Light duty automotive course helps adult students learn general vehicle maintenance, move towards a career in auto mechanics
Vincent Vega was working on earning his diploma through Mt. San Jacinto College’s Adult Education program when he recognized another opportunity to bolster his skill set and possibly better his future—the program’s light duty automotive course.
“I had already been a backyard mechanic for a while so I said, ‘Why not?’ and just kind of got hooked,” Vega says.
The 45-year-old Vega enrolled, and says he found the classes to be very welcoming and helpful. He credits this to great instructors and very practical lessons.
“It’s been nothing but awesome, everything’s all hands on,” Vega says. “The instructors, they’ve been amazing, I have no complaints whatsoever.”
“We’ve got well trained technicians that are coming from MSJC that are contributing to the industry.”
Raymond Zarate, Light Duty Automotive Instructor, Mt. San Jacinto College Adult Education
The light duty automotive course is one of many career technical education (CTE) pathways offered through MSJC Adult Education. The classes are designed to train and certify students for the work force and are offered free of charge. Other CTE offerings include culinary arts, digital communication, childhood development, business and construction pre-apprenticeship.
Vega’s light duty automotive instructor is Raymond Zarate. While Zarate only began teaching three years ago, he’s worked professionally in the automotive field for 24 years. He says he took up teaching adult school students because he felt it was a good way to pass on his skills and experience.
Zarate’s course covers various aspects of auto repair, including engine performance, oil changes, and suspension maintenance. He says the light duty automotive course is important not just for those looking for a career change, but to help students gain a basic level of competency when it comes to taking care of their own vehicles.
“I’m trying to target every reason someone would want to take this class,” Zarate says. “When a customer is told, ‘Hey, you need four tires and you need brakes and you need shocks,’ they can then say ‘Hey, let’s take a closer look at that,’ and not get cheated.”
Other students plan to move on to a career in the automotive industry. Zarate has seen more than one student move on from his class to work in the field.
“I can tell you that just in one class I could probably name about four students that have continued on to an automotive career,” Zarate said.
While the course itself is non-credit, it does act as preparation for MSJC’s Automotive Transportation Technology degree and certificate programs. Zarate says the light duty automotive class is a great way of transitioning potential students into these programs.
“It’s a great way to introduce them to this career,” Zarate says. “We learn without that pressure of the credit portion.”
Regardless of why a student steps into his class, Zarate believes it’s important for the class to be an option available to students at MSJC.
“There’s a need not only for maintenance and not getting tricked, but for contributing to new careers,” Zarate said. “We’ve got well trained technicians that are coming from MSJC that are contributing to the industry.”
To learn more about Mt. San Jacinto College Adult Education, visit msjc.edu/adulted/. To learn more about other career technical education courses at MSJCAE, visit msjc.edu/adulted/career-training-classes.html
Written by Jacob Peterson
| Regions | Classes & Topics |
|---|---|
| Southern California | Careers in Manufacturing-Construction – High School |
