To help students meet their financial obligations, many schools have assistance programs that help the student find part-time or even full-time employment. You should check with the school's placement officer for assistance. If you can prove the need, you may be eligible for a grant such as a Basic Educational Opportunity Grant (BEOG) or perhaps a local state monetary award or grant. The college also may be able to help you get a loan that is guaranteed by the state or federal government. Some students may be able to take advantage of Veterans Administration (VA) benefits if they are veterans of the armed forces. If you think you may qualify for social security benefits or state vocational rehabilitation money, be sure to check into these possibilities.
If you need financial assistance, the best thing to do, is contact the college and ask for help in applying for such assistance. The people there are usually more than happy to help you.
CERTIFICATES AND DEGREES
Most community colleges offer a two-year associate degree or one-year certificate for automotive service. Here are some of the courses required to obtain a certificate in automotive services from a community college, Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, Illinois.
AUTO 101-01 Basic Automobile Service and Systems Credits: 3.00
Introduces automotive systems and service. Includes safety systems, drive lines, engines, transmissions, transaxles, and more. $35 lab fee.
AUTO 102-01 Automotive Engines Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite AUTO 101 or equivalent; 3 credit hours. Focuses on automotive engine repair, disassembly, adjustments, assembly, and operation. Service units include block, cylinder heads, valve assembly, lubrication system, and cooling system. $35 lab fee.
AUTO 112-BH Sheet Metal Repairs-Body Adjustments Credits: 4.00
Prerequisite AUTO 111 or concurrent registration; 4 credit hours. Metal and fiberglass panel repairs, reshaping, sectioning, clipping, and replacement operations are performed on the hood, deck, door, frame, and door jamb. $50 lab fee.
AUTO 202-01 Automotive Brake Systems Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite AUTO 101 or equivalent; 3 credit hours. Component repair operations, adjustments, and performance testing of drum and disk brake systems. Introduction to computer systems that control the brake system. $35 lab fee.
AUTO 202-02 Automotive Brake Systems Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite AUTO 101 or equivalent; 3 credit hours. Component repair operations, adjustments, and performance testing of drum and disk brake systems. Introduction to computer systems that control the brake system. $35 lab fee.
AUTO 206-01 Automotive Engine Performance Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite AUTO 101, 102, 107, 211; 3 credit hours. This course covers diagnosing and repairing complex engine and computer problems and drive-ability problems of the modern automobile. $35 lab fee.
AUTO 207-01 Automotive Heating/Air-Conditioning Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite AUTO 101, 107; 3 credit hours. Component repair operations, adjustments, and performance testing are performed on heating, defrosting, and air-conditioning systems. $35 lab fee.
AUTO 208-01 Automatic Transmissions/Transaxles Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite AUTO 101, 205; 3 credit hours. Component repair operations, adjustments, and performance testing on automatic transmissions, transmission controls, and auto transaxle transmissions. $35 lab fee.
AUTO 210-01 Automotive Electricity/Electronics II Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite AUTO 101, 107; APPIE 101; 3 credit hours. Electrical circuit identification, isolation, testing, repair, and component operation. $35 lab fee.
AUTO 211-01 Automotive Computer Systems Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite AUTO 101, 107, 210; APPIE 101; 3 credit hours. Cover operational aspects of automotive computer output/input control systems, performance diagnosis procedures, and repair. $35 lab fee.
AUTO 223-MC Automotive Parts Management Credits: 2.00
Training includes use of parts, equipment, supply catalogs, pricing procedures, and more.
AUTO 299-01 Internship Automotive Credits: 2.00
Prerequisite 12 hours in AUTO and consent of coordinator; 2 credit hours. This course provides on-the-job experience combined with supervision. It is designed to present the service technician with a performance view of the automotive body service profession.
To get a certificate from a community college, you need to do a lot of work and learning. The time and money spent in training is well worth it, though.
Another school, Triton College, River Grove, Illinois, offers a choice of programs: An associate's degree takes a little longer but enhances the technical education with courses in the humanities and sciences. An auto technician certificate program is strictly devoted to auto repair. There are also several sub-specialty certificates, such as engine performance and brake systems.
