The work to get Blackhawk Technical College’s Automotive Technician program accredited began in 2021. Delayed when the Center for Transportation Studies moved to the Beloit-Janesville Campus, the accreditation work picked up again in fall 2023. Today, the tools, equipment, and curriculum are all in place and Blackhawk’s Automotive Technician program is accredited to meet the ASE Education Foundation standards.
“This accreditation demonstrates to the industry, students, and other stakeholders that we are committed to excellence and the support of our students to succeed in the real world,” Automotive Instructor John Hayes said.
ASE, or National Institute For Automotive Service Excellence, is an independent nonprofit organization that works to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals. The ASE Education Foundation is the organization that accredits educational institutions.
Accreditation process
The five-step accreditation is engineered to evaluate a school’s automotive service program—its structure, processes, resources, materials, and mission. ASE Education Foundation performs a thorough, strategic review and offers accreditation to programs that meet the requirements of the industry’s instructional standards.
Collaboration among educators, experts, students, and the community is at the core of the accreditation process. Step 1 is a review of the program standards. Step 2 requires a self-evaluation to determine if any improvements are needed for the program. For Step 3, an application is submitted to and reviewed by the ASE Education Foundation, which then determines whether the program qualifies for an on-site evaluation or if improvements are required. If the application moves forward, Step 4 is the on-site evaluation by an ASE Certified Master Technician. If the on-site evaluation goes well, the process moves to Step 5, which is the awarding of ASE Accreditation for a five-year period. Programs must complete a compliance review at the halfway point of each five-year term to remain accredited.
Benefits for students
Blackhawk currently has nearly 50 students in automotive programs. For them, the accreditation is important because they can gain ASE entry-level certification. The students can also take it to the next level by successfully completing all eight ASE automotive tests to earn the professional-level G1 certification in Auto Maintenance and Light Repair, Hayes explained. There is no extra cost for students to get the G1 certification, and they do not have to take the related exam because ASE recognizes the rigor of an accredited program.
Certified instructors
“Our automotive instructors here at Blackhawk maintain their certification just like any other technician working in the field,” Hayes said. “We re-certify every five years in order to ensure that we are keeping up with current technologies. Along with that, we do 20 hours a year–at a minimum–of technical update training.”
Find out more about Blackhawk’s Automotive Technician program