A Career in the Automotive Industry

You're different. From early on, you followed a different path. You enjoy seeing how things work, tinkering, doing things with your hands, and solving problems.

Sure, you've hit the books and kept up your grades, but your love is cars—their engines, their complexity, their freedom through mobility.

But could you turn your passion into a profession? Make a living at what you like?

What's the good news?

You can follow your dream. You can become an auto technician, have a solid, secure, stimulating career... and make good money.

Automotive Technicians are in high demand, and you can full-throttle your career with a degree in Automotive Technology. If you love cars and want to be an automotive technician, even potentially own your own business, this is the program for you! Learn how to troubleshoot and repair vehicles utilizing the latest in both diagnostic equipment and procedures.

Vehicles' systems are becoming increasingly more complex and they require qualified technicians to keep them running and working correctly. A career in the automotive repair industry is rewarding and challenging, allowing individuals to excel in this high-tech environment.

Nationwide, graduates of automotive courses at technical institutes start at an average of $11 per hour in their first job. Students who go on to specialized graduate training can walk into their first shop making $15 per hour or more.

What do I need to get started?

Students typically enroll in an automotive program at a private or community college where they will attend for two years completing their training and graduate with an associate degree in automotive technology. Some will forego the general education classes and graduate early with a diploma by enrolling in just the automotive courses. An associate degree will usually produce a more diverse employment opportunity and the graduate may decide to continue their education at a four year institution.

Although a good set of tools is vital, they're just the beginning. Stick with your books. You'll need a solid education. Believe it or not, the basic knowledge and skills you are learning in your other classes will be essential to your success.

You will apply what you learned in math to help you analyze and solve problems like calculating gear ratios. Science, especially physics, is necessary to understand force, friction, hydraulics, and electrical circuits.

That's not all. You will need strong communications skills to access technical information from shop manuals or computers. You'll have to be able to deal effectively with customers and coworkers, and write work orders and reports.

Find a school that is accredited, and where financial aid is available for those who are qualified. Plenty of hands-on shop training should be offered with each class, and make sure certified instructors who carry Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications and years of real-world experience in the industry teach all classes.

What might my future hold?

If you have the drive, there's almost no limit to your options and advancement. Many techs love the day-to-day challenge of repairing cars and have good careers doing just that. But others branch out. They may become service managers, service engineers, race team pit crew members, automotive writers—even auto technology teachers. Those with a flair for business may own their own shop or manage a shop or car dealership.

Whatever your path, the automotive service and repair industry is broad enough to make your dreams come true for years to come.

Custom Training with a Particular Brand of Vehicle…

If you have your heart set on a particular brand of vehicle, some schools offer exclusive graduate training programs, such as the Audi Academy Technician Program, BMW Service Technician Education Program (STEP), Jaguar Professional Automotive Career Education (PACE), Mercedes-Benz ELITE Training Program, Porsche Technology Apprenticeship Program (PTAP), Volkswagen Service Technician Training (VSTT), Volvo Service Automotive Factory Education (SAFE), GM Automotive Service Education Program (ASEP), or the International Technical Education Program (ITEP). Some schools also offer motorcycle and marine technology training. As a graduate of one of these programs, you will be recognized as a specialty technician by the premier dealerships in the industry.

The Opportunity to Thrive…

You don't have to be an auto technician to have a good career, but you do need to consider this: regardless of the economy, millions of people will still need to drive back and forth to work, trucks will still need to transport goods, and businesses must use their vehicles for a variety of tasks. These vehicles will need to be repaired and serviced on a regular basis, thus guaranteeing your need in the industry.

Editorial content provided by Steven Williams, Auto Tech Program Director at Miami- Jacobs Career College.