Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Automotive Mechanics
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at John C Calhoun State Community College, Southern Union State Community College, Shelton State Community College, and Gadsden State Community College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Wallace Community College Dothan, NWSCC, and Bishop State Community College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider J F Drake State, Jefferson Davis Community College, Trenholm Tech, and Wallace Community College Dothan.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Southern Union State Community College, Shelton State Community College, Wallace Community College Dothan, and Wallace State.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Jefferson Davis Community College, Southern Union State Community College, Bevill State Community College, and Wallace State.
Excellence
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Trenholm Tech, Bishop State Community College, and Jefferson Davis Community College.
Working as an Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic in Alabama
Automotive service technicians and mechanics use their knowledge of electronic, mechanical, computer, and fuel systems of vehicles to repair engines. They depend on their experience and computerized testing techniques to discover problems while repairing vehicles. The areas in which automotive service technicians and mechanics may specialize include engine repair, and suspension and steering. Read a detailed Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic job description and schools overview.
State Requirements
There are no specific employment requirements for automotive service technicians and mechanics in the State of Alabama. Nonetheless, it is beneficial for automotive service technicians and mechanics wishing to find employment in urban areas to get the ASE certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Many employers also prefer candidates who have completed training from an Automotive Youth Education Service (AYES) program that is certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
Major Industries
Most automotive service technicians and mechanics work with automotive repair and maintenance providers. Other industries in Alabama include:
- Automobile Dealers
- Auto Parts, Accessories, and Tire Stores
- Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing
- Motor Vehicle/Part Merchant Wholesalers
- Machinery & Supply Merchant Wholesalers
- Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing
- Power Generation and Supply
- Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction
- Services to Buildings and Dwellings
Major Employers
A few of the major employers for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Alabama include:
- Springhill Toyota (Automobile Dealers)
- Delphi Packard Electric (Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing)
- Glovis America (Motor Vehicle/Part Merchant Wholesalers)
- Tiffin Motorhomes Incorporated (Other Motor Vehicle Dealers)
- Kth Leesburg Products (Auto Parts, Accessories, and Tire Stores)
- Bebo's Systems Incorporated (Automotive Repair and Maintenance)
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
Sort Reviews By:University Of South Alabama • Mobile, AL
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2009)
• 9/27/2011
"I was not prepared for my career, which is why I am having so much trouble finding a job."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | There is a lot of manual labor. One must be prepared for this in order to enjoy it. Otherwise, look for a different trade. |
| Program Reputation | 1 | IT had a terrible reputation and has undermined my job search. |
| Program Quality | 1 | My major was abysmal. There were no job openings for my major. |
| Instruction | 1 | The instruction was awful. The teachers would not let students ask questions. |
| How Difficult | 1 | There was no challenge at all to the classes. It was all about interfacing with teachers to get on their good side. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was all about programming. That was what we learned. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | One could only take classes during the day. There was no flexibility. |
| Academic Facilities | 1 | The facilities were terrible and there was no rec. center when I attended. |
| Social Life | 1 | We didn't have a football team and there was no real team spirit to speak of. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I think the placement was very poor. The career services assistant did not help me at all. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | It was really disappointing. They make you pay for the rec. center instead of letting alumni use it for free. |
Auburn University • Auburn, AL
Studying Mechanical Engineer (completion in 2003)
• 10/27/2011
"My school was fun, exciting, and taught me everything I know. I wouldn't be where I am today without it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Everybody has their passions and they should pursue them. Don't decide on a career when you're too young of a person. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Auburn is definitely known for the engineers that come out of the school. I am very respected for achieving my degree there. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Auburn is a great engineering school. Every program there is very successful. |
| Instruction | 10 | Every teacher is more than qualified to teach. Many of them have a teaching degree along with a degree in the subject they teach. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Auburn University is a tough school and is not for the undedicated. It took me 5 years with one or two failed classes when I slacked off even a little bit. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There is a lot of hands on learning in the engineering field. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They have many professors and they work around college students' schedules fabulously. You could get just about any class at any reasonable time when I was there. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Great facilities because the school makes great money. Every student center and building is well built. |
| Social Life | 10 | I was in a fraternity known as Theta Chi. It was a wonderful social experience that I will never forget. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I had to stay in school full time before I went into the work force. But I did receive assistance at least once a year in trying to find a job. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Auburn University has always had a pretty strong Alumni program. When I was there the teams were not as good as in previous or future years. |
Lanier Tech • , AL
Studying (completion in 2009)
• 1/1/2012
"This was an excellent school. I would recommend it to anyone. I truly loved the experiences I had."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend it to anyone. They excel at teaching this particular field and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The school is known as one of the best around in the field. It has a great reputation. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Lanier Tech is one of the best schools around. I t is very hands on and leaves students capable of handing the work. |
| Instruction | 10 | All of my instructors were extremely knowledgeable. They all knew how to help students individually. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I found it to be quite good for me to work with. it depends on what your natural talents are. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I only learn well with hands-on work. This school is extremely hands-on, which was perfect for me. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | You can find a class that fits into any lifestyle. You can find classes that you need at any time of day upon registration. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Everything is new and nice. All the tools you need to learn are provided for you. |
| Social Life | 10 | Many of my classmates became great friends of mine. I met all kinds of interesting people who were very friendly. |
| Placement Services | 10 | They do everything they can to help you find work. It is a very good school for this. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The school will help you find jobs. The school is always there for any need or questions you may have. |
USC • Los Angeles, AL
Studying Automotive Engineering (completion in 2010)
• 2/14/2012
"I was really satisfied with my time at USC. I think they really taught me everything I needed to learn to be successful in my career."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would definitely recommended USC for anyone looking to be an automotive mechanic. They have a great program and will definitely prepare you for a career. They teach you everything you need to know to be a great mechanic and a degree from USC is respected by everyone in the industry. I think USC is a great school for anyone looking to be a automotive mechanic. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | USC has a great reputation as a college for every major and engineering is no different. I had no problem getting a job with my degree. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I got really good training at USC. I think they really prepared me for the job. |
| Instruction | 10 | All of my instructors had worked in the field and they all were very skilled. I learned everything I needed to get a good job. |
| How Difficult | 9 | USC was a very tough school but I am glad I went. It was challenging but it prepared me for my career. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | USC has a great automotive program mixing equal parts of hands-on lab work and out of book education. I think the mix is perfect for getting familiar with everything you need to know to be a successful mechanic. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | USC has some flexibility in when you can take classes but it is definitely a full-time job getting good grades and graduating. You must be able to dedicate a decent amount of your time to working hard. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | USC has great facilities for the automotive engineering program. They have great labs and equipment so you can get a great feel of how the real world job is. |
| Social Life | 8 | USC has a great social scene. I concentrated on my studies so I mostly stayed home and studied, but whenever I wanted to party or do social activities I had no problem finding them. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I didn't use my school's career placement services to get a job because I knew someone already looking for a mechanic, but they have a really good network for job placement if you need it. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I made a lot of friends from school who work in the industry, and the alumni network is really good. |
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