First Electric Vehicle Automotive Technician Apprenticeship Program in the Nation Announced at CCAC West Hills Center

Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su joined state and local leaders on Thursday, Oct. 31, as the Pittsburgh Chapter of the German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) and CCAC cut the ribbon on a new Electric Vehicle (EV) Automotive Technician training lab. Located in the college's West Hills Center, the lab will house the first-in-the-nation registered apprenticeship program for EV automotive technicians.

With funding for curriculum development provided by Partner4Work and Southwest Corner Workforce Development Board, the CCAC workforce training and GACC is expected to launch in spring 2025. The registered apprenticeship program will include related technical course instruction and full-time paid on-the-job training with dealerships, independent garages or other related businesses.

In addition to Acting Secretary Su the following officials participated in the event program: U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio; The Honorable Sara Innamorato, County Executive; Jake Pawlak, Deputy Mayor of Pittsburgh; Lisa McIntyre, Chief Executive Officer, Greater Pittsburgh Auto Dealers' Association; Rachel Mauer, President, GACC Pittsburgh Chapter; Robert Cherry, Chief Executive Officer, Partner4Work; and Dr. Quintin Bullock, CCAC President

"CCAC has a long-standing commitment to preparing the region's workforce with the skills employers need now and in the future. We are proud to be a partner in another first for the region," said Dr. Quintin Bullock, CCAC President.

The International Energy Agency has projected that 2.9 million battery-powered electric vehicles will be sold in the U.S. in 2025. This marks a 262.5% increase over 2022. Moreover, according to The National Institute for Automotive Excellence, only 1.4% of automotive technicians have some level of EV certification and training, clearly not enough to meet the burgeoning demand. Rachel Mauer, President of the GACC Pittsburgh Chapter, said the EV Automotive Technician Registered Apprentice program at CCAC will help create a pipeline of skilled technicians so dealers can keep new cars on the road and contribute to building greener transportation infrastructure.

"The GACC Pittsburgh Chapter is bringing in the proven German program to create local talent pipelines. In addition to our EV Automotive Technician Apprenticeship program, we are working with area Career and Technical Education providers to register pre-apprenticeship programs for the new EV Automotive Technician Apprenticeship," said Mauer.

Pittsburgh is home to a White House Workforce Hub, anchored by Partner4Work and led by Mayor Ed Gainey's office. The Pittsburgh Workforce Hub is dedicated to connecting people in the region to good-quality careers while removing barriers to employment for job seekers. In addition to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new CCAC lab, the event will bring together federal and local administration officials, employers, career and technical education providers, and Partner4Work to highlight the efforts of this important investment in our region's workforce.

"The Electric Vehicle Automotive Technician apprenticeship is groundbreaking and a testament to the power of innovation, equity, and partnership. By providing hands-on, debt-free training, we're ensuring equitable access to the rapidly growing electric vehicle industry while building a more inclusive and diverse talent pipeline. At Partner4Work, we are committed to preparing our region's workforce for the future, positioning Pittsburgh as a leader in sustainable transportation and workforce development," said Robert Cherry, Chief Executive Officer of Partner4Work.

Cherry also noted that the Related Technical Instruction (RTI) for this Registered Apprenticeship program is initially funded through a competitive Building Pathways to Infrastructure grant from the Department of Labor. Equipment for the GACC/CCAC lab was purchased with support from the Hillman Family Foundations. The program is a true public-private partnership, with federal funding, employer contributions, and philanthropy coming together to build a comprehensive program.

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