Palm Beach State College to launch electric and hybrid vehicle technician program

A Palm Beach State College hybrid vehicle highlights the technology students will study in the college’s new Electric, Hybrid and Alternative Fuels Vehicle Technician Career Certificate Program. [Photo courtesy of Palm Beach State College]

Palm Beach State College is preparing the next generation of automotive technicians with a new career certificate program focused on electric, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles.

The Electric, Hybrid and Alternative Fuels Vehicle Technician Career Certificate Program will launch in the spring at the college’s Lake Worth campus. The 850-hour, evening program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to diagnose, maintain and repair vehicles powered by rapidly evolving technologies.

“This program represents an important investment in the future of automotive technicians,” says Eligio Marquez, the associate dean of trade and industry.

“Vehicles are evolving rapidly, and our students must be prepared not only to work safely around high-voltage systems, but also to understand the advanced electronics, diagnostics and alternative-fuel technologies that are shaping the transportation industry.”

Students will learn high-voltage safety, battery and electrical storage systems, electric motors, generators, power inverters, regenerative braking, steering and suspension, heating and cooling systems, and engine performance and emissions diagnostics. The curriculum introduces alternative-fuel technologies, including compressed natural gas and hydrogen, while emphasizing Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and shop safety requirements.

Designed with working adults in mind, the evening program offers a pathway for current technicians and those looking to enter a growing technical field. Graduates may be eligible to take the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence L3 Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Specialist certification exam.

Students will gain hands-on experience with electric, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles from Toyota, Tesla and other manufacturers. They will also train using the Switch Lab, a fully electric educational vehicle that provides a simplified view of electric vehicle components, allowing students to better understand EV systems and repairs.

Palm Beach State is investing in a permanent home for the program. The college is renovating an automotive training facility featuring six service bays where vehicles can be diagnosed, maintained and repaired. The renovation, equipment and vehicle purchases represent an estimated $5.5 million investment.

Marquez says a $4.1 million grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development will be used for the renovations, and the Legislature just appropriated $1.2 million for the program.

Because students will work with high-voltage systems, the program incorporates safety requirements beyond those found in traditional automotive training.

“There’s a potential that you could get shocked, so you have to be cautious,” says Greg Paczkowski, the program’s instructor. “I had to go through a safety test, and the students are going to be required to do the same thing. We’re working with high-voltage batteries.”

Students will complete specialized high-voltage safety training before working on vehicles, Paczkowski says. "They’re electric vehicles, so they are going to be working with 400 volts.”

College officials say the program addresses a growing workforce need as the automotive industry transitions toward electrification. U.S. EV sales totaled 1.6 million in 2024, and, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nation is expected to average about 70,000 openings for automotive service technicians and mechanics each year from 2024 through 2034.

“As the vehicle market evolves, EV and hybrid fundamentals will likely become part of the core automotive curriculum,” says Doreen Singer, the program’s director. “Existing technicians will need opportunities to upgrade their skills through specialized EV/hybrid training as technology continues to advance.”

For more information about the program, visit the Palm Beach State College website.