Mechanic
Technical Schools & Colleges
There is currently major demand for qualified automotive mechanics and technicians. What is needed are top-quality, highly trained, ASE-certified master mechanics.
The kind of top-notch mechanic talent that comes from top-notch automotive training schools like Universal Technical Institute, Lincoln Technical Institute, and many more. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a mechanic or more about the training programs available, we recommend you research as many sources as you can find.
The mechanic colleges listed below may be just the ticket you need to take the next step and become a professional mechanic. Get real-world mechanic training in state-of-the-art shops from automotive instructors who know what they’re doing.
As the economy continues its downward tumble, more automobile owners are spending more money on repairs and putting the brakes on buying new cars. Auto mechanics and service technicians stand to benefit. Drivers are hanging on to their cars longer.
A large metro city shop supervisor says people are writing bigger checks for car repairs to stave off buying a new vehicle. Another service manager says people are trying to save money by having used engines and transmissions installed – even against his advice. And yet another service shop owner says people are putting off needed repairs until their vehicles are not drivable.
With more people hanging on to their cars longer, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that there will be more of older cars on the road that will need to be repaired – possibly more often – and with more major repairs such as engine and transmission replacements, etc. This has the auto repair and service industries in a perfect position, as they stand to benefit greatly over the next few years.
Nap Mack, a shop supervisor at Layfield Motors in downtown Atlanta, has seen cars get older during his 35 years at the business. “People used to get rid of their cars at 100,000 miles, but we’re seeing them keeping them for 120,000, 130,000, 140,000, and more,” he said. “They’re keeping closer track [of maintenance] because they know they’re going to keep them longer.”
Mack said car owners increasingly are deciding to make big repairs like engine and transmission replacements to forestall having to buy a new car.
Today’s auto technician shortage is caused by several factors, including the rigorous qualifications necessary to work on increasingly complex systems and fuel diversity knowledge requirements. The situation will only be intensified in the next decade when Baby Boomer generation technicians begin to retire.
Are mechanic schools worth it?
One road to becoming a professional mechanic is the tried and true. Learn a good bit of tinkering on your own, and then look for an entry-level position in a local shop, and work your way up. You can pepper that with by taking a few certification courses along the way, and bingo, you might have yourself a nice career.
Of course, you might also be on the road to changing oil and tires for the rest of your life until you finally get that coveted assistant manager’s position and a $1/hour raise to go with it. Yeah, that might be a bit too negative, but you get the point.
If you are already good with your hands, own a good set of pro tools, and can find a local shop with a mentor who will teach you the in and outs – then go for it! Get certified here and there over the years to stay current, and you’ll be all set.
Pros:
– you don’t have to pay tuition
– you might earn an hourly wage while you learn on the job/apprentice
– you might end up taking over for the owner/lead mechanic eventually and run the shop yourself
Cons:
– you might get a very small (or none at all) hourly wage while learning on the job
– the person you are learning from might not know as much as you thought they did… meaning you don’t learn as much as you thought you were going to
– you might not learn to do what you really want to be doing (changing tires, oil, etc day in and day out…)
– you have to buy or borrow every last one of your tools yourself
– you might get laid off first since you are the low man on the totem pole
Hopefully, I was able to put things in perspective a bit or even made you think of a few things you hadn’t considered. That was the goal. We need more good, qualified, honest, professional technicians in the industry.
Best of luck in your endeavors!
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