If you’re passionate about working on motorcycles, you may want to explore your options for obtaining a certification as a motorcycle technician. There are many schools across the nation, but the PowerSport Institute (PSI) offers a wide variety of curriculums that encompass the entire American V-twin segment.

PowerSport Institute is a branch of the Ohio Technical Institute that focuses on providing quality technical education, with sufficient scope to include both fundamental and specialized technical training so that graduates are prepared to meet both present and future needs of the industry. PSI is solely based in Cleveland and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.

Approximated cost for a PSI education is roughly $18,400 for American two-wheeled enthusiasts looking for a career as a motorcycle technician. PSI offers the American V-Twin Specialty, which focuses on servicing Harley-Davidson, Victory Motorcycles, and S&S Cycle technologies. During the 48 weeks (1,200 clock hours) of the American V-Twin Specialist program students receive a detailed overview of each manufacturer’s model-specific components, and are trained to efficiently complete service intervals, safety check inspections, top- and bottom-end servicing, primary and secondary drive functionality, starting, charging, and ignition systems, as well as troubleshooting and diagnostic techniques for each. Following the electrical diagnostics students will also cover fuel system operations and troubleshooting for carburetors and electronic fuel injection as well as operations of multiple fuel management systems utilizing Daytona Twin Tech, Wiseco’s Fuel Management Control, S&S’s VFI and IST Systems, and Harley-Davidson’s Super Tuner.

PSI students will also have the ability to not only learn the duties of a technician in a shop, but also those of a service writer. Every student has the opportunity to be assigned the service writer at the beginning of each day and is responsible for all the other students in lab. Incorporating this responsibility into every student’s education prepares him or her for a real-world experience, making him or her far more valuable to employers once they reach the field. Many of the duties that pertain to those of a service writer are correctly filling out repair orders, placing parts orders, writing crash estimates, and techniques on how to properly deal with customers. This program is offered in both day and night classes.

In addition to the teaching all the major manufacturers of American V-twin technology, PSI also offers a Custom Bike Building/Performance Program for students to incorporate their creativity and innovation in design while focusing on performance drivability, functionality, and safety initiatives while giving them practical experience in motorcycle assembly. This unique program offers the opportunity to combine technical instruction with design elements such as metal fabrication, laying paint, rebuilding wiring harnesses, and customizing components.

PSI offers many incentives for all students attending the campus, such as financial aid (grants, scholarships, student loans, and Veterans’ educational benefits), as well as work study programs so students can work on campus while attending the school to earn a few extra bucks, and living accommodations off-site. Off-site housing is available through PSI and features a kitchen, living room, and dining area. Most off-site housing apartments are two bedrooms and utilities are included in the rent.

As for job placement, upon completion of the program, students participate in a job-seeking-skills seminar, which covers resume writing, communicating with potential employers, interviewing, and after-interview follow-ups. PSI also hosts in-house job fairs where current students can meet and make contact with participating companies for employment once they graduate. There are many factors involved with job placement for students, but placement success rates fluctuate between 70 to 82 percent.

Tuition for PSI students covers the spectrum of necessary program expenses, including tuition, books, parking, uniforms, and more. Also when a student completes the program he or she receives a Matco meter and $350 tool voucher. HB

Source: PowerSport Institute (PSI)

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