Automotive Technician Wage

Six Automotive Schools to Consider If You Want to Become a Top Mechanic

If you are considering attending automotive school, you owe it to yourself to research the following mechanic schools. The automotive schools on this list are all highly respected in the industry, have a wide range of automotive degrees and training available, and will help you become a top marine, motorcycle or auto mechanic.

Universal Technical Institute

Universal Technical Institute provides ASE/NATEF Master Certified training for you to become an automotive, diesel or collision repair technician in a little more than a year. Plus, you can choose from insanely cool manufacturer specific electives to make yourself even more valuable in the industry.

Lincoln Technical Institute

Start your mechanic career at Lincoln Technical Institute by training to be an automotive, diesel, collision repair or high performance mechanic. With comprehensive instruction from knowledgeable ASE Certified instructors who have years of professional experience, you’ll get one-on-one, hands-on training, using techniques and industry-standard tools.

NASCAR Technical Institute

The NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI) is a training facility committed to high performance, not only on the track, but also in the classroom. Receive a wide range of automotive technology courses to train you for a rewarding career as an automotive technician with added NASCAR-specific courses and a Ford FACT elective.

Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI)

The Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) motorcycle technology programs provide the knowledge and skills you need to become a successful motorcycle mechanic. Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) has two great locations: Phoenix, Arizona and Orlando, Florida.

Nashville Auto-Diesel College

For over 80 years, Nashville Auto-Diesel College (NADC) has been providing students like you with the hands-on training they need to succeed. Career focused programs are available in diesel, collision and refinishing repair, and high performance technologies.

Marine Mechanics Institute

The Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) provides real-world marine technician training programs to start your career in the marine industry. With support and/or endorsements from major marine manufacturers, you can train to be a marine technician and launch your career in as little as 60 weeks.

If you want to become a top mechanic, we highly recommend you take a look at all of the schools above. We invite you to watch videos and request free information from these schools to learn more about them at our mechanic school information website.

With the ever-increasing complexity of vehicles today, there are a variety of kinds of automotive training offered in order to repair cars, trucks, and motorcycles.

High Schools

Some high schools offer a robust variety of courses that encompass a range of knowledge relating to auto repair. For example, a high school might offer classes in brakes, electrical electronic systems, engine performance, and suspension and steering. A high school can receive program certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) or the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). This indicates that the curriculum meets the national standards set forth by these nonprofit organizations.

Career, Technical, and Vocational Centers

Many career, technical, and vocational centers are secondary schools offering automotive training programs that are certified by ASE or NATEF. They may include brakes, electrical electronic systems, engine performance, engine repair, heating and air conditioning, and suspension and steering.

Community Colleges

Community colleges offer a broader range of certified programs, and often partner with vehicle manufacturers and local dealerships to include both classroom and on-the-job training. Their areas of certification may include those offered at secondary schools, plus such areas as automatic transmission and transaxle, manual drive trains and axles. Some post-secondary schools also offer certified courses in alternative fuels, such as CNG conversation and installation, CNG diagnosis and repair, CNG maintenance, LPG conversion and installation, LPG diagnosis and repair, and LPG maintenance, suspension and steering.

Specialty Schools

There are a number of specialty post-secondary schools around the country that provide intensive automotive training and that produce graduates who are fully educated and ready to enter the world of auto repair.

On the Job Training

Although auto repair today requires a tremendous amount of specialized knowledge, there are still scattered opportunities to receive on the job training. This is particularly true for those who decide to specialize and who do not need comprehensive automotive training. For example, someone who specializes in brake repair does not need to know how to rebuild an engine.

Continuing Education

Just as in many fields, the range of knowledge required to keep pace with the changes in automotive technology means that it’s important for automotive service technicians to continue their education over time. There are a few ways to keep up with automotive training, some formal and others informal.

Among the formal continuing education choices is the Continuing Automotive Service Education, or CASE, which is sponsored by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, or ASE. Many technical schools and other training facilities offer a CASE program, which is auto training specifically designed for those who work in the field.

But keeping abreast of the developments in auto repair doesn’t always mean going to class. There are a number of online communities made up of service technicians and those in automotive management jobs. These communities can provide everything from articles and downloads from professionals working in the automotive repair industry, to forums for assistance from other technicians, to classified ads for used engines and used automotive equipment, to job listings and the ability to post resumes.