Preparing for the Real World: AT Earns Online Certifications
by Dante Vopnford, Auto Technician Class of 2021
Although we are not actually in school, at Lawrence County Career and Technical Center, we are doing online classes to get through these difficult times. All classes, including shops, have a Google classroom to keep us on top of our studies.
In Auto Tech, we go through lessons and take online tests to earn industry certification. This prepares us for the real world where 80% of our education for certifications comes from tests on the computer. We usually do two online courses a week for the Ford Certification, and each course can take from half an hour to a couple hours to complete. Earning these certifications is crucial in showing employers our commitment to our chosen field of work and our good work ethic as we continue to train in spite of the global obstacles we all endure. Showing employers that we have a good work ethic gives us a much better advantage because it shows that we are willing to go beyond and do more; it shows that we are committed, and it shows the employer we are willing to work.
All in all, even though this pandemic is keeping us away from our shops, at LCCTC, we are still doing all we can to move forward and keep working throughout the week to improve on our skills.
Dante is an Auto Technician junior from the Mohawk Area School District. He currently works for W.L. Byers Trucking in Wampum PA. In addition to fixing cars in his spare time, he is a member of the Conservation Club. Next year, he hopes to go out on Co-Op to begin his career as an auto technician.
