The American Boat & Yacht Council Foundation has designated the Marine Service Technology course at Manatee Technical College in Bradenton, Fla., a Marine Trades Accreditation Program. Launched in 2022, the ABYC program ensures that a training course is aligned with industry needs at secondary and post-secondary schools.
“The administration and faculty at MTC have shown how well they work with the students and with the marine industry,” Sarah Devlin, ABYC Foundation’s accreditation director, said in a statement. “Watching MTC instructors Freddie Fowler and Ron Tomlin seamlessly share teaching duties as the students work independently and with confidence in a clean, organized and well equipped shop is a prime example of what an MTAP should be. We are very enthusiastic to continue working with them.”
To achieve MTAP designation, ABYC staff reviews the program application prior to approval by an accreditation commission populated by marine industry professionals with stakes in education and workforce development. Once the application is approved, the ABYC Foundation sends an onsite team to the school to verify application information and to hold interviews with administration, faculty and students.
“We teach our students from the ground up, which gives them a firm foundation that can be built upon as we move into more complex topics such as engine diagnostics and repair, electronics installation, network installation and electrical diagnosing and troubleshooting,” Fowler said in the statement. “Not only does this program provide a firm foundation for students, but it also prepares them for the future.”
Accreditation is available to all high school and post-secondary school marine service technology programs that deliver consistent and reliable instruction on industry-acknowledged topics and techniques. Practices, resources and instructors must meet ABYC Foundation Accreditation Commission standards.
