How to become a Mechanic
How to become a Mechanic I was considering a career change and the auto repair industry was an idea. From research I have done, im a little confused on something.
Most shops require ASE certification to be hired.
ASE cert. requires 2 years experience.
How exactly does a person manage that? Cant do either one without the other?!?
Most shops require ASE certification to be hired.
ASE cert. requires 2 years experience.
How exactly does a person manage that? Cant do either one without the other?!?
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,025
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From: CT/NJ
What do you do now? Grease monkeying is a step down from most jobs.
Anyhow, I got experience while schooling simultaneously thru a co-op program known as "ASEP". I went to college and interned at a dealer at the same time. ASE requirements were met upon graduation and as soon as I passed the "L1" I was an ASE certified master tech.
Anyhow, I got experience while schooling simultaneously thru a co-op program known as "ASEP". I went to college and interned at a dealer at the same time. ASE requirements were met upon graduation and as soon as I passed the "L1" I was an ASE certified master tech.
Learn to work on all the lt1s bs flaws. That will train you to become a badass mechanic.either that or ford mod motors. Working on Anything else is cake. 
Seriously though,
Learn to work on commercial diesel vehicles. If u can get in as a lube and pm tech for a company. Learn to repair anything on truck/trailers. There will always be work for somrone who can service air brakes on commercial vehicles. Thats what im doing now, lot of work,too many hours.BIG paychecks. Working on cars is like working on toys in comparison.
Seriously though,
Learn to work on commercial diesel vehicles. If u can get in as a lube and pm tech for a company. Learn to repair anything on truck/trailers. There will always be work for somrone who can service air brakes on commercial vehicles. Thats what im doing now, lot of work,too many hours.BIG paychecks. Working on cars is like working on toys in comparison.
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Pick another career. Most of the mechanics I know aren't making a spectacular amount of money in their field and they've been out of UTI for 2ish years now... I have no schooling after high school and just got hired for a job in November that pays significantly more than all 4 of them and I have free benefits.
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You want a mechanics job that pays good? Become a marine diesel Mechanic. And travel. Travel is the key to that but there is a huge demand for marine diesel mechanics internationally. Were talking diesels the size of a house to the smaller fishing charter boats, yachts and local marine merchants. Go to a good tech school for it or if your young enough take up the military option.
Best advice given. I've been working as a mechanic, although on airplanes for 29 years and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Wrenching on your hot rod is fun but it's another thing to make a living doing it.
Wrenching on your hot rod is fun but it's another thing to make a living doing it.
Last edited by guppymech; Feb 7, 2012 at 12:25 AM.
Ok. There's many ways to go about it. First off, there's state licensing and then there's ase licensing. Ase works pretty much nationwide. With ase, you don't need state. That being said, in Michigan you can go and take the state tests at the secretary of state and receive your own license number to work on vehicles. That'll get you your experience. Education can also count for up to 1 year of qualification time for ase. My best advice would be to go to a technical school and work as a grease monkey at the same time. The schooling will prepare you fir the written ase tests, and by the time you're done, you should be able to get your ase right away.
The more specialized the field, the more money you'll make (and the more interesting the job will be). I was in your shoes at one point and worked in an auto metal fab shop for a summer and it was NOT what I had expected.
Since then I've become an ammonia refrigeration engineer working on screw and reciprocating compressors and the money is FAR better and more importantly the job itself is much more rewarding. But if you're down to changing oil in grandma's Windstar mini van, I suppose that could be exciting.
Since then I've become an ammonia refrigeration engineer working on screw and reciprocating compressors and the money is FAR better and more importantly the job itself is much more rewarding. But if you're down to changing oil in grandma's Windstar mini van, I suppose that could be exciting.
Launching!
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 251
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From: the shit hole of Albuquerque, New Mexico
I did 20 years (16 years with a GM dealer) as a tech and I suffered thru the last 8 of them. Most of the general public have no respect for you and will treat you like crap, and the management will treat you even worse as most think you are expendible. There is no money left in that field other than a select few spots but good luck finding or getting into those. FWIW There are only 2 shops I would return to wrenching for. One, I blew the perfect opportunity to go to and the other place I'm not worthy to be at. Other than that, I am happy i left that line of work plus its also hard on the body.
I almost think flipping burgers has more potential than wrenching...
I almost think flipping burgers has more potential than wrenching...
Last edited by Tall Guy; Feb 6, 2012 at 11:39 PM.
As everyone has said, wrenching doesn't exactly pay the greatest. It's hard work and long hours. People do treat you pretty poorly. Worse off, people tend not to trust you. It can also turn your hobby into a nightmare.
All that being said, it's your decision to make.
All that being said, it's your decision to make.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 302
Likes: 5
From: Miami Beach, Florida
I've been a mechanic for 10 years going on 11 pay isn't the greatest but it gets me through. I wish I had stayed in school and went to college for something else, but I love working on engines. But it deffinatly takes its toll on the fun factor of working on your own stuff.