Apprenticeship

Automotive Service Technician

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You want to be an automotive service technician. You want to work on cars, trucks, and other vehicles performing repairs, conducting preventative maintenance, and diagnosing faulty systems. You’re comfortable working with your hands and you are interested in the changing technology of the automotive industry.

Automotive service technicians diagnose problems, repair engines, use computer management systems, and adjust vehicles to operate for peak performance. Maybe you want to specialize in repairing, rebuilding and servicing specific parts, like transmissions, engines or electrical components.

At NAIT, where we’ve been training automotive service apprentices since 1963, we’re here to teach you everything you need to know.

NAIT provides the General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP).

Here are a few other subjects covered in the Automotive Service Technician program at NAIT:

-using related tools and equipment, including oxy-acetylene welding torches -using computerized equipment to monitor, diagnose and troubleshoot vehicle problems -performing wheel alignments -using training aids for hands on learning

Quick Facts

Credential: Journeyman Certificate

Hands-on and expert-led apprenticeship and industry training for skilled trades and technology professionals.

Campus: Main

Any in-person components of your courses will be delivered at NAIT's Main Campus in Edmonton. View map

Delivery Options:

  • Both On-Campus and Virtual - Some of your coursework will be in-person, on campus and some will be done online.

Periods: 4

Apprenticeship is a method of gaining the expertise needed to become a skilled tradesperson. This is done through a combination of on-the-job experience and classroom training.

Most apprenticeship programs are 3-4 periods in length, with an average of 8 weeks for each training period. In addition, there are specific allotments of on-the-job training hours associated with each period, so most apprentices complete 1 period per calendar year.

What to Expect

If you enjoy doing precise work that is varied and challenging and like to have a feeling of independence, then you will enjoy working as an automotive service technician.

Automotive service technicians are constantly learning on the job to adapt to industry changes and evolving automotive design trends. Employment for automotive service technicians is steady.

To be successful as an automotive service technician, you must have:

  • good hearing, eyesight and manual dexterity
  • mechanical aptitude and interest
  • the ability to lift up to 25 kgs
  • the passion to keep up to date with changing technology
  • a working knowledge of electricity, electronics and computers

Download the AIT course outline (pdf)

Automotive Service Technician instructor and students

Training at NAIT

The Automotive Service Technician apprenticeship team is:

  • 4 years (four 12-month periods)
  • minimum of 1500 hours on-the-job training each year
  • 8 weeks of technical training each year

Automotive service technicians train in our well-equipped and industry-standard garages on NAIT Main Campus (11762-106 St NW). Vehicles are supplied for training purposes.

You can expect to spend, on average, 3 hours a day in classrooms learning trade theory and 3 hours a day in our labs or repair shops doing hands-on training.

As an automotive service technician, you will be employed by automotive repair shops, specialty repair shops, service facilities, car and truck dealerships, and by large organizations that own fleets of vehicles.

Experienced automotive service technicians can become service managers or shop supervisors. You could also open your own repair facility.

Resources

As an automotive service technician, you will be employed by automotive repair shops, specialty repair shops, service facilities, car and truck dealerships, and by large organizations that own fleets of vehicles.

Experienced automotive service technicians can become service managers or shop supervisors. You could also open your own repair facility.

Resources

Automotive Service Technician students

Want to learn more about this program?

Thank you for your interest! We want to get you in contact with the right person to answer your questions.

Please contact the Student Service Centre for general inquiries such as:

  • Student application support
  • Program entrance requirements, tuition & fees, and how to apply
  • Program admissions process
  • Enrolment support
  • Student funding options
  • Fee and refund inquiries
  • General program and course withdrawal procedures
  • Navigating nait.ca and MyNAITPortal

Contact Student Service Centre

Please fill out the form below if you have any program-specific questions relating to:

  • Program details
  • Work-integrated learning and cooperative education
  • Advance credit and Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
  • Program and course withdrawal

Periods

Tuition & Fees

The tuition and fee amounts below are estimates based on current academic year’s rates. For financial planning purposes, please use these totals as an approximate estimate of your costs. Actual fees may vary by term and enrolment activities. Students who take all of their courses online are exempt from U-Pass, Health & Dental, and Recreation & Athletics fees. All fees are subject to change. Please refer to the tuition and fees page for more detailed information.

View the technical equipment requirements (PDF)

Scholarships & Awards

How to Apply

Complete an apprenticeship application & contract form

Effective November 1, 2014, you must fillout the application located on the MyTradesecrets website for Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board staff to determine if you are eligible for status as an indentured apprentice.

Dates & Deadlines

Once you are an indentured apprentice, you can review the availability and start and end dates of the program you are interested in. Log into your MyTradesecrets profile and do a search under the Class Registration section. Then you can determine the schedule that best fits your needs.

We recommend submitting your program application at least 90 days before the application deadline.

Apply to Program

Apply to the program with step-by-step instructions on how to complete the application process. Please note, processing time may vary for applicants, so we recommend starting early.

Apply nowHow to apply checklist

Want to learn more about this program?

Thank you for your interest! We want to get you in contact with the right person to answer your questions.

Please contact the Student Service Centre for general inquiries such as:

  • Student application support
  • Program entrance requirements, tuition & fees, and how to apply
  • Program admissions process
  • Enrolment support
  • Student funding options
  • Fee and refund inquiries
  • General program and course withdrawal procedures
  • Navigating nait.ca and MyNAITPortal

Contact Student Service Centre

Please fill out the form below if you have any program-specific questions relating to:

  • Program details
  • Work-integrated learning and cooperative education
  • Advance credit and Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
  • Program and course withdrawal



The personal information on this form is being collected under the authority of the Post-secondary Learning Act and section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). The information will be protected by the provisions of FOIP, and will be used for the purpose of registration and administration of the event. If you have any questions or concerns about the collection, use, security or disclosure of the personal information, please contact General Council at 780.471.7664 or legal@nait.ca.

Apply for Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Begin the application process through MyTradesecrets.

Apply Now How to Apply

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