Kickstart your career here!
If you enjoy working on cars and pick-up trucks and are not afraid of technology, then a career in the automotive service industry may be for you!
To work as an automotive service technician, you should:
- Enjoy working with motors
- Have the ability to work independently as well as in a team setting
- Love solving mechanical or electronic problems
Automotive Service Technicians inspect, diagnose, repair and service systems in cars, buses, motorcycles, and light and commercial transport trucks and need to keep pace with the fast changing world of automotive technology.
To become an Automotive Service Technician there are two ways to start.
Automotive Service Technician Pathways
Foundation Program
- 30-week full-time program
- You do not need an employer to take the Automotive Service Technician Foundation program! In fact, the main reason to take the Foundation program is to gain experience and knowledge about the automotive trade to make it easier for you to find a job in this field and an employer to sponsor you for the remaining three levels of your apprenticeship.
If you are a high school student, contact the counseling office at your high school for information on how to become a Youth Train in Trades student and get a jump-start on your trades training while you complete your high school diploma. Learn more about the Youth Train in Trades program.
Apprenticeship Program
To begin an apprenticeship to become an automotive service technician, you must:
- Have an employer sponsor
- Register with the Industry Training Authority (ITA)
- Complete your apprenticeship training
College of the Rockies offers all four levels of Automotive Service Technician Apprenticeship technical training.
Automotive Service Technician Training Schedule
| Program | Level | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Automotive Service Technician (Harmonized) | FDTN | September 3, 2019 | April 16, 2020 | 30 Weeks |
| *Automotive Service Technician (Harmonized) | FDTN | September 8, 2020 | April 15, 2021 | 30 Weeks |
| *Automotive Service Technician (Harmonized) | FDTN | September 7, 2021 | April 14, 2022 | 30 Weeks |
| *Automotive Service Technician (Harmonized) | 1 | May 11, 2020 | June 26, 2020 | 7 Weeks |
| *Automotive Service Technician (Harmonized) | 2 | April 19, 2021 | June 4, 2021 | 7 Weeks |
| *Automotive Service Technician (Harmonized) | 3 | January 6, 2020 | February 21, 2020 | 7 Weeks |
| *Automotive Service Technician (Harmonized) | 3 | January 10, 2022 | February 25, 2022 | 7 Weeks |
| *Automotive Service Technician (Harmonized) | 4 | January 11, 2021 | February 26, 2021 | 7 Weeks |
*Projected | All dates subject to change |
Industry Training Authority Harmonization Initiative
Harmonization is an ITA initiative to substantively align the curriculum taught in each apprenticeship level for consistency across Canada in 30 Red Seal trade apprenticeship programs by 2020. The ITA is committed to minimizing challenges to apprentices to complete their training and are supporting training providers through the Harmonization Initiative. The ITA has considered the input of industry partners as well as training providers across the province to develop transition plans to ensure that there are options for all current apprentices to complete their apprenticeship with minimal disruption. Transition plans for each trade vary and may involve Gap Training (which refers to missing or resequencing content).
For further details on transition plans, gap training or questions related to harmonization, please visit the ITA website www.itabc.ca