Frequently Asked Questions

The admission requirements for the program are set to increase the applicant’s success rates during the first year of the program. Academic requirements listed above reflect minimum scores for being accepted into the program. Passing all of your classes and maintaining a minimum 2.5 GPA is an expectation to stay in the program. Failing to earn a satisfactory grade, losing dealer sponsorship or failing to maintain the minimum GPA for graduation may lead to removal from the program. In addition to the schools requirements, one should work with your sponsoring dealer as if applying for a fulltime job. You can expect a mechanical aptitude test, multiple interviews, a background check, drug screening and a physical during the application phase. Once accepted, you become an employee of that dealership. You should treat that relationship as a job and keep in contact with your supervisor thorough your time in the program. Please contact your dealer sponsor for more details and specific expectations at the sponsoring dealership.

Classes are typically schedule between 7:30am – 5:30pm Monday- Friday. You may also experience some down time on a Monday or Friday depending on your schedule. The campus as a whole shuts down on Friday afternoon. Some of the general education class may be offered at night to accommodate loading and schedules across campus.

The fall and spring semesters contains an eight week internship for which students are paid to work at their sponsoring dealership. The internship schedule may vary to meet the needs of the local dealership and workload. A minimum of 300 hours of work experience is expected during each internship. During the first year, the internship occurs in the second eight weeks of the semester. As a student transitions into the second year, the eight week rotations continue with the internship leading in the first eight weeks. The time spent at FDTC will then occur in the second eight week term until completion of the program in semester five.

Yes, a sponsoring Caterpillar dealership is an essential part of this sponsored program and is a requirement for students participating in the program. Dealer sponsorship must be maintained for the duration of enrollment in this program.

During the internship experience, students are paid on an hourly basis by their sponsoring dealership. This does not extend to hours attending classes at FDTC.

Currently FDTC does not offer housing. Please contact your sponsoring dealer for details and living arrangements during school as there are dealer arranged apartments that can be leased to a sponsored student by the dealership.

Tools are a requirement to enter the technical trades. Your sponsoring dealer will help you get started with your first set of hand tools. Remember to ask about the tool program when you talk with your dealer. Keep in mind that this is a basic set of tools and you will need to budget according to the area you intend to eventually work to round out your tools. Tools are provided at the college for labs and class work by your dealer.