Tesla Student Automotive Technician (START)

This Certificate is intended to educate the entry-level technician to the Tesla Motors technology. Topics will include:safety when working in or around high voltage, maintenance, regeneration-braking, inverted power transfer, battery technologies, battery management systems, high-voltage bus and charging, pack connector and penthouse controls,and autonomous technology. Electric vehicle applications and their integrated systems from Tesla Motors will be used to discuss physics of battery storage and material composition and high-voltage generation systems. This course is suitable for students already working in the battery electric vehicle/hybrid-vehicle and energy technology field. Completion of the Certificate is required by Tesla for employment as a Level I, Level II, or Level III technician, Mobile Service Technician, or a Field Service Technician.

25-30 per year

This program is aligned to curriculum required by Tesla Motors and necessary for employment with Tesla Motors as an entry-level technician. Depending on completion scores, technicians may obtain gainful employment with Tesla Motors as a Level I, Level II, Level III, Mobile service technician or Field service technician. Tesla Motors now requires all technicians to successfully complete this course of training before employment. 

1. Develop the student’s skills into a broad-based skill set of competencies that will lead to success in the alternative fuels industry as a highly qualified TESLA electric vehicle technician.
2. Identify career ladder opportunities in the alternative fuels equipment industry.
3. Advance students understanding of procedural and administrative aspects of the alternative fuels industry, including safety standards, installation standards and procedures, and the state and federal regulatory concerns and requirements.

The automotive program advisory committee has a broad spectrum of participation from and is made up of representatives from municipal / public works, equipment sales and service, energy provider, and an automobile manufacture.

One of the primary partners, Tesla Motors, states that they are in constant need of qualified technicians to work on the Alternative fueled vehicles. As the service centers expand in highly concentrated electric vehicle market the need for specialized and ell trained technicians and customer service technicians has now become a critical factor in the Tesla growth plan. 

This is a one semester program that leads to employment in a Tesla service facility.