The program aims to help fill the more than 110,000 collision technician job openings expected before 2026 through a two-year associate degree model
Omaha, Neb.—Enterprise Holdings, through the Enterprise Holdings Foundation, has announced Metropolitan Community College (MCC) in Omaha, Neb., will offer the Collision Engineering Program (CEP) curriculum as part of its existing Auto Collision Technology program.
CEP is now active at seven schools across the U.S. Founded by the Enterprise Holdings Foundation and Ranken Technical College in St. Louis, the program aims to help fill the more than 110,000 collision technician job openings expected before 2026 through a two-year associate degree model where students rotate between classroom instruction and a paid apprenticeship in a collision repair facility.
With support from CEP and Chief Collision Technology, MCC will upgrade its training facilities with Chief’s Meridian Live Mapping System. During the program, MCC Auto Collision Technology students will alternate quarters taking classes at MCC’s Automotive Training Center on the South Omaha Campus, then participate in a mentorship and paid internship at a local sponsoring business the next quarter.
With its proximity to repair facilities in four Nebraska counties, as well as the major metropolitan area of Omaha, the addition of MCC to the CEP footprint creates opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience and make valuable connections with industry professionals. Fifteen local employers have already expressed interest in a CEP apprentice when the first cohort begins this fall.
In addition to MCC, the program is available at Ranken Technical College in St. Louis; College of Lake County in Grayslake, Ill.; Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif.; Collin College in Allen, Texas; Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas; and Parkland College in Champaign, Ill.
MCC’s Auto Collision Technology program is currently accepting applications for the first cohort of CEP students, with classes beginning later this year. For more information regarding the program and application process, visit www.beacollisionengineer.com.
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