Jump start your automotive career at one of the top Automotive Technician training programs in Minnesota. With more than 276,000,000 light-duty cars and trucks on the road in the United States alone, there will always be jobs for qualified technicians.
Anoka Technical College’s Automotive Technician program prepares graduates for work through extensive hands-on education on state-of-the-art equipment.
Hands-on Education
75% of your time in the program is spent in the lab
Nationally Accredited by ASE
High-Demand Career
12,700+ new jobs needed to meet demand between 2020-2030
Potential Jobs:
- Automotive Service Technician
- Mechanic
- Automotive Maintenance Technician
Salary Information:
Median Wage: $23.63 per hour
Top Earners: $38+ per hour
Information provided is for Minnesota. See current data at careerwise.minnstate.edu.
“Anoka Tech has for sure given me confidence in my ability to do more in my current job [flat-rate mechanic]. If you are interested in vehicles and working on cars and you want to eventually work in performance or general repair, you will learn your basics here and you will grow on that. Be humble and you will learn a lot here.”
- Develop the knowledge and demonstrate an understanding of automotive related systems, components, terminology and acronyms.
- Develop and demonstrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential to the automotive repair industries expectations of performance.
- Demonstrate the ability to utilize computer and non-computer based vehicle service information systems.
- Use automotive tools, shop and test equipment, materials, and chemicals safely and effectively.
- Develop critical and creative thinking processes required to effectively and efficiently diagnose and repair vehicle technical problems.
With more than 276,000,000 light-duty cars and trucks on the road in the United States alone, there will always be jobs for qualified technicians. One of the automotive technician’s most in-demand and valuable skills is the ability to make a quick and accurate problem diagnosis. This requires a thorough knowledge and understanding of light-duty vehicles and their systems. Good reasoning abilities and critical thinking along with the ability to locate and understand vehicle service information is also important.
Many technicians will perform a variety of repairs while others will seek additional training to specialize. Areas of specialization include the diagnosis and repair of engines or transmissions, electrical systems, driveability (fuel and ignition), air conditioning, suspension systems and wheel alignment. Due to the ever-increasing use of electronics and new technology in the vehicles of the future, the ability to adapt and continue learning will be very important.
Wage information is available from the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
The Anoka Technical College Automotive program is nationally accredited by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Education Foundation through 4/1/2025.
Successful completion of the Automotive Technician diploma or instructor approval.
Anoka Tech's state-of-the art Automotive Lab is equipped with current equipment, technology and tools.
Take a virtual tour and review the lists below to get an idea of what it's like to be an Automotive Technician student at Anoka Tech.
Technology
Students have access to cutting-edge technology including:
- Analytical or scientific software: updateable software used in all of the scan tools and electronic four wheel alignment equipment
- Electronic vehicle service information retrieval: AllData; Mitchell OnDemand 5; General Motors Electronic Service Information (ESI)
- Vehicle service and repair estimating software: Mitchell OnDemand 5
Tools
- Electrical and electronic diagnostic equipment: Digital Multi-Meters (DMM’s); General Motors’ Tech 1 and Tech 2 scan tools; Ford’s Next Generation Scan tool (NGS); Chrysler’s DRB-III scan tool; SPX/OTC
- Genisys scan tools; digital storage and live oscilloscopes; battery “capacitance testers”; battery, starter, and charging system testers; chassis ear electronic listening device; wheel balancing and four wheel alignment equipment; air conditioning refrigerant recovery; recycling and recharging stations
- Pressure indicators: fuel pressure testers; air conditioning manifold pressure gauges;intake manifold vacuum gauges; oil pressure gauges; tire pressure gauges
- Bearing pullers and presses: ball joint separators; bearing pullers; gear puller tools; slide hammers
- Specialty wrenches: alignment wrenches; chain wrenches; locking wrenches; lug wrenches
- Trim or molding tools: carbon scrapers; gasket scrapers; scrapers
- Precision measuring tools: feeler gauges; inside and outside micrometers; vernier calipers; depth gauges; small bore gauges; cylinder taper gauges; torque wrenches
Automotive Students are required to provide their own professional quality set of hand tools and have them available for lab use each day that they are at school.
These tools will eventually be required on the job as an automotive technician.
