Automotive Service Technician

Degrees and Certificates

Why Choose This Program

The automotive service technician degree from SCTCC prepares students for entry-level positions in the automotive repair industry. The standard for today’s vehicles delivers high performance, fuel economy, navigations, video, and many more technologies. Because of this, today’s automotive service technicians need to be highly educated and trained.

Our graduates are proficient in using the latest equipment for wheel alignment, engine performance, electrical and electronic diagnosis, brakes, air conditioning, engine service, and drivetrain repair.

To enhance learning, SCTCC offers a a spacious, well-equipped, clean, bright automotive lab for students to utilize during their courses.

Our classrooms are large and clean so every student has the space they need to complete tasks. Classrooms are complete with multimedia information delivery systems and state-of-the-art interactive automotive systems simulators.

The automotive service technician program utilizes an environmental chamber where students can place a vehicle on a wheel dynamometer, vary the temperature inside the chamber from 85F to -20F, and regulate the humidity. With this high-quality equipment, students are able to study the effects of climate on vehicle performance and learn how to help diagnose problem vehicles.

Due to the popularity of pick-ups with diesel engines, we have even developed a course titled Light Duty Diesel so students can be prepared to work on a variety of vehicles. At SCTCC, students can also work on late-model vehicles for training and we even have a hybrid vehicle that we drive and maintain.

The lab students work in is operated as an actual automotive repair facility, and 75% of the repairs our students learn to do in the lab are on “live” vehicles with genuine customer concerns.

Our instructors are all Master Certified by ASE and have many years of experience in the field. The SCTCC automotive service technician program is NATEF certified. The curriculum we teach students goes above and beyond the certification standard to help every student achieve the higher level of understanding and practice a successful automotive service technician needs today.

Placement rate from self-reported data of employment in field of study up to one year post graduation.

100
%
2021 Placement
$
23
Central MN Median Wage

Wage data is from Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

From Degree to Career

When you choose the Automotive Service Technician program at SCTCC, you’ll gain skills that will directly transfer to the workplace. Grads of SCTCC's Automotives program go on to careers as service technicians, diagnostic technicians, service managers, and more. 

Students in the SCTCC automotive service technician program are equipped with several skills necessary to succeed in the workforce. Our students can demonstrate technical competence and entry level skills to become an auto service technician and diagnose, maintain, adjust and repair automotive systems and equipment.

After graduation, our students will be able to demonstrate effective and efficient use of available resources, demonstrate safe and appropriate use of test equipment, and be in compliance with all environmental regulations.

Quick Glance

  • Demonstrate technical competence and entry level skills to become an auto service technician
  • Diagnose, maintain, adjust and repair automotive systems and equipment
  • Demonstrate effective and efficient use of available resources
  • Demonstrate safe and appropriate use of test equipment and be in compliance with all environmental regulations

With an automotive service technician degree, our graduates have found careers in a variety of areas. From service technicians, diagnostic technician, and aftermarket parts specialist, students are certain to find the career path for them.

Our graduates have also worked as service advisors, service managers, automotive business owners, and accessory installation specialists. Some students have even utilized their SCTCC degree as a gateway to becoming an automotive engineer.

Potential Employers

SCTCC graduates are equipped with skills that make them highly employable. Our students have found career opportunities with new automotive dealers, domestic or import, and independent repair shops.

Motivated individuals from our program have even opened their own shops and become their own boss. Anything is possible with a degree from the SCTCC automotive service technician program.

A day in the life of an SCTCC graduate consists of working as a diagnostic technician with a newly opened automotive dealer.

Quick Glance

  • Service Technician 
  • Diagnostic Technician 
  • Aftermarket Parts specialist 
  • Service Advisor 
  • Service Manager 
  • Automotive Business owner 
  • Gateway to Automotive Engineering 
  •  Accessory Installation Specialist  

Potential Employeers

  • New automotive dealers, domestic or import 
  • independent repair shops.  
  • Motivated individuals could even open their own shop and be their own boss.

 

The Automotive Service Technician program is accredited by:

The National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation, Inc. (NATEF)
101 Blue Seal Drive, Suite 101
Leesburg, VA 20175
(703) 669-6650
www.natef.org
 

Discovery Academy students enrolled in the Discovery Academy AYES Automotive program, can transfer up to 16 credits to SCTCC. 

Students Enrolled in Discovery Academy AYES Automotive program are generating a SCTCC transcript and the credits are at low or no cost to the student.

 

Automotive lab with students working on cars
Front desk at SCTCC auto shop
Students working on a car on a lift
Student and instructor working on an engine
Students watching an instructor in the auto lab

Are you ready to learn more about the Automotives program and being a student at SCTCC? Contact our instructors directly or join us for a Transportation to meet with instructors and Admissions representatives to get started.

Connect with the SCTCC Admissions team:

  • Call us at 320-308-5089
  • Email us at enroll@sctcc.edu
  • On campus Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Meet the Admissions Staff.


Ready to Take the Next Step?

Thursday
20
April
3:00 PM
Add to Calendar

1-433

Front desk at SCTCC auto shop

Automotives Lab 360 Tour

Paying for College

Students choose SCTCC for a lot of reasons, but saving money is one reason we hear from almost every student at SCTCC. We’ve got a breakdown of the costs for the program, along with information on financial aid and scholarships.

In addition to tuition and fees, students can expect to pay $4015-4275 for books and materials.

Apply just once and students are considered for all eligible scholarships.

SCTCC Scholarships

Current Students

Current Accounting students - this is your place for information.

James Allex
JAllex@sctcc.edu
(320) 308-6528

Thomas Hansen
THansen@sctcc.edu
(320) 308-5901

Dwayne Hickman 
DHickman@sctcc.edu
(320) 308-5549

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industries working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel and provides educational programs, events, and competitions that support career and technical education (CTE) in the nation’s classrooms.

SCTCC Student Clubs

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Automotives at SCTCC