For Immediate Release
January 22, 2020

Suffolk Partners with NY Auto Dealers Association to Foster Professional Development and Target Auto Tech Shortage

The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association joined Suffolk County Community College’s Automotive Technology Program to welcome eight high schools and their automotive technology instructors for a day of professional development with instruction in new technology, curriculum and accreditation.

"With an existing shortage of automotive technicians and the advancement of technology found on today's vehicles, the relationship between Suffolk and our local secondary schools is essential for preparing the future local automotive workforce." Said Dave Macholz, Academic Chair - Automotive Technology at Suffolk County Community College.

The institutions attending were:

· Gerald R. Claps Career and Technical Center

· William Floyd High School 

· Edward J. Milliken Tech Center & Islip Career Center –

· Nassau BOCES – Barry Tech  

· Sewanhaka High School 

· H.B. Ward Technical Center 

· Wilson Tech – Dix Hills 

· Wilson Tech – Northport 

Suffolk County Community College offers an A.A.S. degree in Automotive Technology on its Ammerman Campus in Selden. It is a certified program designed to prepare students for employment as automobile technicians and is intended for those seeking careers as employees of automotive service facilities.

Suffolk County Community College’s Automotive Technology Program is also the only program in the northeast certified to train Tesla START technicians.

Tesla START is a 12-week training program designed to provide students with the skills necessary to work at a Tesla Service Center and learn about Tesla’s unique approach to customer service. The program is currently only offered at a handful of schools throughout the US, including in California, Washington, North Carolina, Florida and now New York.

Suffolk’s other program offerings are the Honda PACT program, the Toyota T-TEN program, the General Motors ASEP program, and the General Automotive ATAC I & ATAC II programs.