Automotive Training Centres and Schools

In the United States, cars and light trucks are our primary mode of private transportation. We depend on them to get to work, to go to the movies, to go shopping, and even for traveling on road trip vacations. With so many cars and light trucks on the road, lots of mechanics and automotive service technicians must work to keep them running and in good shape.

There are currently more than 760,000 automotive service technicians employed in the United States and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that figure to go up over the next ten years.

Mechanics and automotive service technicians perform maintenance on cars and light trucks as well as diagnose problems and perform repairs at auto repair shops, car dealerships, auto parts stores, and gas stations. Specialist automotive technicians known as collision repairers also fix them after an accident or a nasty crash and paint them.

Mechanics and automotive service technicians used to be trained on the job, but as cars have increasingly sophisticated electrical and electronic systems that require the use of increasingly specialized and computerized diagnostic and repair equipment, more and more mechanics and automotive service technicians are training in specialized schools. In fact, more and more employers prefer candidates with this type of training or even require it for employment.

Automotive Training Centres and Schools

Automotive training centres and schools in the United States have different types of training available for those who want to work with cars and light trucks, including automotive technology, collision repair, and high performance automotive. These programs can last anywhere from a few weeks to two years of full-time instruction.

Automotive Technology Training in Centres and Schools

Automotive technology training typically includes both classroom courses and hands-on lab instruction. The topics covered in this type of training might include: engine systems, cooling systems, lubrication systems, ignition systems, exhaust emission systems, diagnostics systems, powertrain systems, drivetrain systems, brake systems, steering systems, suspension systems, and tires.

Training can be full time or part time and is offered at many technical schools, vocational schools, colleges, and community colleges around the country. Some schools allow for specialties or emphasis options, such as service management, automotive and diesel, and advanced diagnostics.

Collision Repair Training in Centres and Schools

A different type of automotive training focuses more on the outside aesthetics than the internal workings of the cars: auto body and collision repair. In auto body and collision repair training programs, students are usually taught to diagnose the extent of damage to a car, usually because of an accident, as well as repairs on the car. Students learn to remove dents and scratches, replace damaged parts, re-align components and paint cars to restore the vehicles to their original condition, or else improve on the car’s original condition.

High Performance Automotive Training in Centres and Schools

Millions of Americans enjoy NASCAR, Formula One, and GT racing. In addition to all the cars and light trucks on the road, race cars need to be serviced too for all those motorsports we are so fond of. High performance automotive training focuses on teaching people the knowledge and skills they need to keep race cars in the best shape possible and have the best chance at securing a win. Students typically study the different automobile systems and techniques, but they also learn how to custom modify engines and different systems to allow for maximum race performance.

Other Types of Training in Centres and Schools

Mechanics and automotive service technicians usually work exclusively on repairing cars and light trucks. For those individuals who want to work on heavy trucks, motorcycles, boats or small recreational vehicles, other types of training are available that specialize in each one of those areas.