MCI Academy Becomes First Motor Coach Training Provider to Receive ASE Accreditation

Motor Coach Industries has announced that the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has awarded MCI Academy accreditation for its comprehensive training program that elevates the skill levels of motor coach equipment professionals.

ASE is responsible for defining the rigorous Continuing Automotive Service Education (CASE) standards. The accreditation validates that MCI Academy’s live-instructor and self-study online training meets CASE standards.  As the first motor coach industry training institution to win this prestigious accreditation, MCI Academy joins an elite group including 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 Aftermarket Parts. “Congratulations to (Training Manager) Scott Crawford and our excellent team of technical experts for their commitment in raising the bar in motor coach technician training.  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, David Milne, president of the Automotive Training Managers Council (ATMC) and executive director of ASE said, “We compliment (MCI Academy) for attaining this level of excellence recognized by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). 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 — whenever they need it. Live events at MCI Academy’s training headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, include the popular Technical Tune-Up series, and professionals can access the Academy’s online Learning Management System (LMS) any time of the day or night.

At MCI Academy, technicians can earn:

• System Qualifications -Develops a high level of competence on the major systems; students 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 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. Said Crawford, “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,” he 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, according to Willy Wondolowski, maintenance director of Gold Coast Tours, Brea, California.

Wondolowski has taken more than 422 classes online using the LMS System, and finds the program invaluable to keeping Gold Coast’s fleet of 50 coaches on the move.  “I use the coursework to improve my knowledge on systems. I encourage my technicians to do the same. I’ll open up an LMS course and watch it together in the shop to familiarize my team on new systems,” he said. “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.”  A firm believer in ASE accreditation, Wondolowski holds a master truck, school bus and advance transit engine diagnostics ASE certification. “I am fanatical about training because motor coach technology is advancing so fast, and you’ve got to stay on top of it. MCI offers the best instructional training, bar none, and thousands of technicians should be clamoring for it because it will make their job easier.”

MCI launched LMS in 2015, and has more than 6,100 registered users accessing a growing library of more than 430 online courses. And to date, MCI has trained more than 1,200 technicians at its Tech Tune Up Louisville sessions.