The technician shortage affects every auto repair shop across the country. Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) is stepping up to meet the challenge. Led by James Lawrence, MPC’s Automotive Technology program is developing highly trained, job-ready auto repair technicians by training them directly on AutoVitals, the industry’s leading digital vehicle inspection platform.
Unlike traditional programs that rely heavily on simulators or trainer equipment, Monterey Peninsula College puts students straight to work on real vehicles. From the beginning, students are immersed in hands-on, project-based learning that reflects what they’ll experience in the field.
“We try to do as much hands-on, project-based education as we can,” James explained. “In every class, whether it's engine repair, transmissions, or brakes, we have them doing real stuff. We don't typically use trainers. We have them work on real cars.”
That experience includes working on customer vehicles every Friday. “Students can bring in their own cars, but they also do work on cars from faculty members and the community,” James said. Spots for this service book out a month in advance! This live-shop model reinforces real-world skills, responsibility, and readiness for employment after graduation while also providing a valuable service to the local community.
To make sure students are ready for today’s shop environment, MPC teaches them how to perform digital vehicle inspections using AutoVitals. It’s a key part of the curriculum and reflects the shift the entire industry is making away from paper-based inspections.
“This was our first intro into DVI,” James said. “We needed to follow the industry. So we went from paper and pencil inspection forms to DVI.” Students adapt quickly to the system. “If they haven't been doing the paper and pencil inspections, it's obviously easy,” he explained. “In my eyes, it's much simpler and ends up with a more accurate inspection.”
At MPC, AutoVitals DVI is built into the full repair process and integrated with the shop’s point-of-sale system, giving students exposure to real workflow tools they’ll encounter in the field. The system has become a core part of the student technician experience. “It's pretty seamless in the sense that the students are learning the DVI system at our program, and then when they go into the industry, they're clearly doing something similar,” James shared.
That hands-on familiarity gives students a major advantage. “You're starting with the digital vehicle inspection, and from my perspective, it's a lot more user-friendly,” James shared. Features like drop-down menus that allow students to choose from a list of options make the process “much simpler and you end up with a more accurate inspection.”
By working in a setup that mirrors what they’ll see in professional shops, MPC students build confidence using both the inspection tools and the workflow systems that drive modern auto repair.
With the auto repair industry facing a nationwide technician shortage, programs like MPC’s play a critical role in supplying the workforce with qualified, digitally capable techs. By using AutoVitals, MPC ensures students learn exactly what today’s shops need, from inspection efficiency to customer-facing communication.
“We try to keep it as real-world as we can,” James said. “That’s where AutoVitals fits in. It’s driven by the industry. It wasn’t my idea. It was the industry telling us that this is the direction we needed to go.”