Attending a trade school for mechanics is the quickest method to become one. You can start earning money as soon as you graduate from mechanic trade schools and become an automotive technician.
Discover the top trade or technical schools for auto mechanics so you can graduate quickly and begin your career.
While some people believe that working as a mechanic is excessively demanding and underpaid, others are interested in the profession. This second group of individuals enjoys fixing problems. Despite the fact that you enjoy fixing things, nobody will hire you to fix their cars. So, as you can see, you’ll need some training and credentials.
You should enroll in a mechanical trade school, and we’ll explain why in this piece. Along with their curriculum, we would also list the top trade schools for car mechanics. Finally, we will address all pertinent queries regarding this subject.
Why Trade School?
Simply said, a trade school is a vocational school. Additionally, career colleges, technical schools, and vocational institutions are frequently used interchangeably with trade schools. Follow us as we do the same in this post by doing the same.
A trade school is one that focuses on a particular career, as suggested by the name. These institutions train you for certain, in-demand professions.
They typically don’t care about a wide range of knowledge that might or might not be useful to you. Therefore, a technical school will concentrate your instruction on just the knowledge you need for welding if you want to become a welder.
You avoid putting too much effort into your career training in this way. So as you can see, becoming a mechanic will only take two years in a trade school rather than a four to the five-year mechanical engineering program at a typical institution.
As a result, you need to be confident in your career. If you want to become a mechanic rather than study how to build machines, you should enroll in a trade school.
The next point is that trade schools have lower tuition than conventional colleges. They are program-specific and quicker to complete, thus the reason is obvious.
Technical schools charge between $4,000 and $15,000 in tuition costs, whereas regular institutions charge between $8,000 and $27,000 annually (after grants and scholarships). Therefore, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to achieve your goals.
Trade schools typically offer the following benefits:
- quicker completion time;
- Offers certificates;
- Few students per class;
- Practical instruction;
- Externship Opportunities – Placement in a position in the field in which you’ll work where you’d like to gain experience;
- Employer Connection;
- Job stability.
What are the types of Mechanics?
When we mention going to a trade school to become a mechanic, we are sending mixed signals. We will demonstrate the many types of mechanics as that is not the purpose of this post. The term “mechanic” will help us focus on the specific type of mechanic we mean.
Following is a list of the several types of mechanics you can become:
- Automotive Repair
- Aviation mechanics
- Diesel-related trades
- Heavy Duty Technician
- Motorcycles Mechanic
- Small engines Mechanics
- Boat maintenance
- Auto body Mechanics
- Tires Mechanics
- Auto glass Mechanic
- Race car maintenance
- Bicycle maintenance Mechanics
- air conditioning Mechanics
- Plumbing Mechanics
- Line Mechanic
- Mechanic for auto exhaust
You’ll see from our list that “AUTO” is the term that appears most frequently. So, sure, when we say “Mechanic,” we are talking about auto or automotive mechanics.
However, we shall use the terms “auto” or “automotive mechanic” more frequently to be crystal clear on the subject.
Who is an Auto mechanic?
A person with the education and training to maintain and repair motor vehicles is known as an auto mechanic. These experts are capable of working on a wide range of motor vehicles, including maritime, heavy-duty, fleet, and personal automobiles.
All sorts of cars are primarily inspected, maintained, and repaired by the auto mechanic or automotive technician. However, depending on his training, the mechanic might perform some particular tasks.
The auto mechanic’s duties specifically include the following:
- Examine the mechanical and electrical systems of the vehicle’s engine to precisely identify issues;
- Examine the computer and electronic systems of the vehicle in order to repair, maintain, and upgrade them;
- Perform regular maintenance on the vehicle to ensure that it runs smoothly and lasts a long time, such as changing fluids and lubricating moving parts;
- Plan and plan upcoming maintenance appointments and give motorists advice on safe vehicle operation;
- Fixing problems including leaks and replacing or repairing damaged or defective elements;
- Offer accurate estimates of a repair or maintenance job’s time, cost, and effort;
- Record work and vehicle faults in logs; and
- Keep your tools and equipment in good working order.
