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Automotive Service Technician |
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Automotive service technicians perform preventative maintenance, diagnose faulty operations, and repair automotive vehicles and light trucks.
Automotive service technicians adjust, test and repair engines, steering systems, braking systems, drive trains, vehicle suspensions, electrical systems and air-conditioning systems, and do wheel alignments. In large shops, they sometimes specialize in repairing, rebuilding and servicing specific parts (e.g., transmissions, engines, electrical components, etc.). In smaller shops, automotive service technicians may work on a wider variety of repair jobs.
Automotive service technicians begin by reading the work order and examining the vehicle. To locate the cause of faulty operation and repair it, they:
Automotive service technicians also may:
Most automotive service technicians work a 40-hour, five-day week. Some evening, weekend or holiday work may be required. The work is sometimes noisy and dirty.
There is some risk of injury involved in working with power tools and near exhaust gases.
The work is most rewarding for those who enjoy doing precise work that is varied and challenging. Also, they usually like on-the-job security and a feeling of independence.
To be successful in the trade, automotive service technicians need:
Automotive service technicians are employed by automotive repair shops, specialty repair shops, service facilities, car and truck dealerships, and by large organizations that own fleets of vehicles.
Journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $25 to $40 an hour plus benefits.
Experienced automotive service technicians may advance to service manager or shop foreman. Some automotive service technicians open their own repair facilities.
To work as an Automotive Service Technician in Alberta, a person must be a registered apprentice, an Alberta-certified journeyperson, or hold a valid recognized credential. (see Recognized Trade Certificates)
Automotive service technicians learn their skills by registering with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training to participate in apprenticeship training. Upon successful completion, they are awarded the Alberta Journeyman Certificate.
An automotive service technician who holds a valid trade certificate from Alberta or from another Canadian province or territory may apply to write the Interprovincial Exam and, if successful, be granted a Red Seal under the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program. The Red Seal is recognized throughout most of Canada.
An automotive service technician who holds a valid recognized credential that does not have a Red Seal may apply for:
Automotive service technicians who:
may be eligible to apply for trade certification under the Qualification Certificate Program.
Individuals possessing a valid Alberta Journeyman Certificate, an Alberta Qualification Certificate, an Alberta Occupational Certificate, or a valid recognized credential are eligible to receive a Blue Seal business credential after completing the necessary requirements.
The term of apprenticeship for a automotive service technician is 4 years (four 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1500 hours of on-the-job training and 8 weeks of technical training each year.
To learn the skills required of a Automotive Service Technician in Alberta and be issued an Alberta Journeyman Certificate, a person must:
Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates and may select apprentices from among their current employees.
- during on-the-job training, apprentice automotive service technicians earn at least 55 percent of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 70 percent in the second, 80 percent in the third, and 90 percent in the fourth year.
- apprentices are required to provide their own tools
- select an educational institution that offers training for Automotive Service Technician apprentices, and a time to attend training
- determine requirements for enrolling at the selected institution, and forward completed enrollment form to the selected institution
Apprentices may attempt the Interprovincial Exam in the final period of their apprenticeship training and, if successful, be granted a Red Seal. (see Exam Counselling Sheets)
When apprentices attend technical training, they are required to pay the applicable tuition fee and purchase course supplies.
Grants, scholarships and other financial assistance may be available. For more information see Financial Assistance or contact an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.
To qualify for a Red Seal, a person must:
- an Alberta trade certificate or completion of apprenticeship certificate, OR
- a journeyperson or completion of apprenticeship certificate issued by another Canadian province or territory
To qualify for an Equivalency document based on a recognized credential, a person must:
A person who holds a valid recognized credential, as described above, does not require an Alberta Equivalency document to work in the trade in Alberta. However, some employers may require Alberta documentation as proof that the holder is allowed to work in the trade or that the holder's credential is recognized.
To qualify for a Qualification Certificate based on a recognized credential, a person must:
To qualify for an Alberta Qualification Certificate based on work experience, a person must:
- a certified heavy equipment technician (all branches except transport trailer mechanic) must have at least 4,500 hours and 36 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as an automotive service technician
- a certified heavy equipment technician – transport trailer mechanic must have at least 6,300 hours and 54 months of 'hands-on' work experience as an automotive service technician
- a certified motorcycle mechanic must have at least 5,625 hours and 47 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as an automotive service technician
- a certified transport refrigeration technician must have at least 6,750 hours and 54 months of ‘hands-on’ work experience as an automotive service technician
Time spent on supervisory or foreman duties, counter work, heading the tool crib, or on a training course is NOT counted as ‘hands-on’ work experience.
This application fee covers the review of the application, the assessment and confirmation of the applicant's work experience hours/months, the administration of the applicant’s demonstration of competency, and one attempt at the Qualification Certificate theory examination. The Qualification Certificate practical examination requires a separate fee as identified on the application noted above.
