LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has accredited MCI Academy for its comprehensive training program for motorcoach equipment professionals.
MCI Academy, operated by bus and motorcoach manufacturer Motor Coach Industries, is the first motor coach training provider to receive ASE accreditation for meeting the rigorous Continuing Automotive Service Education (CASE) standards.
Others that have achieved ASE accreditation include 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division, BMW of North America, General Motors Service Technical College, Toyota and Penske Truck Leasing.
“With this achievement, we join some pretty big names and it’s a testament to the quality of the training we provide,” said Brian Dewsnup, president of MCI Aftermarket Parts.
“Congratulations to (training manager) Scott Crawford and our excellent team of technical experts for their commitment in raising the bar in motorcoach technician training,” Dewsnup said. “The ASE accreditation makes official that MCI Academy is the training destination for any organization in the private and public sectors struggling to bring new hires up to speed quickly or advance the skills of experienced technicians.”
In awarding the accreditation to MCI Academy, David Milne, president of the Automotive Training Managers Council and executive director of ASE, said, “The automotive community is proud of your commitment to a quality in-service technician-training program.”
MCI Academy has built a multifaceted hands-on and online training program to further professionals’ skills on multiple coach systems.
Live events at its training headquarters in Louisville include the popular Technical Tune-Up series. Professionals also can access the academy’s online learning management system at any time.
At MCI Academy, technicians can earn:
- System Qualifications – Students develop a high level of competence on the major systems and must complete a combination of online courses, instructor-led training and testing.
- Levels 1, 2 and 3 Certification — To earn certificates, students need to complete designated System Qualifications.
- Specialty diplomas – Students can earn diplomas in HVAC and electrical systems for various coach models.
MCI Academy didn’t just meet ASE standards – its accreditation report indicated it exceeded them, particularly in the way it designs its coursework.
“Anyone who earns their technician-level certificate or a system diploma through the MCI Academy should feel a sense of pride and an acknowledgement of a true higher-learning and career accomplishment,” Crawford said. “It’s a ticket to a bright future.”
MCI Academy’s five-year ASE accreditation comes at time when skilled technicians are scarce and in-house training systems too are costly to implement for many businesses.
MCI Academy is definitely filling a need, said Willy Wondolowski, maintenance director at Gold Coast Tours in Brea, Calif., who has taken more than 422 classes online.
“I use the coursework to improve my knowledge on systems,” Wondolowski said. “I encourage my technicians to do the same. I’ll open up an (online) course and watch it together in the shop to familiarize my team on new systems.
“With the thousands of buses on the road, we need highly trained technicians, and in turn a well-trained technician is rewarded with job security,” he said.
MCI launched its online learning management system in 2015,and has more than 6,100 registered users accessing a growing library of more than 430 courses. MCI has trained more than 1,200 technicians at its Technical Tune Up sessions.
For more information on MCI Academy, visit www.mciacademy.com.
