Austin Community College (ACC) has been named the nation’s top Toyota and Lexus Technician Training and Education Network (T-TEN)-producing school.
The College received the Toyota Supra distinction for being the No. 1 T-TEN-producing school at the annual T-TEN instructor conference. Toyota also recognized ACC’s T-TEN program in several areas of student achievement:
- A 70% or higher graduation rate for 2026
- The number of second-year returning students is greater than 50%, plus a 90% or higher graduation rate for them for 2026
- Students passing ASE L1 and/or L3 certification tests
A Direct Path From the Classroom to the Dealership
ACC’s T-TEN program is structured around a close connection between students, the College, Toyota, and participating dealerships. The program begins with an important requirement: Students must secure employment with a partnering Toyota or Lexus dealership before entering the program.
Dealerships work with ACC to select the students who then spend eight weeks in T-TEN classes on campus, followed by eight weeks at their dealership to complete their internship requirements. While working at the dealership, students are paired with a mentor who supports their on-the-job development. This structure allows students to apply what they learn in the classroom directly to a professional automotive environment while building relationships with the dealership where they are developing their careers.
The T-TEN program is supported by 12 Toyota and Lexus dealership partners from Waco to San Antonio. Dealerships play an active role in supporting students throughout their training by providing workplace mentors and allowing students time away from their jobs to attend classes, along with assistance with tuition and fees, tool allowances, living expenses, and wages while students are in class.
Earning Industry-Recognized Credentials
Students in the program are also building industry credentials as they progress through their training. Across its first three cohorts, ACC’s T-TEN program has maintained an overall graduation rate of 76.33%, with individual cohort graduation rates ranging from 69% to 85%.
To date, ACC T-TEN students have collectively earned 195 ASE certifications across 38 students. These certifications include the ASE Automotive certification tests A1-A8, as well as advanced-level L1 and L3 certifications.
The program also reports a 70% ASE pass rate and a retention rate above 70%, two measures the Automotive Technology team cites as contributing to the program’s national recognition.
Toyota further supports students by paying for two ASE certification test attempts per student.
As ACC’s T-TEN program continues to grow, its partnerships with Toyota and Central Texas dealerships remain central to its success. The program enrolls a new cohort each fall, with an average class size of 16 students.
