A New MCTINA

The majority—over 80% by some estimation—of marine technicians still gain their core skills through on-the-job training. And obviously, there's no way to know who was responsible for providing that training, much less the level of expertise possessed by the "instructor."

Many companies today have access to manufacturer training, which is fine as far as it goes, but it's limited to product-specific information from each particular manufacturer; and it relies on the technician already possessing proper core skills. An instructor from one major engine manufacturer has conceded that, based on his own experience, more than 50% of the technicians he trains would fail a basic competency test on the principles of two- and four-stroke engines.

That's why the Board of Directors felt it necessary to redefine the roles of AMTECH and MCTINA to best ensure the ongoing health and well-being of the marine service industry. The focus being education, MCTINA—a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-deductible educational association—became the standard for marine technical education, offering students a combination of hands-on field training combined with online technical forums. AMTECH—the Association of Marine Technicians—was dissolved and re-branded as the Alumni of MCTINA Technicians; as such, it ceased being a membership organization, becoming a support/recognition and certification affiliate of MCTINA.

The National Marine Service Expo continued to be MCTINA's premier educational event. NMSE is held each January and is the educational heartbeat from which all MCTINA training is built.

All field training courses were open to everyone, with MCTINA Associates eligible for discounts in tuition, along with access to interactive educational and field service forums. Associates were individuals and businesses who supported the organization by either pre-registering as students for field training courses or registering as online education contributors.

Also here: MCTINA Course Descriptions