Automotive Technology Schools and Programs in The United States

Automotive Technology Studies in The United States

Automotive technology prepares students to inspect, diagnose and repair cars and light trucks, from engines and brakes to the electronic and computer systems of modern vehicles. In the United States it is mainly a hands-on, career-focused subject. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), high schools, community colleges and technical institutes offer programmes in automotive service technology, and they may lead to a certificate or an associate's degree. Most of the schools listed on this page are community and technical colleges; a few universities also teach the subject at bachelor's level.

How the programmes are organised

• Certificates of one year or less, often in a specialty such as electrical systems, engine performance or maintenance and light repair
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees, usually two years, aimed directly at employment
• Bachelor's degrees in automotive engineering technology or applied science at some universities

Examples from the schools' own pages: Montgomery College in Maryland offers an associate of applied science degree and certificates of completion in specialty areas. Linn-Benton Community College in Oregon has a two-year Automotive Technology AAS, a one-year certificate in maintenance and light repair, and an AAS for electric and hybrid vehicle technicians. Idaho State University offers a two-year AAS, a two-year advanced technical certificate and a Bachelor of Applied Science, and admits 20 students to its automotive programme each year. Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, offers a 38-credit Automotive Service certificate and a bachelor's programme in Automotive Engineering Technology aimed at design and management roles.

The BLS notes that some programmes are sponsored by vehicle manufacturers or dealers and focus on one make. Programmes are taught in English and include a large share of shop work; Idaho State, for instance, requires students to hold a driver's licence to test-drive vehicles.

Accreditation and certification

US higher education is not centrally organised: institutions are accredited by independent bodies at national or regional level. For automotive programmes there is also programme-level accreditation by the ASE Education Foundation. Kirkwood Community College states that its programme is Master-certified by the ASE Education Foundation, and Idaho State reports ASE MAST-level accreditation. Ferris State's Automotive Engineering Technology bachelor's programme is accredited by ETAC-ABET.

Individual technicians earn certificates after their studies. Many programmes, including Montgomery College's, prepare students for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification exams. The BLS explains that technicians typically need work experience and must pass an exam to be certified, and that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires certification for anyone who buys or works with refrigerants.

Admission and visa

According to EducationUSA, community colleges may have a more flexible admissions process, and tests such as the TOEFL or SAT are not usually required for admission, but students take English and subject placement tests on arrival. Vocational programmes at community colleges may require an M student visa, which covers non-academic or vocational study, rather than the F visa used for academic degrees; the college's international office confirms which applies. EducationUSA also points out that a school certified to issue visa documents may not hold national or regional accreditation, so it is worth checking both.

Costs

Besides tuition, automotive students usually pay for tools. Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, lists 2026-27 tuition of $400 per credit hour for international students (against $229 in-state) and an estimated $9,000 for tool sets over its AAS programme. Linn-Benton charges a tool fee of $1,450 per quarter during the first year.

Where to study automotive technology in the United States

The schools are spread across smaller cities and regional centres rather than big metropolitan areas, with examples in the Midwest (Ferris State, Kirkwood, Lansing Community College), the Mountain West (Idaho State University, Western Wyoming Community College, Laramie County Community College), the Northeast (Hudson Valley Community College, Onondaga Community College) and the South (Greenville Technical College, Piedmont Technical College). A common route is the "2+2" model described by EducationUSA, in which two years at a community college are followed by two years at a university to complete a bachelor's degree.

Careers

Graduates work as service technicians in dealerships, independent repair shops and fleet maintenance. The BLS projects employment of automotive service technicians and mechanics to grow 5 percent between 2025 and 2035, with about 66,200 openings a year, and reports a median annual wage of $50,620 in May 2025. Bachelor's graduates in automotive engineering technology are prepared for design and management roles in the automotive field, according to Ferris State.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an automotive technology programme take?

Certificates take one year or less, an Associate of Applied Science usually two years, and a bachelor's degree four years.

What is ASE certification?

ASE certifies individual technicians through exams. According to the BLS, candidates typically need work experience and must pass an exam; many college programmes prepare students for these exams.

Do I need an F or an M visa?

The M visa covers vocational study and the F visa academic degrees. Which one applies depends on the programme, so check with the college's international office.

Do I have to buy my own tools?

Often, yes. Idaho State requires students to buy their own tools, and Kirkwood estimates $9,000 for tool sets in 2026-27.