How To Become A Porsche Technician?

The goal of the PTAP, which is Porsche Cars North America’s own apprenticeship program, is to educate and prepare both men and women to work as Porsche dealer technicians.

The PCNA chooses UTI students who exhibit the academic achievement, enthusiasm, and aptitude to become a Porsche mechanic, mostly in conjunction with Universal Technical Institute (UTI).

Apprentice level technicians who have graduated from or are about to graduate from a nearby automotive technical school and are sponsored by an approved Porsche dealer may also be eligible for admission to the PTAP program.

Levels of Porsche Technician Certification

The certification comes in three different grades: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Within their first year of employment, students can earn their bronze certification. The only requirement to become a Bronze level technician is to pass a written test. A written test and a practical test are required to get Silver level. Gold includes both a written and practical test. With only about 200 certified Porsche automobile technicians in the US and about 700 across the world, gold certification is challenging to get. This top ranking requires the following from students:

  • a minimum of five years of expertise servicing and analyzing Porsche automobiles
  • Bronze and Silver certificates already earned
  • Every year, continuing education
  • the certification test being passed

Gaining Gold accreditation has advantages, one of which is the ability to work on specific models, such the Carrera GT.

A Porsche Training Center serves as the exclusive testing location. Candidates are given a set amount of time to assess up to four distinct challenges while compiling all the data required to respond to these four questions. Testing can take up to an hour for each issue, and you must provide all the resources and information necessary to solve the issues.

A program for apprentices in Porsche technology

Additionally, even if previous mechanic knowledge will be beneficial, it’s crucial to keep in mind that Porsche didn’t become the industry leader in the automotive industry by producing cars in the same way that everyone else did. Having experience working on cars is crucial, but getting into the PTAP will give you the best chance of getting technical jobs with a focus on Porsches (Porsche Technology Apprenticeship Program).

Porsche has collaborated with the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) to develop a training program aimed at instructing mechanics how to maintain their particular automobiles, similar to many other automakers from across the world.

Only serious candidates may apply. Only 12 students are accepted into a class for the full year if you are eligible for PTAP training. That ought to demonstrate the importance Porsche places on its dealership-certified programs. They all pay for your training in fact because they want to ensure that their clients can locate mechanics who are expert in their field.

Students must travel to one of the company’s two PCNA (Porsche Cars North America) training facilities in Easton, Pennsylvania, or Atlanta, Georgia, to enroll. As previously noted, there will only be 12 of you in each session, which is one of the greatest ratios available in the sector.

You all have first-hand experience with all of Porsche’s most well-known models during your training. This comprises:

  • Boxster
  • 911
  • Cayman
  • Panamera
  • Cayenne

Students receive instruction in modern, recent, and historic Porsche models. Graduation requires the ability to comprehend how these distinct models operate and diagnose their issues.

You all graduate from the program with up to 96 certificates for working on Porsche automobiles.

What’s It Like to Work as a Tech at a Porsche Classic Center?

Can I choose two? The 1989 930 LE engine restoration was my favorite project because it was the first Classic engine I had built before 2000 and provided me with a wealth of knowledge.

Building the Restoracing Boxster was second-best. It was excellent for me because I’ve driven rally and drift cars before and thought my knowledge and suggestions could really benefit the squad. This project was fantastic to be a part of and was a team effort amongst a few Technicians.

I perform inspections, tire and brake measures, diagnostic work, services, tire replacement, and fault rectification every day. Almost anything on any vehicle. There are never two alike days.

I may spend some days working on a Taycan or a complex modern electrical project while other days I may be performing services and the occasional repair.

Other days, I might be tearing down a 356 or a vintage 911 that needs a lot of TLC, giving them a complete overhaul.

Restorations only sometimes arise, but we have had the good fortune to have quite a few restoration jobs in the past. For me, restorations are the best work because you know you’re giving the car a second chance at life and extending its useful life by at least 50 years. Additionally, it offers you an opportunity to interact deeply with the customer and comprehend the work they need done to have the car just how they want it. You experience a genuine sense of passion from the customer and Technician when you work a job like this.

Silver (senior) Technician rank is my next step. Additionally, I would adore returning to Germany to complete my Classic Training.

What advice would you provide to someone considering a career as a technician?

How challenging is it to work at Porsche?

50% of job candidates say they had a great interview experience at Porsche Cars North America. For their job interviews at Porsche Cars North America, candidates rate the level of difficulty on average at 2.7 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty).

Any mechanic can work on a Porsche, right?

Many people believe that the brand’s dealership is the finest location to go if you want your automobile to receive top-notch maintenance. Particularly with Porsche, not just any mechanic can work on your vehicle. Because most of their cars have mid-engines, unique tools are needed, along with some specialist knowledge to complete the work swiftly and effectively.

