How to Become a Professional Automotive Technician

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/
Perhaps on this one you could add your input about how you became an automotive technician or how you plan to become one in the comments below or even better leave a video response. I'd love to hear your story so feel free to contribute.

You can visit me at the link above for the EricTheCarGuy.com website

Stay dirty

ETCG1

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• automotive technician
• ase
• automotive training
• how to
• auto
• cars
• car
• car repair
• auto repair
• automotive repair
• ETCG1
• EricTheCarGuy
• eric the car guy

[jake66000]

im 15 right now and my love and passion is turning a wrench and being dirty on cars. Right now i work at a car wash that is connected to an oil change so i do get to actually help on some cars. I know its not the same as working at an actual shop but its still good experience. I do hope to become a master technician one day. but for right now i'm fine on just working on my own cars do simple repairs like changing brakes and stuff.

[ETCG1]

@jake66000 I would recommend you find a good school that is ASE accredited so that your time in school will count toward your work experience. Till then stay dirty.

[strongsoldier100]

Yeah! In my case I went on and worked as a helper at shops. cuase went i tried school first I would get lost on the theory. Then my instructor told me that even a cave man can do hands on. Then the mechanics would say the instructor is an idiot, and so on. But for some reason I went back to school cause the mechanics I worked with were really stingy. Thanks Eric.

[ETCG1]

@strongsoldier100 It's been my experience that you find both sides of the spectrum in the industry, some guys are good at theory and others are good at hands on, sometimes you find people good at both but the idea is to learn from both and be the best technician you can be and don't worry about what others say or think.

[TheDemons222]

does anyone no how much an entry level tech make?

[ETCG1]

@TheDemons222 I think it depends on your area and the place you work, I have seen it vary quite a bit from like $8hr to $12 but keep in mind many times that's flat rate so you don't get a steady check.

[nightmathzombieethan]

I'm very glad I shelled out 32 grand to take automotive courses. I graduated at the top of most of my classes and I learned a lot...only to end up finding work as an entry level oil-change guy, and end up being blamed for someone else's mistake at work, resulting in being black-listed locally. I LOVE cars, and I enjoy working on them, however the scholastic aspect behind the trade (and the douchebaggery practiced by co-workers) has left me jobless and with a bad taste in my mouth.

[ETCG1]

@hksification Could have but it's my show. :)

[500hpsi]

@TheDemons222 here in Seattle area, if completed some sort of auto repair program training school it's any where from 25k - 30k a year. I was training a T-ten student for two years and after he completed the T-ten program (Toyota/Lexus program) and pass all 8 ASE plus ASE L1, I able to help him get a 22 an hr flat rate. So, at 125% work productivity this = to about 60k a year. Not bad after a two year program. Now, his a Master Diagnostic Technician Toyota certified & ASE master.

[donofthekuwait]

Thank you ! :D

[ETCG1]

@shabazzkunfu All good points and I agree about ASE but those certifications do get you jobs and more pay. I wish you luck and thanks for the comments and your input I appreciate both.

[ETCG1]

@kurama10271 I think you're much better off finding a school that will work for you as that carries a lot more weight than just work experience, the days of 'internships' for automotive technicians are over in my opinion. Good luck and thanks for the comment.

[shabazzkunfu]

much, even now you can take a test and past if your good at taking test. So the better experience you gain, your experience will speak volumes and can be a caught 22. Automotive is a trying field but you can gain from it and apply it to your skill set.

[shabazzkunfu]

I have been in this field for 9 years and my experience has being a trying one. It's hard in this business especially as an African american in the midwest, many AA in the industry in the midwest as porters. I have to craw my way through and study. I have attended Job corp for my trainng which has it limitations. I would recommend for anyone interested to GO TO JOB CORP paid for by the gov't. Also employers can be idiots to work for, and to much emphasis is placed on the ASE which really dont

[hummarstra]

great video

[moparmurderer]

@verdugito1 Sounds to me like your just a lazy douche that wants life to be handed to you. This is America, anything is possible, IF YOU WORK HARD FOR IT. Get off your lazy ass, go to college and earn your degree, then get a job and work your way up the chain of command.

[kurama10271]

i cant find any decent schools, i'm willing to work for free like a sort of i suppose you could call it an internship so i can get everything into my head plus the experience hell i'd even pay for it lol

[ETCG1]

@nightmathzombieethan Yea I hear ya, don't know if you read my 'About' page but it sounds like we've had similar experiences. I wish you luck in finding a new job.

[sergkillz]

@freddy131994 im going to a college right now for automotive tech, and one of the students there told me he went to U.T.I and they go over everything so QUICK! and they dont give you like theory on cars like they do at the college im going to so in my opinion i would not choose UTI, but thats just me

[ETCG1]

@verdugito1 I don't recommend starting out running your own shop right away, I think it's a much better plan to work in a shop for a few years to learn the trade first then dive into your own shop. If you try to do both at the same time you might be overwhelmed and not able to make it.

[ETCG1]

@curtmastor It is much harder for the 'little guy' these days but I think you can still carve out a niche if you work hard and develop your clientele, it takes time but once you get there I think you can make a decent living.

[ETCG1]

@curtmastor I'm sad to hear your story but it's true this business is not what it used to be and it's a shame you're looking to get out because you sound like you'd make a great tech. Good luck to you and thanks for the comment.

[ETCG1]

@kenman1717 I hope so too, it sounds like you have a great career going I wish you the best of luck. Thanks very much for your comment.

[metalxesp]

very accurate description of the tech schools and expirence!

[verdugito1]

Hey I wanna do something that doesnt require TOO much hard work like going to college just to earn the same as other non graduate jobs. I like money and i dont want to work by the hour the rest of my life. Do you think that i could have a much better chance on the long run (opening up my own business or something like that) in automotive technician than any other courses??? Please reply. thank you

[curtmastor]

yeah youll be buying tools....hahah youll be buying fucking thousand dollor scan tools to turn off a check engine light on some car built in tokyo by some asshole who didnt think to consider that normal people buy this shit and have normal people fix them. The industry is a monopolized racket. Manufacturers are doing everything they can to make cars as complicated and obtuse as possible in order to get service return after warrenty. There is no longer a future in automotive for the little guy