THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 15, 1996 TAG: 9602130119
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
The sanding, grinding and touch-up work is still tedious, but auto body repair student Michael Muir may find getting a job a little easier thanks to the recognition a Norfolk training program has received.
The auto body repair and refinishing class at the Norfolk Skills Center has been certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
``It means I'll get a better job when I graduate,'' Muir said. ``My skills will be more advanced.''
The ASE certification signifies that the program meets or exceeds national standards set by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation based in Herndon, Va. The achievement is a first for the state.
``They are the only school in Virginia that is ASE-certified in painting and refinishing,'' said Karen Aufdenberg, an administrative assistant for the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation.
The Norfolk Skills Center, at 922 W. 21st St., offers free occupational training to economically disadvantaged citizens and permanently laid-off workers in the South Hampton Roads area. Other residents can get training for a fee. Applicants must be 18 or older. Instruction is made possible by a federally funded job-training program and support from the Norfolk Public School system.
Notice of ASE certification came in mid-January. George Reed, a guidance counselor and job developer for the center, said the auto repair and refinishing program had been moving toward certification by acquiring specific tools and equipment. NATEF sets standards for all aspects of the program, including tool and equipment specifications, the content of curriculum materials, and administrative procedure.
``The center concentrated on the painting and refinishing program because we already had much of the equipment needed to meet the standards,'' Reed said. ``A state-of-the-art paint mixer was donated by the DuPont company. We have all the elements that any shop or dealership should have.''
With certification comes support from the major automobile manufacturers, which will donate vehicles for students to work on, assist the program with curriculum materials and provide training for instructors.
``This will offer us more resources for our students,'' said Peter Perry, an auto body repair and refinishing instructor who has been with the center for 10 years.
From 1989 through 1994, the program had 57 graduates, 50 of whom found work in the field. Although there now are only five students in the class, the center hopes the new status will improve enrollment.
``I'm confident that ASE certification will attract more students,'' Reed said. ``But even though there's no cost, a lot of people can't take the time off from their jobs to get the training. And a lot of people aren't aware of these programs.''
The class is ongoing, with enrollment every Monday. The course is seven hours a day, four days a week, for 10 months.
All five current students live outside of Norfolk. Muir, who resides in Virginia Beach, is a military veteran living on his benefits while in the program. Andre Britt from Chesapeake and Jennifer Wilkins of Portsmouth get assistance from their families. Carl Bauman of Portsmouth was permanently laid off from his former job and is looking for part-time employment so he can continue the class. Virginia Beach resident Andrew Zettervall, who is not economically disadvantaged, is paying a tuition of $4,410 to take the course.
``It's hands-on experience as opposed to a classroom,'' said Zettervall, 19. ``I went to college for two years and didn't care for it. This will be well worth the money. As long as there are cars there will be accidents, and I'll have a job.''
For graduating students, completing the course also means a better chance of passing the ASE certification test. If they take the test and pass, and have or acquire two years of on-the-job experience, graduates can become ASE certified.
``Certification means it's much easier to make the transformation from here to full-time employment with a dealership or shop,'' Reed said. ``Companies are advertising for ASE-certified people. ... There's a 47 percent shortage of workers in this field in Virginia.''
The Norfolk Skills Center has been in operation since 1963. In addition to the auto body repair and refinishing class, the center offers free programs in welding, bricklaying, building maintenance, word processing and office technology, and training to become an auto technician or nursing assistant. To qualify as economically disadvantaged, an individual's annual income must not exceed $7,470, with that amount rising according to family size. For more information, call the center at 441-2665. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by JIM WALKER
Above, instructor Peter Perry shows Carl Bauman how to check
measurements on a car body at the Norfolk Skills Center. Right,
Andre Britt and Michael Muir, on top of the vehicle, work on a van
in the shop.
by CNB