Approx. duration: 30 months
Start Date: September and January
Attendance: One day a week at the Rural Campus
Entry requirements:
- Individual employers will set their selection criteria for applicants
- Apprentices need to be employed for a minimum of 30 hours a week and have a contract of employment
- Entry into the Apprenticeship is subject to a thorough skills scan assessment to clarify course suitability
- Apprentices must achieve Functional Skills Level 1 in English and/or Maths if they have a GCSE grade below Grade 2 or E. Additionally, they should demonstrate a commitment to working towards and completing the Level 2 exam before reaching the End-point assessment
- Apprentices who have already achieved GCSE grade 2 or Functional Level 1 in English and/or Maths will need to demonstrate a willingness to work towards and successfully complete the Level 2 exam prior to the End-point assessment
On-programme learning:
- Autocare Technician Standard Level 2
- English and Maths (if required) to achieve Level 2
End-point assessment:
Delivered by IMI (The Institute of the Motor Industry)
Progression:
On completion of this Standard the Auto-care Technician will be eligible to apply for IMI membership as a Registered Young Professional or if they wish as an Associate Member. They would also gain entry into the IMI Professional Register.
Course Summary:
Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes designed around the need of both the Apprentice and their employer.
An Auto-care Technician performs various services and repairs on cars, car-derived vans and light goods vehicles, typically within an Auto-care or “Fast-Fit” Centre. These centres can be part of a national chain or owned by a regional or local independent entity. The role demands a distinctive blend of technical expertise, retail proficiency, and customer service skills. Auto-care Technicians utilize a variety of tools, measurement instruments, and diagnostic equipment to detect and fix minor system malfunctions.
The Auto-care Technician has to demonstrate expertise not only in the technical elements of their role and have a good grasp of the practical and theoretical aspects of the vehicle systems they service but also needs to have excellent telephone, and customer handling (including how to handle difficult customers and deal with customer disappointment) and effective sales skills, as well as strong problem solving and self-organisation skills. They must be able to work as part of a team but also operate independently, understand how their centre operates from a commercial perspective and how their actions contribute to business results, whilst maintaining a high standard of workmanship.
Please Note: This Standard does not on its own qualify Apprentices to work on air-conditioning systems. Employers who require apprentices to work on air-conditioning systems must also provide the F-Gas qualification.