Training Standards were created to enhance dealership competency that leads to increased customer satisfaction and owner loyalty by helping to improve FIRTFT performance. Enhanced competency levels also increase overall technician productivity, thus enabling technicians to perform additional maintenance and light repair business.

Training Standards are determined on an individual dealership basis. Training requirements are set based on criteria such as the mix of volume of your dealership's repairs, rather than a national median or matrix.

• Standards apply only to STST (Service Technician Specialty Training).
• Training Standards involve two concepts: Technician Competency and Shop Competency.
• To meet a Standard, a dealer must attain minimum levels of shop competency.
• To meet shop competency, a dealer must have a specified number of technicians who have attained technician competency.
• Individual technicians achieve technician competency by completing the required courses, equivalent courses, or Test-outs for applicable specialty.
• Attaining shop competency exempts a dealer from training-based payment edits in the Specialty areas.
• Dealerships will be reimbursed for selected specialty repairs only if the dealer has attained shop competency or if the repair is performed by a technician who has attained technician competency.

While reaching shop competency will take teamwork on the part of all dealership service personnel, FCSD has established training programs and delivery technology designed to assist all Ford and Lincoln dealerships.

• Targeted training approach - STST provides basic to advanced level training that is specific to Ford and Lincoln vehicles. The curriculum is structured around the jobs performed by the technicians in today's dealership service environment.
• Delivery technology – To assist dealership team members in receiving the available training, FCSD uses three different training methods:
  • eLearning (Web-based) Training
  • Webinar and On-Demand Webinar
  • Classroom Training
• Support Mechanisms - Additional programs that compliment STST and help enhance Fix-It-Right-The-First-Time performance are as follows:
  • ASSET (Automotive Student Educational Training)
  • New Model Training

For additional information or questions regarding the implementation of the STST Standards at your dealership, contact your facing Regional office or refer to STARS for current technician training requirements.