In this episode of the Partnership Pathways podcast, powered by NAPA, Doug Kaufman interviews Jake Sorensen, ASE Master Technician and shop manager at McNeil’s AutoCare, in Sandy, UT, about the NAPA AutoCare apprenticeship program. Jake discusses the nationwide program offered at no additional charge to NAPA Auto Care shops. It was designed to take individuals “from little or no experience” and “build them into a technician.” Technicians advance through nine stages in the competency-based program, proving they’ve retained knowledge before moving forward.
Jake shares the NAPA AutoCare apprenticeship program origin, stemming from his shop’s struggle to find quality technicians. He explains that Pete McNeil, his shop’s owner, challenged him to “do something about the technician shortage” their shop faced. Together, the two developed a program to leverage existing resources like NAPA’s online training and local vendor reps.
The program gained accreditation with the Department of Labor and offers graduates ASE certifications. NAPA recognized its potential for broader implementation and scaled it to be available to all AutoCare centers.
Jake underscores the importance of identifying suitable mentors within the shop, emphasizing that it’s not about using the highest producing tech, but someone “that wants to do it right” and possesses patience. He said programs should reward mentors for their time and effort. Finally, Jake urges shops to take advantage of the NAPA program. He notes “It frustrates me to hear shop owners talk about the technician shortage but not contribute.”
For more information, visit NAPAOnline.com or TomorrowsTechnician.com.
