In this episode of the Partnership Pathways podcast, powered by NAPA, Doug Kaufman interviews Jake Sorensen, ASE Master Technician and shop manager at McNeil's AutoCare, in Sandy, UT, about the NAPA Autocare apprenticeship program. Jake discusses the nationwide program offered at no additional charge to NAPA Autocare shops, designed to take individuals "from little or no experience" and, in roughly two years, "build them into a technician." The competency-based program is divided into nine stages, ensuring technicians prove they've retained knowledge before advancing.

Jake shares the program's origin, stemming from his shop's struggle to find quality technicians. He explains that he was challenged by his shop’s owner, Pete McNeil to “do something about the technician shortage” their shop faced. Together, the two developed a program to leverage existing resources like NAPA's online training and local vendor reps. The program gained accreditation with the Department of Labor, offering graduates ASE certifications. NAPA recognized its potential for broader implementation and scaled it to be available to all AutoCare centers.

Jake underscores the importance of identifying suitable mentors within the shop, emphasizing that it's not about using the highest producing tech, but someone "that wants to do it right" and possesses patience. Mentors should be rewarded for their time and effort. Finally, Jake urges shops to take advantage of the NAPA program because he notes "It frustrates me to hear shop owners talk about the technician shortage but not contribute."
For more information, visit NAPAOnline.com or TomorrowsTechnician.com.  
 
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