Automotive
The Automotive program is designed to provide the necessary educational background and practical training to repair today’s automobiles and light trucks. Automotive technicians inspect, maintain, and repair automobiles and light trucks that run on gasoline, electricity, or alternative fuels such as ethanol. Automotive service technicians’ and mechanics’ responsibilities have evolved from simple mechanical repairs to high-level technology-related work. The increasing sophistication of automobiles requires workers who can use computerized shop equipment and work with electronic components while maintaining their skills with traditional hand tools.
Today, integrated electronic systems and complex computers regulate vehicles and their performance while on the road. Technicians must have an increasingly broad knowledge of how vehicles’ complex components work and interact. They also must be able to work with electronic diagnostic equipment and digital manuals and reference materials.
Automotive earnings
Graduates of the Automotive program can become employed as a repair service estimator, automotive service writer, auto repair technician, shop foreman, or specialty shop technician.
According to Lightcast Economic Modeling, the median salary for an automotive career is $48,142.
Madison County is considered a hotspot for automotive technicians, according to Lightcast Economic Modeling, with an average of 12 more job postings per month than the national average and 234 individual employers.
Earn your automotive certificate or degree
Automotive accreditation
The automotive training program at Drake State Community and Technical College in Huntsville, AL has received ASE Training Program accreditation by the ASE Education Foundation. Drake State’s automotive program has been accredited in the Master Automobile Service Technology.
“This is great news for automotive-minded young people and their parents,” said Michael Coley, ASE Education Foundation President. “Because this program increases cooperation between local education and industry leaders, it gives added assurance that Drake State’s graduates will be employable entry-level technicians. As a result of the quality education provided by Drake State, the motoring public will benefit since better repair technicians will join the work force.”
Upon completion of the evaluation, Drake State became accredited by the ASE Education Foundation.
The ASE Education Foundation is a non-profit, independent organization that evaluates and accredits entry-level technician training programs against standards developed by the automotive industry.