Ford’s premier automotive technician training initiative is called ASSET, or Automotive Student Service Educational Training. Since 1985, over 12,000 students have graduated from this program, and Ford works with 1,800 different Ford and Lincoln dealers and select community colleges and technical schools to maintain the program and train technicians. Ford recently announced that the program will be receiving an update, expanding to more schools and adding important lessons on electric vehicles to the curriculum.
An ASSET student studies for a two-year period. In that time, they can earn up to 100% of Ford’s Service Technician Specialty Training credentials as well as a High Voltage Systems Certification, an associate degree in Automotive Technology, and a year of work experience from a Ford or Lincoln dealership.
“The ASSET program puts these kids in the classroom and then in the stall applying it. To me, getting those two at the same time is going to give a dealer better technician retention and the student a better understanding of the information,” said Josh Fichter, General Manager of Five Star Ford in North Richland Hills, Texas.
The schools adding ASSET programs this year will be Pima Community College in Tucson, AZ, Wake Technical College in Raleigh, NC, and Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville, GA. They will include the new electric vehicle courses, such as High Voltage Systems Safety, Hybrid Vehicle Components and Operation, Battery Electric Vehicle Components and Operation, High Voltage Battery Service, and Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Operation and Diagnosis.
As an addition to the training program, Ford also provided 25 PHEV or BEV vehicles to ASSET locations to allow the students to gain more hands-on experience.
“My experience with ASSET has been great,” said Josh Lilley, an ASSET student at Five Star Ford in Dallas, Texas. “As far back as I can remember, I’ve been tinkering on my dad’s first-generation Bronco. I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone pursuing an automotive career at the dealership. It’s such a great program, especially if you don’t know anything, they’ll sit you down and help you grow those skills. I learned a lot more than I ever thought I would need or know.”
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