A car mechanic will find employment almost anywhere there are vehicles because that is his primary area of interest. Therefore, an auto mechanic can find employment in governmental organizations, repair shops, petrol stations, and stores that sell auto parts, accessories, and tires.
However, the majority of auto mechanics work for car dealerships or in the vehicle repair and maintenance sector.
How much does an auto mechanic make?
The average yearly salary for automotive service technicians and mechanics is $40,710, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They are paid $19.57 per hour, or in hours. This income may not be as much as you had anticipated, but it is still a five-figure wage especially if the position doesn’t require a college degree.
Glassdoor projects that car technicians make a higher salary of $41,516 annually. Depending on the company you work for, this income even improves.
Businesses that pay their car mechanics more include:
- Volkswagen – $42,258 annually
- PennDOT – $43,168 annually
- US Postal Service: $51,933 year
- $52,114 per year for Ford Motor Company
- County of DuPage, Illinois, $58,421 per year
The BLS predicted that from 2016 to 2026, there will be a 6% increase in the number of jobs for mechanics. However, the BLS reported 770,100 mechanic positions in the USA in 2018 and predicted a -1 percent rise from that year through 2028.
The percentage decline indicates that there has been little to no change in the number of mechanic positions over this time period.
However, there were 6,400 fewer jobs for mechanics overall in 2018. These numbers can make you grin in the upcoming years.
There is no doubt about the employment stability of mechanics. Even in the twenty-first century, we will still need to operate automobiles, and they will undoubtedly require upkeep, if not repairs. The mechanic will therefore always be useful.
What Prerequisites Must I Meet to Work as an Auto Mechanic?
You must first graduate high school and obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent in order to pursue numerous occupations. Due to the fact that it is a need for the following training level, this is crucial.
Now, a technical school or community college is the next level of education for mechanics. In addition to preparing you for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certification Exam, the technical school awards you a certificate or diploma.
On the other hand, the Community College awards you an Associate’s Degree upon completion.
However, because they know they have the appropriate entry-level experience they’re seeking, the majority of businesses prefer automotive technicians who attended trade schools.
If you decide not to enroll in a trade school, you will begin your career as a trainee technician, technician assistant, or lubricant worker. Your income in this employment will be less than what you would make if you had a mechanic degree from a trade school.
However, check to see if the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation has accredited the program before choosing a mechanical trade school (NATEF).
As your career develops, you will have to take the ASE Certification exam. Employers are interested in this certificate because it shows that you are knowledgeable in the field.
In the interim, you can earn ASE certification in the following nine (9) distinct automotive specialties:
- Transaxle and transmission brakes;
- Electrical/electronic systems; diesel engines for light vehicles;
- Engine efficiency;
- Engine service;
- Air conditioning and heating;
- Manual axles and drivetrain;
- Steering and suspension.
How can I obtain licenses and certifications for mechanics?
As your career as mechanic advances, you may need to obtain credentials or licenses, as we previously mentioned. However, there is no regulation requiring mechanics to obtain a license in order to engage in their line of work.
Having credentials and licenses only serves to demonstrate your degree of dedication to your work, and some employers may even demand certification before hiring you.
In essence, the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certificate and the ASE Master Certification are the credentials you need to advance in your career.
Excellent Automotive Service (ASE)
This certification is offered by NATEF, and you can only take the exam after completing two years of on-the-job training or one year of employment and a two-year degree.
In the event that you satisfy these requirements, visit the NATEF website and take their practice exams to get ready for the certification exam.
However, keep in mind that in order to maintain your certification, you must retake the exam after five (5) years of exercise Exams
Master Certification for ASE
This is equivalent to a master’s degree in mechanics only mechanics can obtain it without spending a full year in college. Specialization is the concept underlying this qualification. It is for mechanics who want to expand their knowledge in a certain area of mechanic specialty.
Therefore, all you need to do is the study for and sit for exams in your chosen specialization. Automobiles, truck equipment, school buses, accident repair, diesel engines, brakes, suspension, and steering, among other specialties, are among the specialties for which you can take examinations.
The ASE Master Certification is managed by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, not the ASE. However, after receiving this certificate, you must renew it after five (5) years, just like ASE.
Visit the page provided below to learn everything there is to know about the ASE Master Certification.