How Long Does It Take to Become a Mechanic?

You can start working as a mechanic trainee in a few weeks, but becoming a certified tech usually takes one to three years of work after that. A school program takes anywhere from a few months to two years. ASE then asks for one, two or three years of hands on experience before it certifies you, and school can count for part of that. So most people go from beginner to certified in about two to four years.

• No school is required to get hired as a helper, trainee or lube tech.
• A certificate program takes months. An associate degree usually takes two years.
• ASE certification needs 1, 2 or 3 years of work, and school can cover up to a year of it.
• Diesel techs often train longer on the job, more than 12 months by the BLS measure.

Two Ways In

There are two common paths, and plenty of techs mix them.

The first is to learn on the job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says some techs start with no auto program at all. They begin as trainees, helpers or lube techs and learn from experienced mechanics. This path pays from day one, but it is slower, because you only learn what the shop happens to see.

The second is to go to school first. High schools, community colleges and technical schools offer programs that end in a certificate or an associate degree. BLS says techs who finish one usually need only a short stretch of training once hired. This path costs time and tuition up front, but you show up knowing more, and it counts toward ASE.

Step 1. Get in the Door, Weeks

Getting hired as an entry level tech is fast. Shops need people for oil changes, tires, batteries and inspections, and they will teach the basics. BLS lists short term on the job training for this job, which it defines as one month or less. Bring a clean driving record, show up on time, and say you want to learn. Our mechanic jobs board lists shops that are hiring, and the jobs guide shows how to find the ones that do not post online.

Step 2. Training, a Few Months to Two Years

If you go to school, the length depends on the program. Certificate programs are shorter and focus on hands on repair. An associate degree usually takes two years of full time study and adds general classes.

Pick a program that is ASE accredited if you can. It counts toward your work experience later, which can save you six months to a year. If you are still in high school, BLS suggests classes in auto repair, electronics, computers and math.

Step 3. Work Experience and ASE, One to Three Years

ASE is the certification most shops ask for. To earn it, you pass a test and show full time, hands on work experience. For repair techs, ASE asks for 1, 2 or 3 years depending on the test.

You do not have to wait to take the test. ASE lets you register and test before you have the experience. You get your score, and the certificate comes once your work time is in. Each certification is good for five years, then you retest.

School can shorten the wait. Per ASE, these count toward the experience rule.

• Finishing an ASE accredited program counts as 6 months toward a 1 year rule, or 1 year toward a 2 or 3 year rule.
• Finishing an ASE accredited co-op program run with a carmaker counts as 1 year toward a 1 year rule, or 2 years toward a 2 or 3 year rule.
• Passing three or more ASE Entry Level tests counts as 6 months toward a 1 year rule, or 1 year toward a 2 or 3 year rule.

Step 4. Specialize, Ongoing

Once you have the basics, the pay grows with what you can fix. Some common next steps are listed below.

• A/C work. Federal EPA rules require a certification to buy or handle refrigerant, so get it early.
• Diesel. BLS lists long term on the job training for diesel techs, meaning more than 12 months. Some diesel jobs also need a commercial driver's license to test drive big trucks and buses.
• Diagnostics, hybrids and EVs. These take more study, and fewer techs can do them well.
• Dealer training. Carmakers train their own dealer techs on one brand.

Do You Need a License to Be a Mechanic?

In most states you do not need a state license to work as a mechanic. The common exceptions are federal or task based, like the EPA refrigerant rule, and some states license emissions or safety inspectors. Check with your state before you take on inspection work. We cover which credentials shops and customers actually check in Do Mechanic Certifications Actually Matter?

How to Get There Faster

• Choose an ASE accredited program so your school time counts twice.
• Take the ASE Entry Level tests while you are in school.
• Work part time in a shop during school so your experience clock starts early.
• Study one system at a time. Our free training tracks cover engines, brakes, electrical, diagnostics and more.
• Ask your shop if it will pay for ASE tests. It costs nothing to ask.

What About Mobile Mechanics?

Going mobile is easier after a few years in a shop. A shop gives you a lift, a parts counter and a senior tech to ask. A van gives you none of that. If going mobile is the goal, read How to Become a Mobile Mechanic for the van, the tools and the first ten customers, and see How Much Does a Mechanic Make? for what each path pays.

Sources

• ASE, Work Experience Requirements
• ASE, Become Certified
• Bureau of Labor Statistics, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
• Bureau of Labor Statistics, Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics
• Bureau of Labor Statistics, Education and Training Categories

Frequently asked questions