MnTC General Education Requirements
This program requires completion of the following fifteen credits of general education from at least three goal areas of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC). Refer to the MnTC course list for elective courses:
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 1107 | Composition 1 (Goal 1&2) | 4 |
| MATH 1500 | Mathematical Ideas (Goal 4) | 3 |
| SOSC 2000 | Sociology of Work (Goal 5) | 4 |
| MnTC Electives | 4 |
Program Sequence
| Fall Semester | 16 | |
|---|---|---|
| AUTO 1000 | Orientation and Safety | 1 |
| AUTO 1010 | General Automotive Service | 2 |
| AUTO 1167 | Vehicle Electronics | 5 |
| AUTO 2145 | Suspension and Steering System Service | 4 |
| AUTO 2159 | Brake System and Service | 4 |
| Spring Semester | 20 | |
| AUTO 2005 | Supervised Internship I | 2 |
| AUTO 2164 | Chassis Electrical Systems | 3 |
| AUTO 2166 | Starting and Charging Systems | 2 |
| AUTO 2183 | Fuel and Ignition Management Systems | 6 |
| MATH 1500 | Mathematical Ideas | 3 |
| MnTC Elective | 4 | |
| Fall Semester | 18 | |
| AUTO 2006 | Supervised Internship II | 2 |
| AUTO 2119 | Engine Repair and Service | 6 |
| AUTO 2129 | Automatic Transmission Condition | 6 |
| ENGL 1107 | Composition I | 4 |
| Spring Semester | 18 | |
| AUTO 2007 | Supervised Internship III | 2 |
| AUTO 2135 | Manual Drive Train System and Service | 4 |
| AUTO 2175 | Automotive Climate Control | 4 |
| AUTO 2187 | Automotive Computer Systems and Driveability | 4 |
| SOSC 2000 | Sociology of Work | 4 |
Students must earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher to be eligible for graduation from this program.
Advanced Automotive Electronic Diagnostic Specialist
The Electronic Diagnostic Specialist program is intended to provide the successful Automotive Technician program graduate with additional knowledge and skills needed to accurately and cost effectively diagnose and repair the complex vehicle systems of today and tomorrow.
Current Students
Students must earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher to be eligible for graduation from this program.
Automotive Students are required to provide their own professional quality set of hand tools and have them available for lab use each day that they are at school.
These tools will eventually be required on the job as an automotive technician.
Hands-on Education
75% of your time in the program is spent in the lab
Nationally Accredited by ASE
High-Demand Career
12,700+ new jobs needed to meet demand between 2020-2030
Potential Jobs:
- Automotive Service Technician
- Mechanic
- Automotive Maintenance Technician
Salary Information:
Median Wage: $23.63 per hour
Top Earners: $38+ per hour
Information provided is for Minnesota. See current data at careerwise.minnstate.edu.
The Anoka Technical College Automotive Technician diploma is a 60-credit program that prepares graduates for an entry level career in the automotive service industry. Most entry level automotive technicians start as tire or lube techs. Within a few months they will be performing many routine service tasks and perform simple repairs. It usually takes two to five years of on-the-job training to become a journey-level technician. This means that the technician is skilled enough to perform difficult repairs. However, graduates of a college-level training program are often able to advance to that level in a shorter period of time.
- Develop the knowledge and demonstrate an understanding of automotive related systems, components, terminology and acronyms.
- Develop and demonstrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential to the automotive repair industries expectations of performance.
- Demonstrate the ability to utilize computer and non-computer based vehicle service information systems.
- Use automotive tools, shop and test equipment, materials, and chemicals safely and effectively.
- Develop critical and creative thinking processes required to effectively and efficiently diagnose and repair vehicle technical problems.
With more than 276,000,000 light-duty cars and trucks on the road in the United States alone, there will always be jobs for qualified technicians. One of the automotive technician’s most in-demand and valuable skills is the ability to make a quick and accurate problem diagnosis. This requires a thorough knowledge and understanding of light-duty vehicles and their systems. Good reasoning abilities and critical thinking along with the ability to locate and understand vehicle service information is also important.
Many technicians will perform a variety of repairs while others will seek additional training to specialize. Areas of specialization include the diagnosis and repair of engines or transmissions, electrical systems, driveability (fuel and ignition), air conditioning, suspension systems and wheel alignment. Due to the ever-increasing use of electronics and new technology in the vehicles of the future, the ability to adapt and continue learning will be very important.
