Hawkeye Joins AVTECC Accreditation Program

Skills-Based Automotive Technician Program Aligned to Employer Demands

The Advanced Vehicle Technology Education and Credentialing Coalition (AVTECC), a non-profit focused on transforming workforce education and credentialing in the transportation sector, is proud to announce that Hawkeye Community College is joining as an AVTECC Program Accreditation Pilot institution.

Hawkeye will be among the first institutions in the nation to begin aligning their automotive programs to AVTECC's skills-based certification and accreditation model. The pilot program represents a major step toward reshaping technician education through aligning programming to meaningful outcomes and the skills employers hire and promote for.

"Our goal is to build elite programs that produce exceptional technicians," said David Macholz, President and CEO of AVTECC. "Our accreditation model goes deeper than minimum standards and compliance. It's about building programs that result in meaningful outcomes for students and the local industry these institutions serve".

Hawkeye will begin embedding performance-based, industry-recognized skills assessments into their Automotive Technology curriculum. These assessments will result in AVTECC certifications, which validate real-world skills in all areas of the automobile with an emphasis on advanced technologies such as electric vehicle systems, advanced diagnostics, and advanced driver assistance systems. By integrating certification into existing programs, schools can give students an advantage in the job market and deliver on the promise of career-ready education.

A key component of the AVTECC accreditation process is the Automotive Instructors Institute, a professional development program designed to help educators build instructional capacity around emerging technologies and competency-based instruction. Faculty at Hawkeye will receive targeted training and support as they align program outcomes with AVTECC standards and prepare to assess students on nationally validated skills.

"Joining the AVTECC Accreditation Pilot is a major step forward for our program and our students," said Gerrot Jacobson, an instructor in the Automotive Technology program at Hawkeye Community College. "I believe this partnership will truly level up our education by aligning what we teach with the real-world skills employers are looking for today. The skills-based model and performance assessments will give our graduates a stronger foundation to build their careers on from day one. This isn't just about meeting standards — it’s about exceeding them and preparing technicians who are ready to lead the industry forward."

The pilot will inform the full rollout of AVTECC's national accreditation framework, which is designed to evaluate programs based on learner achievement, industry engagement, and instructional quality, ensuring that graduates are equipped for high-demand roles in a rapidly changing transportation landscape.

For more information about AVTECC, the pilot institutions, or the accreditation process, visit www.avtecc.org or contact info@avtecc.org.