Becoming an automotive mechanic requires completing a one to five-year apprenticeship program, working under an experienced mechanic to learn skills and techniques. Classroom training and certification exams may also be required. After completing the program, the apprentice can work as a full-time mechanic, potentially with the company they trained with or through union membership.
Before a job seeker can become an automotive mechanic, he or she will need to become an automotive apprentice to learn the skills and techniques needed to succeed in the position. An automotive apprentice will work, usually full-time, under the guidance and supervision of an experienced automotive mechanic in order to receive training in the inner workings of mechanical tasks. Typically, the apprentice has already undergone some form of training, and the apprenticeship program lasts from one to five years to ensure a complete on-the-job education.
An automotive apprentice can work at a privately owned repair shop or work at an automobile manufacturer. In both cases, many of the tasks the automotive apprentice will perform will be basic tasks at first, such as cleaning or parts recovery. As learning progresses, the apprentice will begin performing basic automotive repair or maintenance tasks. The experienced mechanic will be responsible for monitoring any work the apprentice does, and no vehicle the apprentice has worked on will leave the shop until it has been carefully inspected and tested by the experienced mechanic.
It may be necessary for the automotive learner to participate in some classroom training during the apprenticeship period. Much of this classroom training will prepare the apprentice for the appropriate certifications or licenses needed to become a full-time licensed mechanic. In other cases, classroom education may include information about specific automotive systems, such as electrical or plumbing systems. Most of the apprenticeship will be spent in a shop, however, doing hands-on repairs and maintenance tasks. The apprentice will be responsible for passing the appropriate certification exams before being able to complete the apprenticeship.
Once the apprenticeship is complete and the automotive apprentice has completed all the necessary certifications, he can start working as a full-time mechanic. The company with which the apprentice undertook his apprenticeship may choose to hire him, although in some cases the new mechanic may need to look elsewhere for employment. Automotive unions are present in some areas, and if the apprentice chooses to join the union, employment resources may become available to him. Union membership is not always required, although in some areas membership may be required before the mechanic can be employed by any automotive company.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
