How to Launch a Career as a Certified Mechanic

Written by Staff Writer | Edited by Michael Purser

If you want to know how to become a mechanic, you probably have plenty of questions. What kind of education do you need? How long does it take? How much money can you make?

Find the answers to these questions and more below as we help you decide if this is the right career path for you.

What Does a Mechanic Do?

The term mechanic could refer to a broad collection of machine-repair-focused trades and engineering careers. In this case, we’re referring specifically to automotive repair technicians.

Auto mechanics diagnose problems with automobiles and undertake repairs to address those problems. They also perform preventative maintenance that keeps vehicles running smoothly.

Technicians tackle job tasks that include:

• Performing oil changes, fluid checks and other routine maintenance.
• Operating specialized diagnostic tools to identify issues flagged by the vehicle’s computer system.
• Performing emissions tests and other safety checks.
• Repairing damage to engines, transmissions, suspensions and other important vehicle components.
• Maintaining maintenance records.
• Diagnosing mechanical issues and communicating findings to clients.

Your day-to-day routine might include hours of picking apart an engine block, a few dozen oil changes or a pile of fleet maintenance paperwork. No two days look quite the same, making this a challenging and dynamic career choice.

What Does It Take to Become a Mechanic?

Auto mechanics must understand the interconnected systems within automobiles, including drivetrains, electrical systems, suspension and other components. Vehicles become more complex every year. So does the knowledge and practice needed to grasp how they function.

Fortunately, training is available to help you. If you are motivated and consistent, you can build the skills you need to become a mechanic.

Here’s a simplified list of the steps needed to get started on the path to becoming a mechanic:

1. Get a High School Diploma or GED

There are certainly some professional mechanics out there who did not get their high school diploma. In the old days, employers were not always picky if you had the mechanical aptitude to repair cars. But in the modern workforce, most employers require a basic education.

Most trade schools that teach mechanic skills also require at least a high school diploma or GED to qualify for enrollment. That’s important for the next step.

2. Enroll in a Trade Program or Technical School

Trade programs teach you the fundamentals of a particular hands-on job. Mechanic training programs show you all the basics, everything you need to know to start working on automobiles. But that’s not all. These programs also offer early hands-on experience in major job functions. That experience can be extremely helpful when you are applying for your first job.

Some schools provide graduates with accredited degrees, such as an associate’s degree. Others give a certificate of completion or other credentials. These documents are important because they demonstrate to employers that you have completed a structured education program.

Some trade programs can also help you with your job search by connecting students and employers before graduation. If you are interested in that kind of support, be sure to look for institutions with career services and job placement counselors.

3. Consider Further Training

If you are interested in a more specific career path, such as working on luxury vehicles or sports cars, you can apply for more advanced training programs, sometimes offered by specific manufacturers. For example, Mercedes-Benz offers specialized technician training programs that prepare you to work at a dealership as a brand-focused automotive technician.

4. Get Your Entry-Level Certification

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) offers a variety of industry-recognized certification tests to demonstrate your understanding and repair skills. The entry-level test is available to anyone, even if you don’t have any formal experience. But you are most likely to pass after completing at least a rudimentary trade program.

You don’t have to stop with your basic certs. You can collect more credentials to broaden your expertise and improve your career prospects.

5. Get Your First Job

As part of your trade school program, you may have to complete an internship. In that case, you might already have a job lined up with the employer you interned with. Otherwise, you will need to apply at an auto repair shop to start working as a mechanic.

Fortunately, almost every community in America has at least one garage. Depending on your area, you will likely have multiple potential job opportunities. Major employers of mechanics include car dealerships and repair shops, but you might find work with a trucking fleet or a corporate motor pool. Many employers will require you to complete a short-term training program once you are hired to gauge your skills.

6. Continue Your Education and Training

You have probably noticed that new models come with more high-tech bells and whistles every year. Being a successful auto mechanic means keeping up with those changes. That requires ongoing education. If you want to excel, planning for your ongoing education is a necessity.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Mechanic?

It all depends on the path you take and your career goals. Some trade school programs can be completed in just six months to a year. That’s more than enough time to prepare for an entry-level job. But it will take several years of practice — or more — before you are considered a competent journeyman mechanic and are allowed to independently take on complex repair jobs.

Associate degree programs take about two years to complete. These provide you with a more comprehensive education and will help you reach competency faster after starting your first job.

Apprenticeships can combine on-the-job training with technical schooling. These commitments often last between two and four years. While that’s much longer than six months, you graduate ready to work independently with the benefit of robust automotive repair experience.

The truth is, there is no fast-track way to gain true proficiency as a mechanic. Everyone requires education, practice and more practice to gain real-world, reliable auto repair skills.

How Much Money Does a Mechanic Make?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay of automotive service technicians and mechanics is on par with the median compensation for all U.S. wage-earners. Individual salaries vary widely due to factors like experience, location, industry and employer.

If you want to make more as a mechanic, it’s a good idea to pursue more challenging roles that require additional training. An experienced Porsche-certified mechanic at a high-end dealership, for instance, is going to earn significantly more than a fresh tech changing tires at a local chain shop.

If you want to maximize your earnings, you might consider opening your own garage. But that requires a whole new set of business management skills above and beyond your automotive expertise.

What Are the Career Prospects for a Mechanic?

The BLS job outlook for automotive service technology workers places this industry is approximately the same as the economy at large. That means the field should experience 70,000 openings for service techs and mechanics each year, on average, over the next decade.

This career path positions you to work on many different types of vehicles used in a wide variety of environments. That opens many potential career paths and provides a wealth of exciting opportunities. Working as a fleet mechanic for a large company is much different than servicing cars at a brand dealership.

By choosing your career focus early on, you can reach your goal as quickly as possible. For instance, if you know you want to specialize in the repair of high-end electric vehicles, you can enroll in training programs and seek roles appropriate to that discipline right out of the gate. It will still take some time to realize your dreams, but you can maximize your earning potential early on.

How Important Is Safety Training?

Proper safety training is necessary for every mechanic. If you have spent any time working on cars, you know just how easy it is to hurt yourself. Hand tools, power tools, jacks, lifts and vehicles can all cause injury and sometimes death. That’s why employers are required by law to ensure that employees have adequate safety training for their workplaces.

Whether you go through a trade school, an apprenticeship or just start out as an express tech at a dealership, you will need safety training. For example, understanding lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures will help you avoid accidental machine activation while performing maintenance.

Depending on the industry you are working in, you may be required to complete specialized safety training programs. Workers in this industry typically need to complete safety awareness instruction like OSHA 10 training for general industry employees.

Choosing the Right Safety Training

Preparing to work on cars for a living means mastering a host of tools and facing a variety of hazards. Fortunately, you can get started on the right foot with high-quality online safety instruction.

OSHA Education Center delivers accurate, easy-to-understand safety training on more than 150 topics. We make learning simple. All our courses are available 100% online and accessible 24/7 from any device with an internet connection.

Learn where and when it’s most convenient for you. We even save your progress automatically, so you can start and stop whenever you like.

Our team is here to help you get the safety training you need for your job as an auto mechanic. Browse our extensive catalog, enroll in a course and start learning today!