Students looking for careers in the automotive industry now can get a jump start to their career. Thanks to a collaboration between Utah State University Moab and Grand County High School, students can begin USU Moab’s Automotive Technology program while still in high school, then transfer those credits across town, finishing their certification with USU Moab.

“This is a great illustration of the collaboration between USU Moab and Grand County High School,” said Lianna Etchberger, USU Moab associate vice president. “This creates a pathway where students can start their training in high school and finish right here in their hometown. Students have the opportunity to improve their income potential by earning certification in a field that is meaningful to them.”

In the program, students can earn a Certificate of Completion, which can be completed in one year. The program is designed to teach students all the skills they will need to excel in the automotive industry and to pass all the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) tests.

“The program goes through nine classes,” said Bryton Betty, USU Moab professional practice instructor. “We start with an introduction class and then have eight classes that go through eight of the major automotive systems, including electrical systems, engine performance, major engine repair, manual/automatic transmissions, brakes, steering, and suspension systems. Our program allows you to complete the program within a year with a certificate of completion and passing all of the ASE tests.”

The program shares its automotive shop with Grand County High, allowing students to stay in a familiar spot. Sharing the space also means sharing costs, which allows the two schools to partner in purchasing equipment. This allows the schools to buy more machines, thus providing an even better experience and better training for students.

“By combining our facilities, we can use some of each other’s equipment like specialty tools that are expensive to buy individually but can be used by both the high school and college students,” Betty said. “We have good facilities that allow us to have most of the equipment a general shop will have so the students can learn how to use the equipment and be familiar with it when they go in the workforce.”

Bryton joined USU Moab during the 2020-21 academic year, after working for the Ford Motor Company in Michigan as technical support for technicians at the factory. Being fluent in Spanish, he also worked with Spanish-speaking technicians in his time at Ford. Having the ability to speak both English and Spanish and teach principles in both languages, Bryton can reach even more people in his classes and better explain techniques in a student’s native language.

Bryton has a bachelor’s in Automotive Engineering Technology. He finds joy in helping students become more familiar with the automotive industry and learn how to perform basic skills.

“I had been working to become an automotive instructor for a few years and I decided that this would be a great opportunity to become an instructor,” he said. “I like working with my hands and helping students learn basic automotive principles.”

For more information on USU Moab’s Automotive Technician program, and other Technical Education options, visit statewide.usu.edu/cte.