LBCC Automotive Department Set to Add Electric Vehicle Technician Program

 LBCC is going to have an electrifying opportunity for automotive students coming this fall.

The automotive department at LBCC will be adding an electric vehicle technician program to the automotive certification programs already available through the school. This program will give students the opportunity to earn a certificate in EV technology and will combine with the existing program. 

Starting this upcoming fall, continuing students can choose if they want to include EV technology in their curriculum. The program has a prerequisite of one year of automotive classes, or one year of diesel classes. 

Focusing on what makes an EV different, this program will help students meet the needs of the automotive industry as technology advances and EV’s become more common. 

Department chair, Mike Leblanc and other automotive faculty members have been working to make this program available for students for several years. 

“We try to align what we’re teaching with what is current in industry,” said Leblanc. 

The automotive program holds all of its classes at the Advanced Transportation Technology Center (ATTC) in Lebanon. This includes all of the necessary general education classes alongside automotive classes. 

Students interested in the program can learn more by connecting with First Resort in Takena Hall on the Albany campus, and contacting the trades programs navigator Kory Sessions-Riseley, or adviser Christy Stevens.

“The goal is to try to get our students to get their foot in the door,” said Leblanc, “As they graduate, they’re transitioning right into a job.”

Students also can learn more by attending one of the upcoming events. The women in auto information event will be taking place on Feb 10 at 6pm at the ATTC. This event is an open house and facility tour that is targeted towards women interested in breaking into the automotive field. Another event coming up is the Dyno Dayz event, a spring fundraiser that is held by the department.