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Considering a Career as an Automotive Technician?Today, with automotive technologies that change constantly, an automotive service technician or mechanic must be flexible and able to adapt quickly to these changing vehicle systems. Recognized automotive training gives you the basic skills that experts say contribute to keeping up with the changes. With the highways becoming more and more jam-packed, the high demand for this career will continue to increase in the coming years. Cars, like people, need to function efficiently. Timely service and good care help a car last longer and run better. What Do You Need to Know?Cars and trucks are becoming more complex to work on. This creates a lot more responsibility for the mechanic. Years ago, when repairing a car might have been using a wrench and tightening a bolt here and there or adjusting a carburetor, today’s cars are much more complicated. New electronic systems are computerized and now there are the new hybrid cars! Even so, a mechanic must still be able to use the traditional tools. Today, new, high-tech tools are standard in automotive shops and a mechanic must be a master of these tools as well. What Kind of Training Is Necessary?Which skills are required for work in the automotive field? While some of these skills can be learned from friends or family, formal training at an accredited school will help immensely as you enter into this field. Employers are always looking for someone who has completed some kind of vocational training whether at a community college or at one of the many vocational schools that specialize in this type of automotive repair training. You can usually earn a certificate or an associate degree from those programs. Depending on the program and school, it may take 6 months to 2 years to complete the program to become a qualified technician. It can also take up to 5 years of training to become experienced enough to meet the requirements as an expert technician. Innovation in automobile design means a greater need for specialization and expertise in one or two areas. While a mechanic in a small shop must know just about everything, in larger shops such as dealerships, mechanics are more specialized in one or two areas, for example, automatic transmissions or electronic diagnostics. What Other Things Should Be Considered?Today’s mechanics and service technicians should consider that extra study might be required for certification. Training advancements often involve getting an ASE certification that shows you are specially qualified in a particular area of automotive service such as brakes, cooling systems, etc. ASE certification is the chief standard. Becoming skilled / certified in more than one area is an advantage to anyone interested in becoming a successful auto technician. In addition, those employed in these jobs will likely be required to put in extra work hours from time to time and to lift heavy objects. Getting greasy is just part of the job! Expect it. What Is the Employment and Job Outlook?Most auto mechanics work at automotive shops and auto dealers; a modest percentage are self-employed. Popular positions in the automotive industry are automotive mechanic, transmission mechanic, brake specialist, diesel mechanic, motorcycle or marine mechanic, and collision repair person, to name a few. Salary depends on experience and location but on the average you can expect an annual income of anywhere from a low of around $30,000 to a high of $45,000 or more. Check the links below for more information. Growth seems very encouraging in the coming years as can be expected with more vehicles on the road and with a lot of technicians growing older. Expect at least a 100,000 more jobs available between now and 2016. Sources and
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