Wage information is available from the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
Next Generation Accuplacer reading score must be above 232 or equivalent to be accepted into the program.
The Anoka Technical College Automotive program is nationally accredited by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Education Foundation through 4/1/2025.
Anoka Tech's state-of-the art Automotive Lab is equipped with current equipment, technology and tools.
Take a virtual tour and review the lists below to get an idea of what it's like to be an Automotive Technician student at Anoka Tech.
Tools
Check out the tools students learn to use:
Electrical and electronic diagnostic equipment: Digital Multi-Meters (DMM’s); General Motors’ Tech 1 and Tech 2 scan tools; Ford’s Next Generation Scan tool (NGS); Chrysler’s DRB-III scan tool; SPX/OTC
Genisys scan tools; digital storage and live oscilloscopes; battery “capacitance testers”; battery, starter, and charging system testers; chassis ear electronic listening device; wheel balancing and four wheel alignment equipment; air conditioning refrigerant recovery; recycling and recharging stations
Pressure indicators: fuel pressure testers; air conditioning manifold pressure gauges;intake manifold vacuum gauges; oil pressure gauges; tire pressure gauges
Bearing pullers and presses: ball joint separators; bearing pullers; gear puller tools; slide hammers
Specialty wrenches: alignment wrenches; chain wrenches; locking wrenches; lug wrenches
Trim or molding tools: carbon scrapers; gasket scrapers; scrapers
Precision measuring tools: feeler gauges; inside and outside micrometers; vernier calipers; depth gauges; small bore gauges; cylinder taper gauges; torque wrenches
Automotive Students are required to provide their own professional quality set of hand tools and have them available for lab use each day that they are at school.
These tools will eventually be required on the job as an automotive technician.
Tool List
Program Sequence
| Fall Semester | 16 | |
|---|---|---|
| AUTO 1000 | Orientation and Safety | 1 |
| AUTO 1010 | General Automotive Service | 2 |
| AUTO 1167 | Vehicle Electronics | 5 |
| AUTO 2145 | Suspension and Steering System Service |
4
|
| AUTO 2159 | Brake System and Service |
4
|
| Spring Semester | 13 | |
| AUTO 2005 | Supervised Internship I |
2
|
| AUTO 2164 | Chassis Electrical Systems |
3
|
| AUTO 2166 | Starting and Charging Systems |
2
|
| AUTO 2183 | Fuel and Ignition Management Systems |
6
|
| Fall Semester | 17 | |
| AUTO 2006 | Supervised Internship II |
2
|
| AUTO 2119 | Engine Repair and Service |
6
|
| AUTO 2129 | Automatic Transmission Condition |
6
|
| Choose one of the following elective courses: |
||
| AUTO 2450 | Fundamental Welding for Automotive | 3 |
| AUTO 2460 | Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Service and Safety | 4 |
| Spring Semester | 14 | |
| AUTO 2007 | Supervised Internship III |
2
|
| AUTO 2135 | Manual Drive Train System and Service |
4
|
| AUTO 2175 | Automotive Climate Control |
4
|
| AUTO 2187 | Automotive Computer Systems and Drive-Ability |
4
|
Students must earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher to be eligible for graduation from this program.
Start Dates:
Fall Semester: August
Upcoming Events:
Important Dates:
David Holmquist
DHolmquist@anokatech.edu
Dave Mcfarland
DMcFarland@anokatech.edu
Enrollment Services
EnrollmentServices@anokatech.edu
763-576-7710
Take the Next Step
![If you are, or would like to be, good at building things from scratch, curious about how things work, enjoy solving problems or fixing things that are broken, this field may be the right one for you.
"[Anoka Tech] is set up with a structure where you will grow tremendously."
Learn more about Anoka Tech's construction, engineering, manufacturing and technology career pathway on our website in our bio.](https://scontent-lhr8-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/468033038_578789264619259_7297950599124991867_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=KDAFocafa7YQ7kNvgGfpLZi&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr8-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=A8qL_Aik_cxQTIFIy-ISVFw&oh=00_AYCXFjZxkAuL0umE_j7l3Q-_Zn5TkUwr6-HmVBFhFI_Emw&oe=6753FDE5)
