Automotive Career Training Opportunities for High School Students
Passionate About Cars? We Are Too.
If you are a high school student interested in high-tech, fast-paced and lucrative work in automotive service technology, AYES can not only provide you with a solid education while you are in high school, but offer the opportunity of a paid internship under a senior technician at a local dealership that will give you the skills for a great career.
Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) is a partnership among participating automotive manufacturers, participating dealerships, and select secondary automotive programs. It's designed to encourage young people to consider satisfying careers in retail automotive service, and prepare them for entry-level career positions or advanced studies in automotive technology.
Through its dealership and school partners, AYES strives to enhance the public image of dealerships and dealership careers, build local partnerships between dealerships and high quality schools, and foster positive working environments in dealerships.
How Students Grow into Professionals
Qualified high school juniors are invited to take part in AYES. In addition to taking the required academic courses toward their high school degrees, they'll take challenging classroom/laboratory courses in basic automotive technology. Through their participation in SkillsUSA, they'll strengthen their "employability" skills (e.g., dependability, positive attitude, spirit of teamwork). Typically, eligible students will begin their internships at a dealership on a full-time basis during the summer between their junior and senior years. Under the guidance of a "mentor" (an experienced technician), they'll develop both their technical skills and their skills as valuable employees. Upon high school graduation and AYES certification, participating students are prepared to begin full-time entry-level employment, or to advance their technical education.
AYES is designed with continuing professional development in mind. Many participating dealerships anticipate sponsoring their students in manufacturer-supported college-level programs, such as the Chrysler CAP, GM ASEP, Honda PACT, Toyota T-TEN, or certificate programs offered by Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Through their AYES experiences, most students come to realize the importance of continuing their professional development, either through a college degree program or through manufacturer-provided training.
All AYES students in Washington State are prequalified for admittance to the GM ASEP, Chrysler CAP, Honda PACT and Toyota T-TEN programs at the Professional Automotive Training Center at Shoreline Community College, in Shoreline, Washington, once they have passed necessary admission requirements.
For more information about AYES please visit AYES online at www.ayes.org or contact Marvin Linville, AYES Area Manager for the Western Region at (530) 368-1228 or at Marvin.Linville@ayes.org.
