 | Automotive Service & Repair Association"Serving Alberta's Automotive Service Professionals" |
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Automotive Service Technician
| Employment Outlook: | Average occupational growth |
| Physical Requirements: | Lifting between 11 & 25 kg (approximately 25 to 55 lbs) |
| Educational Requirements: | General high school diploma |
| NOC Number(s): | 7321.1 |
Introduction
Automotive service technicians perform preventative maintenance, diagnose faulty operation and repair automotive vehicles and light trucks. Duties
Automotive service technicians adjust, test and repair engines, steering systems, braking systems, drive trains, vehicle suspensions, electrical systems and air-conditioning systems, and do wheel alignments. In large shops, they sometimes specialize in repairing, rebuilding and servicing specific parts (e.g. braking systems, suspension and steering systems). In smaller shops, they may work on a wider variety of repair jobs. Automotive service technicians begin by reading the work order and examining the vehicle. To locate the cause of faulty operation and repair it, they Depending on the circumstances, technicians may also Working Conditions
Most automotive service technicians work a 40-hour, five-day week. Some evening, weekend or holiday work may be required. The work is sometimes noisy and dirty, and there is some risk of injury involved in working with power tools and near exhaust gases. Technicians may be routinely required to lift parts and equipment weighing up to 25 kilograms. Skills, Interests, Values
Automotive service technicians need the following characteristics: They should enjoy using tools and equipment to perform tasks requiring precision, solving problems by experimenting, and following routine procedures for scheduled maintenance.
In Alberta, the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act requires that anyone working in this trade must be a certified journeyman or a registered apprentice. To enter the Automotive Service Technician apprenticeship program, applicants must have at least Grade 10 with Mathematics 10 or 13 and English 10 or 13 or equivalent (or pass an entrance exam), and find an employer who is willing to hire and train an apprentice. Employers generally prefer to hire high school or post-secondary program graduates and may select apprentices from among their current employees. A working knowledge of electricity, electronics and computers is an asset. While still in high school, students can begin an apprenticeship program and earn high school credits at the same time through the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). After high school graduation, RAP apprentices may complete their apprenticeship programs as full-time apprentices. To register in the apprenticeship program, the apprentice and the employer complete an application form and submit it to the closest Apprenticeship and Industry Training office. Once the application is approved, a contract is drawn up and signed by the apprentice and the employer. The term of apprenticeship is four years (four 12-month periods with a minimum of 1500 hours of employment each year). In addition to the on-the-job training, the term also requires eight weeks of classroom training for each year. Applicants who have successfully completed related courses of study or work experience may be eligible for advanced standing in the apprenticeship program. The classroom training is arranged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and is currently offered at When apprentices attend training, they are required to pay the applicable tuition fee and purchase course supplies. Human Resources Development Canada may provide employment insurance benefits to apprentices attending classroom training. For more detailed information, contact your local Human Resources Development Canada office. After successfully completing the required examinations and hours of employment, the apprentice is awarded an Alberta Journeyman Certificate. Those who pass an approved interprovincial exam qualify for the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal which means their trade qualifications are recognized throughout most of Canada. Outside of the apprenticeship program and in addition to high school industrial arts courses, twelve to sixteen-week Pre-Employment Automotive Service Technician programs are offered on an "as needed" basis by Alberta Vocational Colleges in Lac La Biche and Grouard, Grande Prairie Regional College and the post-secondary institutions that offer apprenticeship training. The admission requirements are generally the same as those for apprenticeship. The following institutions also offer other related programs. Other Requirements
Automotive service technicians provide their own hand tools so apprentices should begin to purchase tools as soon as they start in the trade. Employment and Advancement
Automotive service technicians are employed by automotive repair shops, specialty repair shops, service stations, car and truck dealerships, and by large organizations that own fleets of vehicles. Experienced automotive service technicians may advance to service manager or shop foreman positions. Some automotive service technicians open their own garages, service stations or automobile performance shops. With additional training, automotive service technicians can transfer their skills to related occupations such as automotive instructor, partsman, agricultural mechanic or heavy equipment technician. For the foreseeable future in Alberta, the employment outlook in this occupation is expected to be average compared to all other occupations. Salary
Apprentice automotive service technicians earn at least 55% of the journeyman wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 70% in the second, 80% in the third and 90% in the fourth year. Journeyman wage rates range as high as $23 an hour, but generally average from $12 to $16 an hour (1996 figures). In many shops journeyman mechanics are paid a flat rate for each job they complete, usually a percentage of the labour charge. Earnings may vary considerably depending on how much work is assigned and how quickly it is completed.
Education Requirements