Auto Mechanics Schools

There is no way around it, if you are changing careers or just starting out, becoming an auto mechanic these days requires a formal basic education in auto repair .

In this section we will take a look at automotive trade schools, how they differ from other educational centers and what benefits they can offer potential students.

The first thing we will look at are the benefits trade schools offer.

1. Time – If you are in a hurry to join the job market, then trade schools is your choice. Their courses are designed to be the shortest duration for graduation.
2. Focused Training – Trade schools train you quicker because they have focused courses. You might choose a 6 hour a day, 5 day a week class where you graduate in 9 months compared to a college where you attend classes 2 hours a day, 3 days a week, this could take two years to complete.
3. Flexibility – Trade schools generally have day and night classes to accommodate people working.
4. Personalized Training – Trade schools have smaller class sizes so your get personalized attention and coaching.
5. Updated Curriculum’s – The school and teachers stay current with changes in the automotive industry. Many of the teachers have been in the industry for years and keep updated themselves, you benefit by this too.

These are some things to keep in mind when comparing the different types of auto mechanic schools.

Online Automotive Trade Schools

You will find a lot of the “hands on trade schools” also offer their own online version,

You lose the hands on benefits and the coaching interaction you would get by attending a classroom situation, but online schools serve a purpose. People who want to learn the auto repair business and work full time will find online automotive trade schools a life saver.

There can also be the factor of distance. Some areas do not have a hands on trade school close by, in this case you will still get the required training you need to become an auto mechanic from the online school.

You may also hear online training referred to as E-Learning or Distance Training.

Questions to Ask

Every school recruitment officer will tell you their school is the best, this is natural, but you need to do your own analysis, to do this you have to ask questions.

Once you have a list of potential schools, choose some questions from the following list that are important to you and ask them:

1. Is you school licensed?
2. What kind of graduation credentials do I get (certificate, plaque)
3. Do potential employers recognize your graduates credentials?
4. What companies have hired your automotive graduates in the last 5 years?
5. What is your placement record the last 5 years?

Now, do a double check with the answers.

1. Go to potential employers to see what they think of the trade school you interviewed.
2. Check with the BBB and your states Attorney Generals Office for complaints.
3. Check the schools advertised placement statistics against the actual figures you have.

By asking these questions and doing the double check, you can be assured the automotive trade school you choose has the required standards that both you and prospective employers want when it’s time to look for a good job.

Career Guidance and Financial Guidance

Any trade school worth it’s weight in gold will have a department to help with career and financial guidance.

Also ask them if they have a work experience program. This is where you trade time for experience, your school will have an arrangement with a local business where you work a few hours for free in return for the experience.

Final Note

With so many automotive trade schools to choose from, we failed to mention the courses.

If you are looking for a general get your foot in the door kind of basic course, then most trade schools will qualify. But, if you have aspirations for a specialized area of auto repair, then look closer at the courses offered to make sure there are foundational classes pertaining to your area of specialization.

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