The Technician Advancement Program (TAP), powered by NJ CAR, is more than just an educational initiative; it’s a statewide movement to address the urgent need for skilled automotive technicians while providing individuals with a clear, supported pathway into a rewarding career. With the success of our initial camps, TAP is poised to grow significantly in the coming months. We are excited to share what the future holds, thank the dealerships stepping up to host bootcamps, and highlight the powerful stories of students already benefiting from this program.
Building the Future of TAP Across New Jersey
The demand for skilled automotive service technicians is not slowing down. In fact, according to labor projections, New Jersey will need thousands of new technicians over the next decade to keep pace with the retirement of existing technicians and the growing demand for vehicle service. Recognizing this critical need, NJ CAR launched TAP as a pre-apprenticeship training program designed to equip participants with the technical skills, professional training, and real-world experience required to thrive in the field.
The program provides 288 hours of instruction, split between classroom, teaching, and hands-on shop experience. Students meet four evenings a week, balancing lessons with a hands-on application of what’s taught on real vehicles in dealership service bays. This learning model results in a practical, fast-tracked training experience that prepares participants for entry into a registered apprenticeship or direct employment with franchised new vehicle dealerships.
TAP would not be possible without strong partnerships, and NJ CAR is proud to partner with the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development (NJDOL), which awarded a $664,500 Pre-Apprenticeship in Career Education (PACE) grant to help expand TAP statewide. This investment provides students with critical support, including a $200 weekly stipend to offset living and travel costs during training, as well as a professional-grade toolbox — valued at over $3,000 — filled with essential tools students receive upon graduation from the program. These benefits ensure that financial barriers do not prevent motivated individuals from pursuing a career in automotive technology.
Looking ahead, future TAP bootcamps will be rolled out across multiple counties in New Jersey, ensuring that location is never an obstacle to opportunity. The latest bootcamp in Newark recently launched, and a class in Manahawkin has already been confirmed as the next site, starting in January. There are several dealerships in Camden, Essex, and Middlesex counties currently under consideration as potential hosts for future bootcamps.
Our vision is clear: Within the next few months, TAP will have active training sites across the State to ensure that anyone interested in pursuing this career has access to high-quality, no-cost training close to home.
Thanking the Dealerships That Make It Possible
None of this growth would be possible without the dealerships stepping forward to host TAP bootcamps. It takes commitment to open up service bays, lend equipment, and provide support instruction, yet dealerships across New Jersey are showing just how invested they are in closing the gap on the technician shortage.
By becoming host sites, dealerships not only help students, but they also directly address their own workforce needs. Every camp creates a pipeline of entry-level technicians who are trained in a dealership environment so they are already comfortable with the pace, expectations, and culture of the service department. This creates a smoother transition from training into full-time employment, thus reducing turnover and giving dealerships a competitive edge in a challenging labor market.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the dealerships that have already partnered with TAP, as well as to those currently considering it. Your investment in training the next generation of automotive professionals is both practical and inspiring. You’re not just filling jobs; you’re building careers and shaping the future of the industry in New Jersey.
Student Success Stories: Real Impact, Real Opportunities
While numbers and projections matter, the real impact of TAP is best seen in the lives of the students who are participating right now. Their journeys show just how transformative this program can be.
Take Zakia, for example: She began her journey studying automotive technology at her local community college. While classroom lessons gave her a foundation, she quickly realized she was missing real, hands-on training. She found this in TAP. Within just a few weeks of joining the bootcamp, Zakia was confidently performing basic maintenance tasks and was building the practical skills she’d been seeking. Now, she sees herself working in a dealership service department and is determined to continue her training to become a master technician!
Then there’s Jeremiah, who comes to class after working as a pest control technician. He was searching for more stability, a better earning potential, and a career where he could truly grow, but he didn’t know where to start. TAP gave him that direction. Training on real vehicles inside a dealership and learning directly from experienced professionals gave him the confidence and hands-on skills he needed. Today, Jeremiah not only has valuable experience to add to his resume, but he also has an interview lined up with a dealership upon graduation. For him, TAP isn’t just training; it’s the first real step toward building a lifelong career.
These stories demonstrate that a student’s willingness to learn — combined with a determination to succeed — is more valuable than having prior experience. This is the true heart of TAP: Providing the structure, training, and opportunities students need to turn their determination into a lifelong career.
Why TAP Matters to Communities
TAP is not just about filling positions; it’s about strengthening communities. Every graduate who finds employment represents not only a personal success story but a positive impact on their family and neighborhood. Stable, good-paying careers reduce unemployment, improve local economies, and create role models for others seeking a pathway forward.
Automotive technology is evolving rapidly, and today’s technicians are not just turning wrenches; they are working with advanced diagnostics, electric vehicles, hybrid systems, and complex computer-driven systems. This makes TAP even more valuable by ensuring that New Jersey communities have local technicians trained in the skills of the future, ready to keep vehicles safe and reliable.
Looking Ahead
As we expand TAP to more locations across New Jersey, we are guided by the mission to connect motivated individuals with the tools, training, and opportunities they need to succeed in the automotive industry. Our future bootcamps will continue to focus on accessibility, ensuring that cost, geography, or lack of experience are never a barrier.
By committing to strengthening our partnerships with dealerships, community organizations, workforce development boards, schools, and state agencies like NJDOL, we can ensure that TAP continues to grow and evolve, reaching more students, preparing more technicians, and supporting more dealerships every year.
A Final Word of Thanks
To our dealership partners: Thank you for stepping up. Your leadership makes TAP possible, and your commitment ensures its success. To our students: Thank you for taking the leap. Your courage and hard work prove every day why programs like TAP matter. To our broader community of supporters: Thank you for believing in this vision. Together, we are building not just careers, but futures.
NJ CAR’s TAP initiative is more than a bootcamp; it’s a movement to transform lives and strengthen the automotive industry across New Jersey.
This is only the beginning.
