Powering the Future: PBSC Launches EV Technician Program

Palm Beach State College is preparing the next generation of automotive technicians for a rapidly changing industry with the launch of its Electric, Hybrid and Alternative Fuels Vehicle Technician Career Certificate Program. Beginning in spring 2027 at the Lake Worth campus, the 850-hour evening program will provide students with the skills needed to diagnose, maintain and repair modern electrified vehicles.

“This program represents an important investment in the future of automotive technicians,” said Eligio Marquez, EdD, 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.”

Through classroom instruction and hands-on laboratory learning, students will develop skills in high-voltage safety, batteries and electrical storage systems, electric motors, generators, power inverters, regenerative braking, steering and suspension, MVAC and cooling systems, and engine performance and emissions diagnostics. The program also will introduce alternative-fuel technologies, including compressed natural gas and hydrogen-related systems, while reinforcing OSHA, EPA and shop-safety requirements.

The evening format is intended to provide a practical pathway for working adults, current technicians and individuals seeking to enter a high-demand technical field. Graduates may be eligible to sit for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence L3 Hybrid and Electric Vehicle certification exam.

Students will have opportunities to work on electric, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles from major manufacturers, including Toyota and Tesla. A unique vehicle is the Switch Lab, a small, fully electric educational vehicle designed to teach students about electric-vehicle systems and repairs. It offers a stripped-down view of an electric vehicle’s components, making it “a trainer more than anything,” according to Marquez.

While the program begins in spring 2027, a permanent home is in the works.

To support the program, the trade school is renovating a state-of-the-art facility with six service bays, or designated garage spaces where vehicles can be diagnosed, maintained or repaired. The total investment in renovation, equipment and vehicles is estimated at $5.5 million.

“We have a HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) grant for $4.1 million,” said Marquez. “It's going to be used for the renovation and everything that needs to be done in the building. Then we have another $1.2 million that we just got from the legislature.”

Compared with Palm Beach State College’s existing automotive program, the electric, hybrid and alternative-fuels program will implement additional safety precautions.

“There’s a potential that you could get shocked, so you have to be cautious,” said Greg Paczkowski, who will serve as the new 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.”

Unlike students in the traditional automotive program, students in the new program will need to complete high-voltage training before beginning hands-on instruction. “They’re electric vehicles, so they are going to be working with 400 volts,” Paczkowski said.

The new program will help fill a real workforce need. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 70,000 openings for automotive service technicians and mechanics each year from 2024 through 2034. Employers will increasingly value graduates with skills in EV safety, batteries, electrical systems and diagnostics. In the U.S. alone, electric-car sales reached 1.6 million in 2024.

“As the vehicle market evolves, EV and hybrid fundamentals will likely become part of the core automotive curriculum,” said Doreen Singer, the program 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 Electric, Hybrid and Alternative Fuels Vehicle Technician Career Certificate Program, contact Singer at singerd@pbsc.edu or 561-868-3542.