A Porsche requires a little bit more general maintenance than a typical oil change. Even changing the oil in most European cars involves specialized equipment, including filters and occasionally unique types of oil that your typical mechanic might not have on hand. Due to this, many people choose to merely go to their neighborhood dealership.

Can you perform your own Porsche repairs?

What has to be corrected and the technicians you select to do those repairs will determine how much your repairs will cost. Due to their high-performance engineering and component manufacturing volume, Porsche repair services can be more expensive than those for other car brands. Because of the car you drive, other auto repair shops could try to extort more money from you, but not at Trafton’s.

You might be able to handle simple repairs on your own if you are familiar with the mechanics of your car. However, it is always preferable to have a qualified expert work on your Porsche, especially for more challenging problems.

What motivates your desire to work with Porsche?

Porsche is a distinctive business with fervent beliefs. Everything we do reflects the principles and values we uphold. We are quite aware of who we are and how we operate. This enables us to uphold our values and reach the high standards we set for ourselves. Regardless of what others do, we are dedicated to always broadening our boundaries and establishing new benchmarks.

Do Porsche staff members receive a Porsche?

Working full-time in the US does not always equate to making even a decent salary. However, things are very different in Germany.

And there, Porsche is offering a completely new level of comfortably paid employment; according to The Drive, each and every one of the company’s 21,000 employees will receive a substantial EUR9,111 incentive. This is roughly $9,825.

Why? According to a release, the premium carmaker achieved record sales last year with $24 billion in revenue, a 4% rise. Porsche chose to thank its many employees rather than just provide the extra money to the top of the corporate food chain.

Each bonus is worth exactly EUR9,111, a nod to the Porsche 911. Everyone will receive that additional compensation, including industrial workers, janitors, senior personnel, engineers, cafeteria staff, and others.

Discuss #careergoals. It would be lovely to see that kind of charity among the wealthy American corporations.

Oliver Blume, chairman of the executive board of Porsche AG, stated in a statement that 2016 was “an interesting, emotional, and, above all, tremendously successful year for Porsche.” “Our staff’s knowledge and enthusiasm lay the groundwork for Porsche’s successful future.”

Of course, there are other people as well as the business itself to thank for such a kind gift. Germany’s labor laws differ greatly from those in the United States. Germany now has more powerful unions and labor representation at the highest levels of huge corporations.

Employees have the chance to participate in major corporate decisions through organizations known as “works councils.” They choose a labor representative to carry out this. And there’s a structure, where executives decide on labor policy behind closed doors, that just doesn’t exist in the United States.

The Worldwide Guide to Trade Unions and Works Councils, a publication of Cornell University, explains that a representative of the so-called works council bargains with the employer over issues like pay and working conditions. This person has the ability to influence workplace policies that are “typically subject to the employer’s right of direction.”

In the case of Porsche, a works council representative went through difficult negotiations to reach that amazing incentive. According to Porsche’s Group Works Council chair Uwe Huck, “negotiating a bonus is never simple.” The decision-making process was particularly challenging this time, though.

If you want an extra $10K in your next paycheck, it appears you may have to relocate to Germany.

Do Porsche staff members receive cars?

The wages determined for employment contracts at Porsche AG are based on the metalworking industry’s collective bargaining agreement. The individual compensation structure is determined by the experience and qualifications of the employee.

Fair compensation that is appealing in comparison to our rivals is ensured through individual, performance- and results-based wage components.

With one of our business or rental cars, we provide many employees the chance to discover Porsche’s appeal outside of the job. Additionally, we extend a tempting offer of certain rental cars from the Volkswagen program to all employees.

With the extensive pension services we provide to our personnel, we set the bar. After all, after you’re retired, you should be treated with the respect that you deserve from Porsche.

With programs like Porsche VarioRente, which also enables you to convert a portion of the compensation you earn while working and invest it in your pension plan, we ensure this.

In addition to guiding our cars, Porsche Intelligent Performance also serves as the cornerstone of our Porsche insurance program. This is due to the fact that we constantly make an effort to strategically improve our services and working circumstances for our personnel.

The insurance coverage options include term life insurance, liability insurance, and auto insurance. You get unbiased guidance and profit from affordably cost, individually made insurance policies.

Employees frequently commemorate their 10, 25, or 40 years of service to the company. Many employees at Porsche discover a “career for life,” and we are glad to claim that.

The significant anniversary benefits that our workers get based on their tenure of employment with the company are one way that we show our gratitude for their long-term dedication.

Our extensive list of extra perks is completed by special rates and discounts on replacement parts as well as in the PorscheDesign and Porsche Lifestyle by PorscheDesign shops.