Career Categories Below this heading you will see a row of icons and names. This navigation allows you to view all the careers within a single category. When you choose a different category it will become highlighted.

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Automotive Service Technician Directly to the left of this help icon you will see this work indoors icon that represents where Automotive Service Technician work most of the time. If the person in the icon is standing outside the building then the work is mostly outside. A person inside respresents mostly insde work and two people (one inside and one outside) represent the work has a bit of both. By clicking the Details buttons to the left will open the page and allow you to read more about becoming a Automotive Service Technician. After you have spent some time reading and you would like to find out what schools are offering training for Automotive Service Technician click the Yes, use this career in my Journey button.

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Automotive

Automotive Service Technician

work indoors

Automotive service technicians perform preventative maintenance, diagnose faulty operations, and repair automotive vehicles and light trucks.

Is this a career that interests you?

  • Related School SubjectsDetails

    Math; English; Science; Shop; Physical Education

  • Field of StudyDetails

    Automotive service technicians are employed by automotive repair shops, specialty repair shops, service facilities, car and truck dealerships, and large organizations that own fleets of vehicles.

    Automotive service technicians are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 7321: Automotive Service Technicians, Truck and Bus Mechanics and Mechanical Repairers. In Alberta, 77% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

    • Retail Trade.
    • Other Services.
  • DutiesDetails

    Automotive service technicians:

    • Adjust, test and repair.
      • Engines.
      • Steering systems.
      • Braking systems.
      • Drive trains.
      • Vehicle suspensions.
      • Electrical systems.
      • Air-conditioning systems.
    • Do wheel alignments.
    • Repair, rebuild, and/or service transmissions.
    • Repair, rebuild, and/or service engines.
    • Repair, rebuild, and/or service electrical components.
    • Read work orders and examine the vehicles.
    • Use testing equipment fo find problems.
    • Take the vehicle for a test drive to find problems.
    • Read manuals to find ways to fix problems.
    • Take apart parts and repair or replace with new parts.
  • Working ConditionsDetails

    Location:

    • Indoors
      • Work in a shop.
      • Noisy.
      • Dirty.
    • Outdoors
      • At times.

    Hours:

    • Regular Work Schedule (Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:30).
    • May need to work evenings or weekends.

    Heavy Lifting:

    • Lift and move up to 25 kilograms.
  • PersonalDetails

    People working in this trade need the following characteristics:

    • Good hearing.
    • Good eyesight.
    • Works well with hands.
    • Mechanical aptitude.
    • Able to keep up to date with changing technology.
    • Enjoy work that requires exact measurements.
    • Able to work alone.
  • EducationDetails

    Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates.

    To work in this trade in Alberta, at least ONE of these must be true:

    • You are a registered apprentice.
    • You are an Alberta-certified journeyperson.
    • You have a recognized related trade certificate.

    To register as an Alberta apprentice you need to have:

    • English Language Arts 20-2 or equivalent.
    • Math 20-3 or equivalent.
    • Science 10 or equivalent.
    • or able to pass the entrance exam.
    • An employer willing to train you.

    Apprenticeship term:

  • Programs OfferedDetails

    Technical training is arranged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and is currently offered at:

    Outside the apprenticeship program, the following post-secondary institutions offer related training:

    • Lethbridge College offers a one year Automotive Systems certificate program. Entrance requirements include English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 and Applied or Pure Math 30, or equivalents.
    • The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology offers a 16 week Automotive Service Technician - Pre-Employment program in Edmonton and a 32 week General Mechanic certificate program in Fairview. Entrance requirements for the General Mechanic program include English 10 (or a Grade 11 English) and Math 10 (or a Grade 11 Math), or equivalents.
    • Red Deer College offers a one year Automotive Service certificate. Entrance requirements include English 10 or 23 and Pure Math 10 or Applied Math 20, or equivalents.
    • The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology offers a two year Automotive Service Technology diploma program. The entrance requirement is a high school diploma with English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2, Pure or Applied Math 20, and a Grade 11 science. Applicants are required to write a mechanical reasoning test.

    Pre-employment programs for prospective apprentices and continuing education programs for journeypersons may be offered on an as needed basis by the institution(s) listed above or other schools.

    For more information, visit the Technical Training Centre on the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training website.

    For current information about programs, admission requirements, and mature student admission policies, please check post-secondary calendars or websites.

  • AdvancementDetails

    Job Opportunities in this trade include:

    • Shop foreman.
    • Own your own repair shop.
    • Management or supervisory positions.
    • If you have supervisory or management experience in this trade, you may apply for an Achievement in Business Competencies Blue Seal by contacting Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

    Job openings are affected by:

    • Current employment rates.
    • People leaving existing positions.
    • Creation of new positions that never existed before.
    • Size of the occupation.
    • Location in Alberta.

    Future Trends:

    • More than 17,600 Albertans work in this category.
    • Expect an annual below average growth of 1.8% from 2013 to 2017.
    • Forecast about 317 new positions created each year.
    • Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
    • Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
  • SalaryDetails

    Journeyperson wage rates vary but generally range from $25 to $40 an hour plus benefits (2009 estimate). Apprentice automotive service technicians earn at least 55 per cent of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 70 per cent in the second, 80 per cent in the third, and 90 per cent in the fourth.

    According to the 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Automotive Service Technicians occupational group earned on average from $23.76 to $36.23 an hour. The mean wage for this group was $29.99 an hour.

  • Other SourcesDetails