Program Overview
The Agriculture and Industrial Equipment Technology program prepares students to become technicians for agriculture and construction equipment dealers who sell such brands as AGCO, CASE IH, Caterpillar, Kubota, and New Holland products. The program takes two years to complete and includes courses in hydraulics, electronics, diesel, mobile air conditioning, and diagnostics. The Agriculture and Industrial Equipment program intends to meet the following goals:

1. Upgrade the technical competency and professional level of incoming AG and industrial equipment service technicians.
2. Train students to analytically diagnose service and maintain agriculture and industrial products using recommended procedures, special tools, and service information.
3. Develop technicians with strong communications and customer service skills including listening, interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork.
4. Provide content that will enable successful graduates to advance in position after additional experience, and to understand new systems and components as they are introduced.

To enter the program, students must be sponsored by an equipment dealership and meet the dealership hiring requirements. Students are encouraged to do a pre-internship at an equipment dealership prior to entering the program. Students complete six sessions of courses at CBC (109-111 credits/ 1694 – 1716 hours) and four sessions of paid internships at sponsoring dealerships (20 credits/1000 hours). An Associate of Applied Science in Agriculture and Industrial Equipment Technology is awarded to students who complete all required and related coursework, general education requirements, and internship credits.

Labor Market Projections
Ag and Industrial Equipment Technicians are in high demand. The Washington State Employment Security Department, Labor Market and Economic Analysis Branch estimates that farm equipment technicians will have 60 annual openings due to job growth and replacements, an increase of 5 percent. It is also estimated that there will be 110 annual openings for mobile equipment mechanics in Washington, an increase of 11 percent.
 
The Oregon Employment Department estimates that the need for farm equipment technicians will increase by 10.8 percent by 2016 - an annual growth rate of 15 new positions per year. In addition, 33 replacement positions are needed annually. Mobile equipment technicians in Oregon are expected to increase 9.7 percent by 2016 – an annual growth rate of 21 new positions and 48 replacement positions per year.

Washington ranks second in the nation for wages for Farm Equipment Mechanics at $17.73 hourly mean wage. Oregon ranks fourth at $17.28 hourly mean wage. Mobile equipment technicians earn an average $3 to $4 more per hour than farm equipment mechanics in each state.

Student Qualifications
Students must meet the following qualifications for entrance into the program:

1. At least 18 years old
2. Earned a high school diploma or equivalent
3. Completed a CBC Admission Application
4. Students must have a sponsoring dealership for entrance into the program.  Program staff are willing to assist you with locating potential sponsoring dealers.
5. Ability to meet sponsoring dealership hiring requirements.  (Note: many dealerships require a drug test for employment.  If this is a requirement, you must be willing to take a drug test if requested.)
6. Possess a valid driver's license and maintain an employable driving record.

Program Outcomes

Faculty
Dan VonHolten
Assistant Professor for Ag & Industrial Equipment 
Assistant Professor for Automotive Technology
Location: I-2 Building
Phone: 509-542-4770
Email: dan.vonholten@columbiabasin.edu
Education: Journeyman Mechanic 
  
Courses: Fundamentals of Maintenance, Pre-Delivery and Maintenance, Power Train, Mobile Air Conditioning, Hydraulic Principles, Hydraulic Systems, and Engines and Fuel Systems.

Monty Prather
Adjunct Instructor
Location: V Building, Room V-133A
Phone: 509-542-4746
Email: mprather@columbiabasin.edu
Education: AAS Columbia Basin College
                 Journeyman Mechanic

Courses: Wiring Circuits, Charging and Starting Systems and Electronic Systems.

Program Information Sessions
Contact Dan Von Holten to schedule an individual program information session.