Automotive Service Technician: School of Trades and Technology

Program Overview

This 27-week Automotive Service Technician program equips aspiring mechanics with the foundational knowledge and skills for vehicle maintenance and repair. Led by an experienced instructor, students gain hands-on experience in various automotive systems while being encouraged to apply their learning to their own vehicles. Graduates qualify for apprenticeship opportunities, leading to the Automotive Service Technician Certificate of Apprenticeship and potential interprovincial Red Seal certification.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Gain familiarity working with engines, electrical systems, running gear, clutches, transmissions, rear axles, steering systems and braking systems.
• Applied mathematics and safety education.

Teaching:

• Learn from an instructor with over 40 years of experience in the trade, who is still active repairing vehicles, and building hot rods and customs.
• Students are encouraged to bring their own vehicles to work on when relevant topics are covered in classes.
• Tools are supplied.

Careers:

• 85% of graduates from this program are in labour force
• 90% of graduates from this program satisfied with training
• 100% quality of instruction rated by program graduates

Other:

• The program is offered in Kamloops.
• The program length is 27 weeks.
• The program is offered in two intakes: September 3, 2024 to March 21, 2025 and August 18, 2025 to March 27, 2026.
• The program is limited space for the September 3, 2024 to March 21, 2025 intake.
• The program requires Grade 12 graduation or equivalent and a successful score on ACCUPLACER.
• The program is offered as a foundation program and an apprenticeship program.
• The apprenticeship program provides automotive service technician certification through work-based training and in-school technical training.
• Employers sponsor students for the work-based training and TRU offers the in-school technical training for levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 of your apprenticeship.
• Each level consists of seven weeks of on-campus training.
• Once you’ve completed all four levels and the required work-based hours, you’ll receive an Automotive Service Technician Certificate of Apprenticeship and qualify to write the interprovincial Red Seal exam for your Certificate of Qualification.
• The apprenticeship program requires sponsorship by an employer registered by SkilledTradesBC and the student must be in good physical health.
• The apprenticeship program has a waitlist.
• The apprenticeship program offers training dates for levels 1, 2, 3 and 4.
• The apprenticeship program requires the purchase of required textbooks.
• The program costs are subject to change.
• The estimated costs include items such as student/ancillary fees, books, personal tools and safety gear, which are kept by students when they graduate from the program.
• The program costs are broken down into general application fee, Accuplacer exam fee, Accuplacer rewrites, parking, foundation tuition, student and lab fees, learning guides and/or textbooks, health and dental plan, CSA work boots, clear safety glasses, 2 pair coveralls, welding gloves and welding hat, calculator, 3-ring binder, paper, pens, etc.
• The apprenticeship program costs are based on the number of weeks you need, with each apprenticeship level requiring seven weeks.
• The apprenticeship program requires the purchase of required textbooks.