Automotive Service Certificate – Glen Oaks Community College

Course OverviewCourse GuideAdditional Information

This instructional program is a basic program designed to prepare individuals for entry-level employment in automotive service centers. Upon completion of the following courses, the prospective service center technician will have proficiency in the fundamentals of basic electronics, tune-up, diagnosis and repair, brake service, and fuels.

Required Coursework (12 hours)

AUTO 100 Introduction to Automotive Technology	3 credits
AUTO 141 Engine Diagnosis and Ignition Systems**	5 credits
AUTO 146 Automotive Brake Systems*	4 credits

Electives (7 hours required)
Any selected automotive courses from the following certification areas totaling 7 credits or more.

AUTO 142 Fuel and Exhaust Systems*	5 credits
AUTO 221 Automotive Steering and Suspension*	4 credits
AUTO 225 Automotive Electrical Systems I*	4 credits
AUTO 245 Automotive Valve Train & Head Rebuilding*	4 credits
AUTO 246 Automotive Cylinder Block Rebuilding*	4 credits
AUTO 250 Introduction to Automotive Transmissions*	3 credits
AUTO 255 Automotive Electrical Systems II*	4 credits
TECH 271 Internship I* (by special arrangement)	3 credits
Total:	19 credits
Course has a prerequisite *Course has co-requisite

Scope & Sequence

Fall 1	Winter 1	Summer 1
AUTO 100	AUTO 146	AUTO ELECTIVE
AUTO 141	AUTO ELECTIVE

Effective: Fall 2005
Current/Updated: 3/1/2017

Employment Information

Service Certificate

This instructional program is
designed to prepare individuals
for entry-level employment in
automotive service centers.
Upon completion of the Automotive
Service Certificate courses, the
prospective service center
technician will have proficiency
in the fundamentals of basic
electronics, tuneup, diagnosis and
repair, brake service and fuels.

Automotive service technicians and mechanics hold about 800,000 jobs. The majority work in:

Automotive repair and maintenance shops
Automobile dealerships
Retail and wholesale automotive parts, accessories and supplies
Service stations
Automotive supply stores
Federal, state and local government garages
Self-employed automotive establishments

Employment is expected to gradually increase through 2020 as vehicles in operation increase and multiple vehicle families grow. Employment growth will be concentrated in dealerships and independent auto repair shops. More than 16 percent of service technicians are self-employed, twice the number in all other installation, maintenance and repair fields. People entering the occupation can expect steady work. The median annual wage of automotive service technicians and mechanics is over $35,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Technician Certificate

This program of study is designed to prepare technicians for the high-tech automotive industry. It also prepares them to take state and national certification tests. Upon successful completion of the required course work, the graduate should be ready for the State of Michigan and/or Automotive Service Excellence Certification in the following Automotive Specialty Areas: brakes, automotive transmission, engine repair, electrical, manual transmission, engine tune-up, heating and air conditioning, and front end.

Is this for me?

The work of automotive service technicians and mechanics has evolved from mechanical repair to a high technology job. Technicians must have an increasingly broad base of knowledge about how the complex components work and interact, as well as the ability to work with electronic diagnostic equipment and computer-based technical reference materials. Technicians must assess the symptoms, then take a diagnostic approach to isolate the components logically causing the problem, perhaps taking a test drive and/or using a variety of testing equipment to identify the source of the problem.

Students in the Glen Oaks automotive programs are prepared to excel in today’s high-tech automotive industry.