Electric vehicle training now offered at Arizona Western College
August 25, 2025Become a certified EV technician in just 8 weeks
Yuma, Ariz. (August 27, 2025) – With the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) use comes the need for additional training and certifications to meet the demands of the job market. Arizona Western Entrepreneurial College is stepping in to meet that need with a new course titled "Electric Vehicle Service and Safety." The eight-week course beginning this October will prepare students for the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) tests required to achieve Level 1 and Level 2 xEV Technician Electrical Safety Certifications.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a need for 35,000 additional EV technicians by 2028, yet currently, fewer than 3% of technicians nationwide are proficient in EV maintenance. In Arizona, nearly half of EV and battery industry expansions have been in rural communities, meaning the demand for certified technicians is growing not only in cities but in small towns as well.
EVT220 provides specialized training for service and repair of battery electric and hybrid vehicles, emphasizing electrical safety, routine maintenance, diagnostics, and industry standards. In just eight weeks, students will be prepared to pass the ASE exams (separate fees apply) necessary to obtain technician certifications sought by employers in the automotive industry, dealerships, and delivery companies such as Amazon, UPS, and FedEx (such companies may additionally require their own company-specific certifications).
“The transition to electric vehicles isn’t just reshaping the auto industry—it’s reshaping our workforce,” said program manager Jesus Castillo Flores. “By preparing students for ASE xEV certification, we are equipping auto mechanics, engineers, and electricians with the high-voltage safety skills and technical expertise employers demand. Programs like EVT220 are closing that gap—creating career opportunities in our communities while ensuring we have the talent to power the future of transportation.”
EVT220 will run every Tuesday and Thursday from October 13 to December 5 at the Yuma Campus. Offered in the afternoon from 4:30-6:50 p.m., course scheduling allows interested high school students to attend the class through concurrent enrollment. Additionally, local high school students have the unique advantage of being able to take AWC courses at the reduced rate of $30/credit.
Find more information on EVT220 in the AWC course catalog here, or follow this link to begin the application process.
For additional information on the program, email questions to energytech@azwestern.edu, or contact Jesus Castillo Flores at (928) 344-7784.
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Contact:
Jesus Castillo Flores
Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Coordinator
Arizona Western Entrepreneurial College
jesus.castillo@azwestern.edu
(928) 344-7784