, aside from Ford employment, required applicants to have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or a General Education Diploma or equivalent. If, however, an applicant is not employed but is accepted, he or she must obtain an employer and then register as a MAP apprentice with the Apprenticeship Branch of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Acceptance is based on successful completion of all entry requirements. Limited space is available in each program.
Once accepted into this Ford Technician training — officially known as the Automotive Service Technician Ford Company of Canada Limited Asset (MAP 32) Apprenticeship — students spend 32 weeks on campus and 32 weeks with their employer. Every four weeks, students alternate between the two so that they may apply what they just learned to real life situations, gain new knowledge and then take on more advanced topics.
While partaking in the on-campus aspects of Ford technician training, students gain more in-depth experience than that of a traditional apprenticeship. During this time, they obtain knowledge of the latest Ford technology, which includes electronics, transmission, engines, air conditioning, supplemental restraint systems and the diagnosing of vehicle management systems. Additionally, this program includes Ford specialties that, in the past, students had to attend Ford school to learn. Among these specialties: engines, electrical, brakes and climate control. It is worth noting that students may be eligible for employment insurance during the in-class training.
This in-school portion of the Ford technician training sees students based at Centennial College’s Ashtonbee Campus. This particular location houses all of the School of Transportation programs and its facilities make up the largest transportation training centre in the province of Ontario. As such, students practice in fully-equipped labs, on actual Ford vehicles and Ford vehicle parts that have been donated to the school.
As previously mentioned, these future Ford technicians also experience real-life scenarios prior to completion of the program, which results in an Ontario College Certificate. At the Ford dealer, they are compensated for their work, which may include duties such as: writing vehicle damage repair estimates, repairing broken or worn mechanical components, maintaining repair and service records, installing equipment, components and systems, testing vehicles both before and after repair, and repairing electrical wiring, circuits and fixtures.
