Centennial College's Honda Technician Training Ensures Education and Hands-on Practice

Numbers showcase the success of a car company. If you're looking for a reliable employer, consider that Honda is the sixth largest automotive manufacturer in the world and in 2008 it surpassed Chrysler as the fourth largest automobile manufacturer in the United States. As jobs are expected grow in the automotive service technology field by 14 per cent from 2006 to 2016, now is the time to consider obtaining Honda technician training and entering this exciting field.

Honda technicians are usually employed by dealerships where they perform a variety of automotive service duties. First and foremost, these techs must know how to use Honda diagnostic equipment to properly diagnose the reason the car malfunctioned. After this is completed, technicians perform the appropriate repairs and preventive maintenance. This maintenance or repairs may occur on engines, transmissions, electrical systems, brakes and tires. In addition, Honda technicians conduct vehicle inspections.

To enter the field, one must obtain Honda technician training or GM technician training. These specialized options ensure that the techs are comfortable with this specific make of car. At Centennial College in Toronto, students are trained through a modified apprenticeship program, which emphasizes knowledge of Honda's engines, parts and latest technologies.

If Honda is a dealer that catches your interest, you can apply to the program by, first, presenting an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or a GED or equivalent. In addition, you must also be employed by a Honda dealership or be selected through an interview process. You can actually apply directly to Centennial College, with successful applicants obtaining an employer and registering as a MAP apprentice with the Apprenticeship Branch of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. The application for the Honda technician training program can be completed online. Please note that your acceptance is based on successful completion of all entry requirements and space is limited.

Students in this program gain the upper-hand as training lasts 64 weeks and offers a more detailed look at Honda vehicles than traditional apprenticeships. Students spend 32 weeks at Centennial College participating in lectures and courses such as: Applied Work Practices and Procedures, Motor Vehicle Engine Systems, Steering Suspension and Brakes, and Electrical Electronics and Fuels. Alternating for another 32 weeks, students spend time with an employer, which gives them the opportunity to interact with clients, learn alongside professionals who have been in the business for years as well as network.

While obtaining their in-school experience, students study out of Ashtonbee Campus, which is Ontario's largest automotive training facility. Throughout the courses mentioned above, they work on systems such as electrical, body electrical, engine, transmission, steering, front-end, and all other aspects that would allow a Honda vehicle to be serviced. It should be noted that some students within the GM technician training at Centennial College may be eligible for Employment Insurance during the in-class sessions.