Fresno City College program tackling tech shortage - thoughts?

Just read this article about Fresno City College's new program to get techs certified faster. As a weekend warrior, I know how hard it is to find a good mechanic. What do you all think? Is this a real solution?

Honestly, I've been in the trades for 20 years. The shortage is real. But these fast-track programs worry me. You can't replace experience. I've seen too many 'certified' kids who can't diagnose a dead battery. Hope they include plenty of hands-on.

I'm an apprentice right now, and I think it's great. The old system takes forever. If they can get us competent and ready to work sooner, that's a win. But Bob's right - theory alone won't cut it. My mentor teaches me more in a day than I learned in a month of school.

Safety inspector here. Fast certification can be a double-edged sword. I've seen rushed techs skip torque specs or use the wrong lift points. Programs need to emphasize safety from day one. Hope Fresno includes that. Otherwise, it's just a band-aid.