Motor Coach Industries (MCI) announced the MCI Academy — the first motorcoach training program to earn Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) accreditation in 2017 — is breaking more new ground as the exclusive training provider for the Motorcoach Technician Apprenticeship Program with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), creating the first-ever technician apprenticeship program for the industry.

Intended to promote top maintenance of motorcoaches, the program allows operators to offer apprenticeships to recruit new entrants into the industry and establish a career-path for technicians already on staff that hasn’t existed before.

The one- through five-year program builds on curriculums already available through MCI Academy, offering a tiered structured learning path with 800 hours of online Learning Management System (LMS) courses (including 200 hours in safety courses) and week-long training events at MCI’s Louisville, Kentucky-based National Training Center to earn Tech 3, 2 and 1, with 16 system qualification certificates including HVAC and electrical systems, coupled with on-the-job training hours.

Apprenticeship candidates must be employed in the motorcoach industry and be assigned to a mentor by the employer. The mentor, who receives an instructional orientation session, will be responsible for verifying that the apprentice has mastered the required level of expertise within the five-years to earn Journey Worker certification.

Apprenticeships benefit the employer by creating a skilled worker trained to industry standards to produce quality results, compliance with equal opportunity requirements, and reduces turnover. According to the DOL, 91% of apprentices remain on the job long after completing the program.

There is no charge to MCI operators for the training portion of the program, but employers will be responsible for travel costs to Louisville, where MCI Academy’s main training center is located.