Becoming a Porsche Technician - Apprenticeship Program Celebrates 20 Years
A vital source for excellence in customer service, the Porsche Technology Apprenticeship Program (PTAP) has graduated more than 700 U.S. technicians since 1999
ATLANTA, Aug. 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Porsche owners expect a customer experience as good as their car. The relationship starts in the showroom, but once the keys change hands, a main component moves behind the scenes to the stage of the service bay. Here, expertly trained technicians work to help ensure that the vehicle lives up to the promise of its crest.
The Porsche Technology Apprenticeship Program (PTAP) has graduated more than 700 U.S. technicians since 1999. Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
More than one third of U.S. Porsche technicians are PTAP graduates. Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Traditional hands-on skills are taught alongside modern hi-tech components. Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
The 12 top applicants are accepted into the 23-week program consisting of 16 core and 38 web-based courses. Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
There are over 1,100 Porsche technicians in 191 dealerships across the country. More than one third are graduates from the Porsche Technology Apprenticeship Program (PTAP), which tomorrow, August 9, celebrates its 20th anniversary. These men and women represent the elite in their field and that begs the question: What does it take to become a Porsche technician?
The majority of PTAP aspirants have already completed the Automotive Technology curriculum from the Universal Technical Institute, and only the best candidates are considered. Following a selection process with a psychological assessment, a mechanical knowledge test and a personal interview, the 12 top applicants are accepted into the 23-week program consisting of 16 core and 38 web-based courses. Traditional hands-on skills, like engine or brake servicing, are taught alongside modern hi-tech components such as electrical systems repair.
Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA): "Our sports cars speak for themselves and so does our customer experience. The Porsche Technology Apprenticeship Program is a key element that will help us stay on top and raise the bar even further."
PCNA and dealerships invest in technician training in parallel to the Stuttgart-based manufacturer's model line-up expanding from charismatic combustion engines to include powerful hybrids, and soon the fully electric Taycan, and the required skill set for technicians has grown accordingly. In an industry that is experiencing higher employee turnover, the purpose of PTAP is to create a foundation of brand commitment and knowledge that will help serve customers for years to come.
Students are taught by Instructors that are also Porsche Master Level Technicians, and a typical day in PTAP begins at 7:00 a.m. in one of three different locations: Easton, PA, Eastvale, CA, and the PCNA headquarters in Atlanta, GA. Even though the class workshop emulates that of an immaculate dealership, a mandatory component is an extracurricular automotive job.
Demand for automotive technicians is growing faster than the supply. The U.S. Department of Labor projects almost 46,000 new jobs in the sector by 2026. Upon graduation, all PTAP students – 72 annually - start working at Porsche dealerships where they can advance through bronze, silver and gold certification. Many PTAP alumni have also moved into instructor, technical support and manager positions with PCNA. The next class, number 62, will graduate in Atlanta on August 16.
Porsche recently claimed the No. 1 spot in the 2019 J.D. Power Customer Service Index.
About Porsche Cars North America, Inc. | One Porsche Drive, Atlanta, GA 30354 USA Established in 1984, Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA) is the exclusive U.S. importer of the Porsche 911, 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman; Macan and Cayenne; and Panamera. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, since 1998, PCNA is also home to the first Porsche Experience Center in North America featuring a module-based 1.6 mile driver development track, business center, and fine dining restaurant, 356. The company operates a second Porsche Experience Center near Los Angeles. That 53-acre complex features a driver development track with eight educational modules totaling 4.1 miles, a business center, and Restaurant 917. PCNA supports 191 independently owned and operated Porsche dealerships in the U.S., including supplying parts, service, marketing, and training. They, in turn, work to provide Porsche customers with a best-in-class experience that is in keeping with the Porsche brand's 70-year history of leadership in the advancement of vehicle performance, safety, and efficiency. PCNA is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Porsche AG, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.
At the core of this success is Porsche's proud racing heritage that boasts some 30,000-plus motorsport wins to date.
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