At the recent Pittsburgh Auto Show in Pennsylvania, the Neighborhood Ford Store shone a spotlight on the local Ford Automotive Student Service Education Training (ASSET) program, where students are put in the driver's seat of their careers.

The Ford ASSET program is a two-year program in which students gain hands-on experience with Ford vehicles, work at a sponsoring Ford dealership, and earn an associate’s degree. Students alternate shop time with classroom instruction, gaining real-world experience while earning a college degree. This allows for a smooth transition into a dealership environment after graduation. Additionally, one of the biggest benefits for many students is that it’s a paid opportunity, as each participant is compensated by their sponsoring dealership while completing the co-op portions of their training.

The Pittsburgh Auto Show highlighted the Ford ASSET program at the local Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC). Robert (Bob) Koch, ASSET instructor at CCAC, says the program “allows them to earn while they learn.” He also emphasized his pride in the long-standing partnership between Ford Motor Company and CCAC, noting that the program has been active in the local community for nearly 40 years.

The program is open to recent high school graduates and individuals seeking a career change, making it accessible to people of all ages and experience levels. Students work on Ford vehicles at the community college, ensuring they are familiar with the technology and systems before entering the dealership environment. Justin Clemmer, a second-year student, says, “We get a lot of experience and training through Ford on how to work on Ford vehicles, along with real-world dealership experience through hands-on work.”

If you are considering pursuing a career as an automotive service technician, consider enrolling at CCAC ASSET. Enrollment is now open for the 2026 Fall semester.

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To learn more about the Ford ASSET program, please visit our program page here.

For information on the ASSET “ACCELERATE” Tuition Scholarship click here.