Bus mechanic apprenticeship being developed at Penn College

Pennsylvania College of Technology has been awarded a $600,000 grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry to develop a new sector apprenticeship in transportation. The apprenticeship will train bus mechanics, addressing the shortage of skilled bus service technicians and ensuring the consistent operation of public transit in urban and rural areas across the commonwealth.

Recently announced by Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration, the grant is part of nearly $5.4 million in awards supporting the creation and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs aimed at increasing opportunities for Pennsylvania workers.

“We are incredibly proud of our team at Pennsylvania College of Technology for securing this grant to develop the Bus Mechanic Apprenticeship,” said Alison A. Diehl, vice president for workforce development. “This award highlights the hard work and dedication of our workforce development team and reinforces the college's mission to deliver industry-driven education that supports Pennsylvania’s workforce needs.”

Workforce Development at Penn College is partnering on the Bus Mechanic Apprenticeship with the Pennsylvania Transportation Resource and Information Network. PennTRAIN is a collaboration of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Public Transportation, the Federal Transit Administration’s Rural Transportation Assistance Program and the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association.

PennTRAIN sets the standards for public transportation education and training for 53 member agencies across the commonwealth. The agencies have faced challenges in the hiring of skilled mechanics in recent years, and anticipated retirements and slight growth in the occupation are compounding this need.

Penn College will design a curriculum for entry-level mechanics new to the public transportation industry. The program’s format will combine virtual instruction, hands-on application and on-the-job training. The apprenticeship is anticipated to be 18 months to two years in length and is expected to serve 36 individuals.

The project team will work with Penn College diesel equipment technology faculty to design and explore curriculum pathways for further educational advancement.

“Workforce Development is excited to collaborate with our diesel faculty and PennTRAIN to develop this Bus Mechanic Apprenticeship program to serve entry-level bus mechanics,” said Alexandra M. Lehman, the training consultant who is leading the apprenticeship initiative. “The hybrid format will allow us to serve public transit agencies throughout the state, addressing a growing need for skilled mechanics in the public transportation industry. The grant funding will enable us to work with community partners to encourage apprentices’ successful completion of the program. We can’t wait to get started!”

The first cohort is anticipated to start in the summer of 2025 and will support incumbent workers in six counties: Altoona Metro Transit in Blair County, Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority in Berks County, Capital Area Transit in Dauphin County, Monroe County Transit Authority in Monroe County, Red Rose Transit Authority in Lancaster County and River Valley Transit in Lycoming County. 

The grant will offset tuition fees for the employer agencies, as well as offset the program development and implementation costs. The initiative will develop strategic marketing efforts to inform underrepresented populations and underserved communities about the apprenticeship.

To encourage the perseverance and success of the apprentices, the grant will also assist Penn College in developing a mentorship training program for the Bus Mechanic Apprenticeship. The mentors will serve as subject-matter experts for the on-the-job training portion of the apprenticeship.

The grant will support Penn College in partnering with community agencies to provide barrier-remediation services which may include offsetting costs of childcare and transportation while apprentices are participating in the program. Employability skills training may also be provided.

Penn College is a national, comprehensive provider of apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeships help companies train existing workers to fill skills gaps and are a powerful tool for growing the American economy.

“We’re grateful to our government leaders for recognizing the value and impact of our apprenticeship programs,” Diehl added. “By creating training opportunities that align with today’s evolving industries, we’re helping workers build pathways to family-sustaining jobs.”

Workforce Development at Penn College has fully developed apprenticeships for CNC precision machinists, industrial maintenance mechanics, industrial manufacturing technicians, mechatronics technicians, plastics process technicians, and robotics and automation equipment technicians. An energy specialist apprenticeship will launch next year.

For more about Penn College’s apprenticeships, call Workforce Development at 570-327-4775 or email.

For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.