Curious... all of the mechanic shops and everything.. where did those guys learn to do what they do and what licenses and certifications are required? (Is it based on the state?)

I see all of these technical schools on TV about learn how to be a certified technician, but I doubt that the people at your local Firestone or Midas have all of these certifications under there belt. Are these just people who learned how to work on cars growing up or what?

--Also, I don't know very much about cars at all.. I can do a tune up and change tires and do minor fixes on my truck and all... but, to work at a place like autozone o'rileys or advanced auto parts, does anyone know what kind of stuff they require you to know?

 

anyone who can keep their truck running for 500,000 miles dont need no fancy trainin'

 

LOLLLL I almost forgot about that, thanks for reminding me haha..

SERIOUSLY tho :P anyone fill me in on my initial question?

 

Buzz, sig pic limits are now officially 500x100 pixels.

 

LOL, im glad you have a good sense of humor

 

sometimes a dealer will send you to the factory training school etc... but you have to start doing oil and lubes for awhile to prove you are serious about being a mechanic. getting your foot in the door is the hard part.

 

it depends on the shop.some shops hire those mechanic school grads,some train in house,some are sent t0 school.there are so many options and possibilities that questions really cant be answered.

 

About 2 months ago or so, you were asking the same questions about being a landscaper/horticulturist.

Looks like somebody skipped on career day back in high school.

 

nah.. im just trying to find out what qualifies these guys that work on your vehicles

 

My first instinct would be to call your local mechanic shop, Midas, Meineke, Quick Lube, etc...and ask to talk to the manager and just start asking questions.

Or better yet; just do what I did and take 3 seconds to search google for mechanic certification.

 

Wyo Tech and UTI are 2 of the best automotive / diesel schools, some big shops insist you have a college degree prior to working there (and it puts more liability on you)

ICAR and ASE are certification people that you must pass a test inn order to become certified.

 

I've been looking around because this is pretty interesting.. I can't find average salaries for like starting... then with lots of experience... It sure does look like a lot more goes into being a mechanic than just knowing how to fix a car. Running computer diagnosis machines, knowing tons about ALL the cars... It's almost like a doctor. If you do something wrong you are liable. No wonder they pick the technicians so carefully (someone said its hard to get in the door)

I am at a point where I 100% want to go to college and do something I like when I get out there, so I am just looking into more non-traditional ways of secondary education.

 

salaries depend on your area, expertise, size of the shop and who owns the shop...

I got paid more working in a "small" shop than I did in the ford dealership because the owner of the ford dealership was a cheap-o

before you look into one of those schools, what area do you want? do you want to be a mechanic (gas or diesel) or autobody?

http://www.wyotech.edu/

http://www.uti.edu/




if you are clueless to woring on vehicles I'd reconsider the automotive field since you want a large starting salary and being inexperienced you'll starve working flat rate.

 

define clueless?

I have never rebuilt an engine or transmission... I've done full tune ups... replaced starter, water pump, fuel pump for one of the tanks with a buddy, put alternator on a nova for a friend, headlights? lol... nothing that the average joe couldnt do but I taught myself how to do all of this mainly just by reading up on it and then getting out there with a haynes.

 

thats how i started out also.a few trips to the mechanic at 60$ an hour and thats all the motivation i needed. if i was short on cash and this was back in high school and i always was ..he would let me work with him after school and on weekends doing oil changes and lube jobs etc.. easy stuff. that guy taught me alot. i just kept showing up and eventually i was doing tune ups etc.. this was back around 17 years ago.. i think if you just show some ambition youll get in somewhere. there is a u.t.i about 1 hour from me.. i looked into and it was to expensive.