New Program Spotlight: Mopar Career Automotive Program (MCAP)

Starts fall semester 2023

Dakota County Technical College is offering a new program, Mopar Career Automotive Program (MCAP), in the college’s Transportation department starting fall semester 2023. MCAP provides you with more than a general automotive education. By incorporating the Mopar® CAP curriculum delivered by Stellantis-certified instructors, the new program equips you with the ability to turn your passion into a rewarding career.

As an MCAP student, you’ll receive the hands-on, practical training and fundamental knowledge you’ll need to work on state-of-the-art vehicles manufactured by these legendary Stellantis brands:

Earning the 72-credit Mopar CAP Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree gives you a competitive edge and shows employers you have the essential qualifications required for a successful career as an automotive technician at a Mopar dealership. The Mopar Career Automotive Program (MCAP) is accredited by the ASE Education Foundation.

Matt Boudinot serves as faculty in the college’s Automotive Technician program. Matt will also be teaching courses in the MCAP curriculum.

“MCAP is a great addition to our already popular automotive technology offerings,” he said. “Our current automotive programs have a great reputation with our industry partners for delivering well-prepared and knowledgeable students into the workforce. The addition of the MCAP A.A.S. degree will give students a higher level of manufacturer certification at Stellantis-branded dealerships—Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat. Our industry partners see tremendous value in this program and the students who come out of it.”

Matt added that additional MCAP training allows students to perform higher-skilled repairs earlier in their careers, fast-tracking their advancement in the workforce  Stellantis provides MCAP with all of the cutting-edge tools, hardware, and vehicles that technicians will encounter at a Mopar dealership.

“Students will also have access to the factory training resources and service information system they’ll need to repair these highly technical vehicles,” Matt said. “With the support of Stellantis, MCAP students will keep up to speed with rapid technological changes to the vehicles of today and tomorrow. We are excited to provide prospective students with this new training opportunity and the option to launch a great-paying career under the Stellantis brands.”

Student perspective: Alayceona “Lay Lay” King

Lay Lay King

Age: 23
Hometown: Burnsville, Minnesota
High school and year graduated: Henry Sibley (now Two Rivers), Class of 2018
DCTC scheduled graduation date: May 2023
Major at DCTC: Automotive Technician
Future college plans: Auto Body Collision Technology certificate as well as a business degree
Career plans: Further my career and move up to master technician as well as open my own shop one day

Three words that describe you as a college student:
MOTIVATED. OVERACHIEVER. COMPETENT.

Q & A

Why did you choose DCTC and specifically our Automotive Technician program?

I have a few reasons why I chose DCTC and the Automotive Technician program. One of those was that it was a closer commute out of all the automotive programs. Two, after talking with an advisor at Normandale about wanting to switch my major to automotive, he suggested the DCTC program and said a colleague of his at DCTC could help me get into the program.

Also, I’ve always wanted to be able to rebuild an older collector car, so what better way to do that than go to school for it as well as make a career out of it. I have always been interested in older cars as well as new cars that I eventually want to have in my collection.

Another reason is that I have always been a hands-on learner, so what better way to have the best of both worlds than further my career with cars and not have to sit behind a desk all day.

What made you decide to work at a Mopar dealership?

That’s easy—I have always been a big fan of Dodge/Mopar products no matter if it’s the RAMs, Chargers, Challengers, or Durangos.

What are your favorite things about the program?

One of my favorite things is the fact that the teachers help their students complete the program even if that’s staying to help them understand more and move further in their manufacturing training for their specific programs. Two, is that being a woman in a mostly men’s profession, the program and the people in it make you feel included.

Do you feel the program provided the knowledge you need out in the industry?

I do believe that the program helps give us a basic knowledge of what to expect in the industry because cars and systems are always changing so you’re always learning something new every day.

Tuesday Info Session Requirement

All students applying for this program are REQUIRED to RSVP for and attend a Tuesday Info Session. Sessions are now available both virtually and in-person.

Learn more and RSVP


Transportation Showcase

If you’re interested in Transportation programs at DCTC, you should join us for our Transportation Showcase Wednesday, April 19, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Learn more and RSVP

Learn more about the new Mopar Career Automotive Program (MCAP) by contacting:

Matt Boudinot
Automotive Technician Faculty
651-423-8623
Faculty Bio

Admissions
admissions@dctc.edu
651-423-8266
Room 2-110

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

Diagnose problems and repair cars and light trucks.

WAGE

Minnesota

Median: $23.61/hour
High: $30.05/hour

Seven-county Twin Cities metro

Median: $25.04/hour
High: $30.58/hour

OUTLOOK

In Minnesota, there are 12,930 workers employed in this large career. There will be a need for about 12,783 new Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics to meet market demand between 2020–2030 This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

— Minnesota State CAREERwise Education (March 31, 2023)