I've decided to pursue my passion for automotive work as a career. However, what I would really love to do is work in a shop specializing in offroad vehicles. Basically I want to be more than your basic repair guy. Here's where I am seeking advice. My local tech school has an associates degree program for automotive technology covering standard repair work and also would leave me eligible to get the ASE certification. Is this a good start to get me working for my goal? Should I also take their classes on welding to become certified? My dream is to one day own my own custom shop.

I'm just looking for a little guidance. Thanks for any help!

 

yeah dude, got to tech school get your welding cert, start in a shop build up some bank open your own shop. Im going to the power sport institute, getting all my training in, then i plan on going to community college and open up my own shop.

 

Thanks for the reply and good luck to you.

I will take the couple classes so I can get my welding cert too then. Is the degree program a good idea though? I imagine I would learn a lot more than I know now. I just don't wanna waste time and money if it doesn't help my goals.

 

I would imagine you would want to learn it all. I say get a degree and get the ASE. Get the welding cert. It cant hurt you to have the credentials. Also maybe look into a business class down the road.

 

Yeah I imagined so but figured no harm in double checking. I forgot to mention that I was going to look into some business classes. Thanks for bringing that up. Well I feel a bit more certain about what to do now, thank you both for your input.

 

Start making friends in the local offroad shops now, talk to the people that work there and ask them what schooling/training they did. I wanted to do the same thing before I realized how hard it is to get into a good shop right now.

 

Its going to be a lot of work but good luck to you

 

Thanks guys, i'll try to do that.

 

being a tech fir a living sucks. its fun and rewarding but, it sucks and at the end of the week u wont wanna even look at ur own vehicle.

 

If you want to do it then get all the training you can, you can never be to smart.

 

Here's my 2 cents on the subject.

I went through two years of school at my local community college and will be getting my automotive technology degree this month, with the intent of being mechanic for my career. Now, in September I am moving and going to a real university to get a bachelors in construction managment.

My reasons for not staying in the automotive field:
-The economy sucks right now and shops are closing left and right.
-The shops that are open, there is little work and techs fight over work.
-They sway you in saying you can make $100k a year, but in reality that probably wont happen, as most of the techs in my shop only made in the low $20/hr range.

I worked at a Dodge dealership until Friday which was our last day. Now we are closed and most of the employees are unemployed. An ASE certified tech who was with the company for over 20 years only made about $22/hr.

But on the bright side. By the time you are out of school hopefully the economy will be better. And if its what you really love doing, and then you should do it if you dont mind not making as much as other careers would.

 

I really appreciate that input. I think I am going to give it a try, and hopefully things will get better in the future. I won't even be in school full time so its going to be awhile before I even get into the field. I might reconsider if things continue the way they are though. Thanks again for the advice.