Automotive Technology Program

Frequently Asked Questions:

About Classes and Class Schedule:

When can I start?  New students can begin the program any term, including summer. For a complete listing of all the courses required for the degree and when they are offered, see the degree summary.

Are there any prerequisites?  All technical courses require prior training or experience in live shop safety, hazardous materials handling, precision measurement, and electronic information sources. This prerequisite can be met by taking the 3-credit course on Automotive Systems and Service (course number AUT-T 101), or the prerequisite can be waived for incoming students with prior equivalent professional experience or training, including satisfactory completion of one year of high school auto shop. Technical courses in air conditioning and engine performance have other prerequisite requirements. Math and English courses, also part of the degree, require taking a placement exam and completing any identified prerequisites. Refer to the degree summary for details.

What classes are required?  The two year degree includes almost 1200 hours of technical training in all eight specialty areas recognized by the ASE, as well as demonstration of college-level skills in mathematics, communication, and human relations. Also required for the degree is completion of 360 hours of internship in a commercial repair facility. Short term certificates require only completion of specialty technical courses in each area. Refer to the degree summary for details.

How are the courses taught?  All technical courses are taught in a live automotive repair shop setting using work on customer vehicles as a basis for learning and practice. Instructors are all certified ASE technicians, and all classes are limited to a maximum of 20 students to ensure adequate supervision and quality assurance. Students spend between one and two hours each day in the classroom and the rest of the time in the shop.

When are classes scheduled?  Classes are offered every term, including summer. Most courses are scheduled five hours per day from two to five days per week. Most classes are scheduled mornings from 8-12:30. Because Olympic College uses a live shop environment as a basis for instruction there is no evening program available, and most courses assume attendance as a full-time student. For a complete listing of all the courses required for the degree and when they are offered, see the degree summary.

How long does the program take?  The Associate of Technical Arts degree can be completed within two years of whenever studies are begun, including all prerequisites and three terms of internship. Short term certificates in specialty areas can be completed in as little as one term.

About Costs and Tools:

What will the program cost?  Average costs for full-time students are less than $1000 per term, including tuition, books, fees, and miscellaneous expenses. The Associate Degree can be completed in seven terms of full time work. For more information, contact the Admissions Office.

Do I need my own tools?  Yes. Because OC uses a live shop environment for most of its training, students are encouraged to purchase their own basic tool sets early in their studies. A complete list of required tools is itemized for your reference, but some flexibility is allowed, so check with a program advisor before making your purchase. Also, most professional tool vendors have student discount programs that offer more than 50% off of retail prices. Check with a program advisor for details on how to receive these discounts.

About the Internship:

What is the Internship?  As part of the degree each student is required to complete fifteen credits of Internship. This involves a total of 360 hours working in a commercial repair facility and 30 hours of advanced training in professionalism, including tips on how to be more organized, more efficient, and ultimately more successful as an automotive technician. Interns can apply to work at OC's own Automotive Service Center, or they can get jobs in regional service and repair facilities. Interns work closely with faculty advisors, who help them reflect on and learn from their shop experiences, practice technical skills and work toward building the foundation of a satisfying career.

How do I set up an Internship?  It is the student's responsibility to apply for the work experience part of the Internship, just as applying for any other job. This includes applying to work at OC's Automotive Service Center. The College Career Center can help with referrals, resume writing, and job search strategies. Once a position has been secured, the student should set up an appointment with the Internship instructor to get a current syllabus and authorization to register. Students can sign up to begin Internships at any time during the academic year.

Will I get paid to work as an Intern?  It depends on where you work. Pay is negotiated with each employer. Registered Interns working at the College's Automotive Service Center are eligible for pay only when they work outside of the regular academic calendar, such as during spring break or late summer.

Can I use prior or concurrent work experience as my Internship?  Because of the required instructional component of the Internship classes, college credit cannot be awarded for work experience that is obtained prior to or outside of a student registering for an Internship course. Qualifying graduates of regional high school automotive technology programs may receive credit for the first 5-credit Internship experience in recognition of supervised and certified work completed in high school.

What kinds of jobs qualify as Internships?  The Olympic College program is designed to help students become successful entry-level professional technicians, so most of a student's Internship should be spent working as a technician or technician apprentice. Students may complete one of their three Internship courses in other automotive service jobs, including service writer, parts professional, or accessory installer. For approval or for more information, contact the program advisor.

How is my Internship graded?  The Internship is designed to encourage students to combine technical and related skills in a professional setting. Specific learning objectives and assessment criteria may be negotiated for individual Internship settings, but in general Interns will be graded on their ability to set goals, self-assess and reflect upon performance, and document that performance using professional standards such as their efficiency, quality, and thoroughness.

About the Program and the Instructors:

Is the program certified?  The Olympic College Automotive Technology Program is certified as a Master Training Institution by the National Automotive Technicians' Education Foundation (NATEF), a branch of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). This means that OC meets industry-recognized standards in teaching all eight automotive specialty areas. Comprehensive standards apply not only to curriculum, but also to faculty, administration, facilities and equipment.

What degrees and certificates are offered?  OC offers a two-year Associate of Technical Arts and specialized Certificates of Recognition in Engine Repair, Electrical Systems, Engine Performance, Air Conditioning, Chassis Systems, and Drive Train. Refer to the degree summary for details.

What kind of job will finishing the program qualify me for?  The Olympic College program is designed to help students become successful entry-level professional technicians. Graduates can work as technicians in dealership and independent repair facilities or in public or private fleet repair and service shops. Through our regional advisory committee and the OC Career Center our graduates have an excellent record of finding employment directly out of school. Pay scales vary widely, but most first-time technicians begin at between $10 and $15 an hour with an earning potential after five years of well over $20 an hour.

Will I be a certified technician when I graduate?  ASE certification of individual technicians is a voluntary program and requires the equivalent of at least one year of full-time employment as a professional technician in addition to completion of the two-year degree. ASE certification exams are held twice yearly, and are offered at a number of sites around the state, including Bremerton. Certification is not a part of the degree program and must be applied for separately, but as an ASE-certified training institution OC uses the very same tasks to frame its courses as the ASE uses to develop its exams.

Who are the instructors?  All instructors and the shop supervisor are ASE certified technicians who have worked in the industry. Their combined experiences of over 80 years as professional full-time technicians is backed up by a strong regional advisory committee. The role of the advisory committee is to offer support and guidance to keep the instructional program aligned with evolving industry expectations and skill requirements. For photographs and full professional biographies refer to our Staff Profiles.

Getting Started:

How do I sign up?  Contact the Admissions Office to get started with College orientation and placement testing. Then set up an appointment with the Automotive Technology Program Advisor, Steve Quinn, or come to one of the information sessions scheduled at the end of each term. Bring your student ID number and English and Mathematics placement scores to the meeting, and Steve can sign your registration form and give you a tour of the facility and a detailed plan for your studies.