How to Become an Automobile Mechanic in Arizona (Easy Way)

Arizona automotive institute requirements

Strictly speaking, an auto technician is not obligated to get a license to diagnose and fix cars within the State of Arizona! 

Then again, simply because there’s no formalized or widespread requirement doesn’t mean virtually all technicians are similarly eligible for a position in an automobile repair center.

Within Arizona, auto technicians who match the following requirements are significantly almost certainly going to acquire a position in an automotive mechanic shop when compared with job hopefuls who don’t meet some of these minimum requirements:

• Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certification (Master Mechanic certification preferred)
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• Arizona work experience in one of the following areas:
  Repair Technician – 1, 2, or 3 years
  Collision Damage Estimator – 2 years
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• On-the-job training from local automotive dealers
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• Plus: Any car manufacturer certifications (e.g. General Motors, Chrysler, Mercedes, BMW, etc.)
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• Automotive Repair Classroom Training:
  Collision repair training
  Repair Technology training courses

Find Your Auto Mechanic course for Arizona here!

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Job outlook for car specialists in Arizona

Wage Statistics for Automotive Service Technicians (2014 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) looks very promising for the next decade and more.

• Total Number of Auto Mechanics - 11,580
• Average Annual Salary - $42,370
• Average Hourly Wage - $20.37
• Employment (per 1,000 jobs) - 4.679
• Annual Job Growth Rate - 4.0%
• Estimated Job Openings per Year - 579
  

Typical salaries in Arizona by top cities

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ASE (Automobile Service Excellence) Student Certification in Arizona

ASE Student Certification will help you proceed on the perfect road for building a career as a service professional within the automobile industry. In contrast to the full ASE qualification, there aren't any work experience qualifications for student certification. 

Any applicant simply just has to pass one or more of the student certification tests at a community college in Arizona. 

Once the student has proficiently finished one or more exams, the faculty prints the qualification and has it approved by the school principal and it is awarded to the individual. The student qualification is valid for two years after the evaluation date.

A large number of technicians choose to get special recognition from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) (www.ase.com). ASE is an unbiased, non-profit institution that improves the level of quality of motor vehicle maintenance and services by certifying and validating maintenance and service professionals. 

ASE Certification almost always is a fundamental component of a technician’s experience and credentials and will help highlight ability and help make individuals even more valuable to potential hiring managers. 

Automobile technicians together with other auto service specialists that want to get ASE certification are able to take each of ASE’s 40 tests. After successfully passing these job-related ability examinations, the mechanic becomes ASE certified in any of the following subjects: medium/heavy truck, truck equipment, school bus, and much more.

Find Your Auto Mechanic course for Arizona here!

Certification options in Arizona

The first task in the process of becoming an auto mechanic is to choose an educational path. That may lie through a technical, community or junior college. The path can also mean spending a year at a career institute or technical center. 

The most highly recommended path is through a community college. Most certificate options last a year while degree options typically take two years to complete. Both prepare students for what they will face as professional auto mechanics. 

An auto mechanic education differs from traditional education in that it utilizes a hands-on portion in addition to classroom instruction. Students learn how to become an auto mechanic by conducting auto repair on actual cars. 

Best automotive schools in Arizona

Arizona residents looking to enhance their skills and knowledge in auto repair can accomplish that by enrolling in an auto mechanic education program at a community college near them.

Here are some of the community colleges that offer auto mechanic education in Arizona.

You might also take interest in: How to Become an EMT in Arizona

Pima Community College

Highlights:

Pima Community College is a comprehensive two-year institution serving students and employers throughout Pima County in Arizona and beyond. They welcome everyone striving to achieve a better life for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Pima is in rapid transition to a high-tech institution serving the needs of the region’s growing aerospace, engineering, defense, and healthcare industries. 

Developing Centers for Excellence in key areas such as Applied Technology, Information Technology, and Health Professions, Pima is focused on strengthening partnerships and expanding employer engagement in order to ensure that today’s students are prepared now and for many years to come.

The automobile mechanic program

• Jumpstart your career with Pima's Master level accredited Automotive Service Technician program. Built to align with Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) automotive repair certifications, Pima’s courses range from Basic Maintenance (G1) to Engine Repair (A1), Electrical Diagnosis (A6), and even Advanced Driveability (A8).
• Whether you're a high school student, participating in dual enrollment courses, a recent graduate looking to get a jump start into a high-demand career, or an established technician looking to upskill, Pima has a course that will meet you where you are.
• Pima offers optional Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) training through Fiat-Chrysler and Subaru, as well as industry-recognized, stackable credentials from the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3).
• You will graduate from this program well-prepared for a job with a dealership or independent automotive repair shop. Automotive technicians who complete a two-year Automotive Technology Associate degree earn over 20% more, on average than a technician who does not.

List of Degrees
AAS - Associate of Applied Science
         Automotive Technology - AAS Degree

List of Certificates
Automotive Mechanics - Certificate

Estimated course length

16 Estimated Weeks

Location

Pima Community College includes campuses and centers throughout greater Tucson.

Most Pima students take classes at multiple campuses and are welcome to use student services centers, libraries, and other services at any PCC campus.

Tucson is a city located in Pima County Arizona. It is also the county seat of Pima County. With a 2020 population of 557,718, it is the 2nd largest city in Arizona (after Phoenix) and the 33rd largest city in the United States.

The exact campus location is 4905C East Broadway Blvd., Tucson, Arizona 85709-1275

Some well established businesses in the area include:

• TUCSON ELECTRIC POWER
• TMC HEALTHCARE
• TMC HEALTHCARE

Demographic

49% Hispanic

36% White

5% Black

3% Unknown

3% Asian

2% American Indian/Alaska Native

2% Two or more races

Weather

In Tucson, the summers are sweltering, the winters are cool and dry, and it is mostly clear year-round. 

Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 42°F to 102°F and is rarely below 33°F or above 107°F.

Attractions/ places to go

Tucson, the "City of Sunshine," offers a pleasant mix of cultural and natural attractions to keep visitors busy, but it's primarily the warm, dry climate that attracts tourists and snowbirds to the area.

The city is home to interesting museums, historical sites, great shopping, and dining. The surrounding mountains and desert provide a playground for people looking for things to do outdoors, with beautiful parks, wonderful hiking trails, biking trails, campgrounds, and some incredibly scenic drives.

Cost and financial aid

• Average Annual Cost
  ‍Cost includes tuition, living costs, books and supplies, and fees minus the average grants and scholarships for federal financial aid recipients. $3,583
  

• AST program cost
  ‍$2,187.5Total Price (Excluding Tax)
  

They offer financial aid, grants, scholarships, Military and Veterans' Benefits, federal work-study, student loans, and Early Book Purchase Program.

Graduation rate & Salary

Out of 34,645 students...

• 14% graduated
• 46% withdrew
• 38% transferred
• 2% still enrolled
  

The average Automotive Mechanic I salary in Arizona is $40,775 as of January 27, 2022, but the range typically falls between $35,810 and $47,012.

Student Body

Undergraduate Students - 17,141

Full-time - 26% 

Part-time - 74%

Eastern Arizona College

Highlights:

Eastern Arizona College is a student-centered institution that prepares individuals to thrive in a complex, ever-changing world through accessibility, cultural development, and innovative educational programs.

The automobile mechanic program

List of certifications‍

• Automotive Service Consultant (Cert)
             The Automotive Service Consultant certificate program develops skills necessary for entry into the automotive service            consultant/advisor career area. 
             The program is designed to provide in one year much of the basic automotive skills training needed to be productive and efficient in an            automotive service consultant/advisor position. 
             Additionally, the certificate program provides salesmanship and customer communication training necessary for this career area.

• Automotive Technology (AAS)
            EAC supports ASE certification of technicians The Automotive Service Technology degree provides an opportunity for all students to           develop and upgrade skills needed to be productive and successful upon entry into several automotive service and repair occupations. 
            Additionally, this program develops the career skills necessary for an individual to move into sales, business management, or           supervisory positions. 
            The Automotive Service Technology program is recognized for its high level of achievement by meeting local and national industry           standards. The degree coursework will help prepare students for ASE certification tests.

• Auto Technician (Cert)
            The Automotive Technician certificate program is designed to provide in one year much of the basic automotive skills training needed           to be productive in an automotive service facility. 
            Additionally, this certificate will help prepare the student for ASE certification tests.

• Auto Maintenance (Cert)
           This certificate is designed to provide basic automotive skills training needed to be efficient at performing vehicle preventative          maintenance procedures. 
          This training program provides students with an opportunity to take the first step towards entry into an automotive repair career. 
           This short-term program of study will help prepare students for ASE certification examinations.

Estimated course length

Varies depending on course

Location

Eastern Arizona College (EAC), is a community college located in Graham County, Arizona. The main campus is in Thatcher, with satellite locations in Gila County, and Greenlee County.   

Graham County, Arizona's estimated population is 41,363 with a growth rate of 2.08% in the past year according to the most recent United States census data. Graham County, Arizona is the 14th largest county in Arizona. 

The exact campus location is 615 N Stadium Ave, Thatcher, AZ 85552, USA 

Some well-established businesses in the area include:

• Freeport-McMoRan
• Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center
• DRG Technologies
• Open Loop Energy

Demographic

61% White

22% Hispanic

6% American Indian/Alaska Native

3% Unknown

3% Black

2% Two or more races

1% Non-resident alien

1% Asian

1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

Weather

In Thatcher, the summers are sweltering and partly cloudy and the winters are cold, dry, and mostly clear. 

Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 35°F to 101°F and is rarely below 26°F or above 107°F.

Attractions/ places to go

Set against the Gila River and majestic Mount Graham, the land comprising and surrounding the cities of Pima, Thatcher, and Safford is a historical homeland of the Apache Indians.

Today, the area's natural wonders attract city dwellers seeking adventure and relaxation - backpacking through Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, hiking alongside Bonita Creek, floating down the Gila River, fishing on Roper Lake, or relaxing in natural mineral hot springs.

Drive the Swift Trail (Hwy. 226) as it climbs up Mt. Graham to an elevation of 10,000 feet, home to Mount Graham International Observatory. Or take the path of history on the Coronado Trail (Hwy. 191). 

And if you are a foodie don't miss the Mexican Food adventure that is the Arizona Salsa Trail, which will treat your taste buds to offerings from Mexican restaurants, tortillas, and chile growers.

Cost and financial aid

• Average Annual Cost 

Cost includes tuition, living costs, books and supplies, and fees minus the average grants and scholarships for federal financial aid recipients. $6,195

• Auto Mechanic program cost

Varies depending on certification option

The scholarship app is due in March, and many Industrial Technology Education departmental scholarships are available. Apply for (any automotive or ITE) scholarship funds and commit to becoming a future automotive industry leader.

Graduation rate & Salary

Out of 6,067 students...

• 21% graduated
• 60% withdrew
• 17% transferred
• 3% still enrolled
  

The average Automotive Mechanic I salary in Arizona is $40,775 as of January 27, 2022, but the range typically falls between $35,810 and $47,012.

Student Body

Undergraduate Students - 4,642

Full-time  - 38%

Part-time - 62%