Appreticeship and GM ASEP program

[Jacob]

Hi there,

I’m new to the forum. I’ve been an apprentice for two years in Ontario, CA. Recently, I started working at a GM dealership. Before getting hired on, I had already completedy first two levels of in-school training. This means I would only have one more level to go and I could potentially be licenced. However, GM requires I start over through their ACEP program.

I was wondering if any techs on here could shed some light on the ACEP program. I’d really like to compare curriculums. I know the ACEP program will adhere specifically to GM platforms.

Topic

[zero]

I would look into whether or not you can somehow fast track or challenge parts or all of their specific courses.

Also keep in mind that you can challenge apprenticeship levels and bypass the 2 months of school.

[John Hugon]

When I went through it; they compared my Ford training to GM and what was similar they gave me the class. For example basic automatic transmissions… ect.. But the program just started and they were entering Tech’s that were already in the field…

When you complete ASEP you will earn credit(s) toward GM and AC Delco certifications. In my openion, this is a no brainer…you’re not starting over you’re moving foreword…get all the education you can. In order to get a job you’ll need the education and order to keep the job you’ll always be in training (school), either in the class room or hands on.You will never stop going to school in the automotive field. The more education you have the more valuable you are.

If you decide to work at a Ford dealer, you’ll have to complete their program no matter how long you have been a Technician, but other manufactures look at your education no matter what background you have.

[Jacob]

Thanks for the replies! I definitely took the job at GM because I believed the schooling and the experience would be an excellent thing for my career. The issue I seem to be finding with a lot of shops is the lack of work given to apprentices. Right now they’re using me as, and I quote, their “quick” guy. Meaning I’m doing mainly oil changes for waiters which the service guys have no intention of selling anything to. This really bothers me because I have far more experience than that from previous jobs. The general pattern at most shops these days is that you aren’t given work until you’re licenced. I’ve been fortunate to be allowed to help/work at a lot of shops that didn’t just treat me like a lube tech.

So I’ve been considering doing my level 3 block or even challenging the level 3 exam to get myself that much closer and eliminating that barrier or not being licenced. Oddly enough though, doing block may put my job in jeapordy. That’s why I wanted to see if ASEP was really all that different in curriculum from a general trades school. Thus far the other apprentice (just finished lvl 3 of ASEP) doesn’t seem as though he is being given the work to allow him to apply anything he’s been learning at school.

[Rene Perez]

Where is the Chevrolet dealer in Ontario? I work at Nissan down in Ontario, CA myself.

[Jacob]

Yeah its in Ontario.

[John Hugon]

JakeBM04 stated:

I seem to be finding with a lot of shops is the lack of work given to apprentices. Right now they’re using me as, and I quote, their “quick” guy. Meaning I’m doing mainly oil changes for waiters which the service guys have no intention of selling anything to. This really bothers me because I have far more experience than that from previous jobs. The general pattern at most shops these days is that you aren’t given work until you’re licenced. I’ve been fortunate to be allowed to help/work at a lot of shops that didn’t just treat me like a lube tech.That’s why I wanted to see if ASEP was really all that different in curriculum from a general trades school. Thus far the other apprentice (just finished lvl 3 of ASEP) doesn’t seem as though he is being given the work to allow him to apply anything he’s been learning at school.

When I went through GM ASEP is when it first started. I went through the program at a local community college during the day while I was working second shift at work. I’ve been out of school for Automotive Technology about forty years, so I really can’t answer your training question. Listening to instructors at Tech schools and manufactures schools, they say GM ASEP classes are the same as the Automotive Technology classes, but only for GM and their way of thinking. After the GM ASEP and hands on training you will have GM in your blood…sort of speaking…. To my understanding GM will look at your previous classes and give you credit if acceptable.

As for as getting into the more technical work….You have to understand the manufactures way of thinking who’s working on their product. It’s all about business/money and nothing else. If the GM dealer sells a new car to someone and the transmission is not functioning correctly, and the new owner brings it back with a complaint, the Technician who gets the job has to be well seasoned with the latest and greatest training/background on the vehicle. If the vehicle is not repaired and not operating to manufactured specs and comes back the second time, big problems start. If so happens it comes back the third time for the same problem or even close, usually an Attorney has written a letter and the owner wants the car bought back. When a customer request a buy back, most of the time an arbitration hearing is heard. During that hearing the Technician credentials are inspected very closely. The manufacture doesn’t care about you, all they care about if you have your “ducks in a row” to cover them…if you don’t, you’re hung out to dry… (Don’t ask how I know that). …so learn everything the GM way…you will need it.

Now is the time to get your nose into everything, ask questions, watch how things are done and always try to find out who will teach and help you in the shop. Remember it’s not going to be easy.

The last place I worked for was a Ford/GM dealer. When GM went bankrupt, business fell about 90 % and the Ford place was selling cars and trucks like crazy. We were asked to do on-line training for Ford so we could help with some of the work if needed. Been a Union shop we weren’t forced to, but I did it for job security, but most of the GM Techs didn’t want to and got laid off until the GM sales picked back up. During that period of time I changed a lot of oil, new car preps, changed tires and front end alignments. I finished all the Ford on-line training on my own time and finally went to the Ford factory school about two years later….So… this is what they did to me after being a certified GM Tech for 28 years.

What really help me; I was valuable to the Dealer for vacation relief for the Ford people, they put me on straight time (on Fords) and I didn’t have to “beat the clock”.

[Author]

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