And Notes Certifications Help Tech School Students And Seasoned Technicians (NAPSA)—For many high school graduates, the path to a professional career will take them to technical schools and community colleges, where they can be trained for good-paying jobs in as little as two years. Thousands of technical jobs remain unfilled due to the lack of skilled labor. In fact, according to Businessweek.com, there are more than 600,000 manufacturing jobs alone that remain vacant because people don’t have the necessary skills required to do them. Certification To help close this labor gap, many technical schools and community colleges across the country partner with Snap-on Incorporated to teach specific disciplines designed to give students a leg up on the competition when they enter the workforce. Snap-on, a leading manufacturer of tools, equipment and diagnostics for the transportation, aviation/aerospace and manufacturing sectors, has developed certification programs for students to receive extra training in certain technicaldisciplines. Thesecertifications are offered in automotive scanner diagnostics, diesel scanner diagnostics, mechanical and electronic torque, multimeter, wheel service and alignment, asset managementandtool control, horticulture, and building performance. More than 70 technical schools across the country offer certifications as part of their curriculum. Since 2007, about 10,000 certi- fications have been earned by more than 5,500 students, including 538 this past spring. The goal of the certifications is not to teach how a vehicle operates or how an aircraft flies; rather, it is to teach technicians the proper and best way to use specific tools and equipment to become more productive in their jobs. Snap-on certifications provide an across-the-board standard for the partnering technical schools to provide in-depth instruction on tool use, theory and application. Thecertifications are not add-ons, but rather are integrated into the existing courses offered by the partnering schools. Certifications include about 16 hoursof instruction, and are blended into the school’s course programming. Snap-on certifications can help technicians and tech students show how muchthey know. Advantages To Students, Technicians and Teachers There are many advantages for students to participate. For starters, it makes them more well- rounded technicians. Students who becomecertified in a specific course have a better understanding of the tools and equipment used in that discipline, making them moreproductive for employers. Second, students who have earned certifications are more employable than those without them. Certifications give them an advantage on the competition. Finally, students can now enter the workforce with industry-recognized certifications. Certifications aren’t just limited to students as seasoned technicians can also benefit from them. As skilled labor continues to become more complex,it’s imperative that technicians on the job today maintain their skills and stay abreast of tool technology in their profession. Snap-on has also worked to develop and improve the support offered to partner schools. Teachers are taught standardized approaches on how to train their students, ensuring that curriculum is delivered in a consistent format nationwide. How To Enroll To facilitate the certifications in the partnering schools, Snap-on works with the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3), an organization that validates and oversees the certification assessment standards. For more information on the certification program or to see a list of participating schools, visit www 1.snapon.com/education; e-mail Frederick Brookhouse at Frederick.p.brookhouse@snapon. com;or visit www.nc3.net.
