Automotive Service Technician Apprenticeship

A student crouches down in front of a work trolley, looking at automotive components within a service shop.

Get on the road to success! The fast-paced, ever-changing automotive trade could be the perfect career for you. Register as an apprentice and complete your in-class training at Loyalist.

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Home / Learn / Programs List / Automotive Service Technician Apprenticeship

Credential

Ontario College Certificate

Duration

One year or less

Start Date(s)

Other

Open to

International Students

Domestic Students

Find your career

The demand for licensed technicians has increased with many professionals in this trade approaching retirement. Automotive technicians work at dealerships, independent garages, fleet operations and as entrepreneurs. They play a crucial role in ensuring the safety, reliability, and longevity of vehicles by:

Identifying issues using diagnostic tools and equipment.
Repairing or replacing faulty parts, such as brakes, engine components and other critical systems.
Performing routine maintenance such as oil changes, tire rotations and fluid checks.

Our grads get great jobs

Automotive Service Technician, Kingston Hyundai
Owner and Operator, JFP Automotive Inc., Belleville
Owner and Operator, Wilson Specialized Tune Up Ltd.

Is it for you?

Students come to this program from a wide range of backgrounds. What they have in common are:

A strong work ethic.
Patience.
A knack for problem solving.
Curiosity.
A passion for cars and trucks and things that go.

How you'll learn

Learn while you earn, with on-the-job training and education.

To become an apprentice, you must be registered with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) and work for an employer who accepts full responsibility for your instruction in all aspects of the trade. Your in-class learning is completed at Loyalist.
Once you are employed and signed on with the Ministry, you will be notified when in-school training is available.
Your apprenticeship requirements include completing a skillset book, 6,500 hours of on-the-job training and three levels of in-school training for a total of 720 hours.
You can attend three full-time blocks of training, each eight weeks long, or study at Loyalist one day per week to complete your three levels.
Learning combines classroom instruction and practical theory labs. Put your knowledge to the test in state-of-the-art service bays.
During your apprenticeship, you’ll have the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge from Loyalist to real-world experiences with your employer. In the classroom, you can discuss and clarify any workplace issues.

Available start dates include:

Day release: August
Block release: August, October, January and March

Courses

To learn more about the required training for each in-class level, view the Skilled Trades Ontario Curriculum Training Standard.

Level I

AST	Work Practices	32.0
AST	Electrical, Electronics and Emission Systems I	96.0
AST	Drive Train Systems I	32.0
AST	Engine Systems I	40.0
AST	Suspension, Steering and Brake Systems I	40.0
		240 hours

Level II

AST	Air Conditioning Systems	32.0
AST	Electrical, Electronics and Emission Systems II	96.0
AST	Drive Train Systems II	32.0
AST	Suspension, Steering and Brake Systems II	40.0
AST	Engine Systems II	40.0
		240 hours

Level III

AST	Applied Work Practices	32.0
AST	Suspension, Steering and Brake Systems III	40.0
AST	Electrical, Electronics and Emission Systems III	96.0
AST	Engine Systems III	40.0
AST	Drive Train Systems III	32.0
		240 hours

*Courses subject to change.

A student in the automotive shop leans over the engine bay to connect booster cables to the battery terminals. Two other students stand in the background. Green graphic circles are in the lower lefthand corner of the image.

Admission requirements

Become a registered apprentice

You can complete your studies while you continue to work as an apprentice registered with MLITSD. You and your employer must enter into a contract representing your employer’s willingness to support you through this certificate.
You must be at least 16 years old and have completed Grade 12 or the equivalent (GED or ACE).
Early registration as an apprentice is possible through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program; please contact your local school board for more information.
Information about qualification requirements leading to certification is available on the MLITSD website.

Recommended academic preparation

Math, science and English. High school courses in automotive mechanics would be an asset.

International students

Learn more about admission requirements for international applicants.

How much will it cost?

Earn while you learn. You will receive a paycheque from your employer/sponsor for your on-the-job training.
MLITSD pays most of the in-class costs of apprenticeship training. The Ministry will forward information about schooling and costs once you are registered. The Ministry also has useful information about options for financial help.
If you enrol in the block release in-class program, you may be eligible for employment insurance (EI) to cover your time away from work.

Two students stand under a car on a lift in the automotive shop. Both are wearing safety glasses and looking into the inside of the rim. Blue graphic circles are in the lower lefthand corner of the image.

Further study

With your Apprenticeship Completion Certificate from Loyalist and completion of at least 6,500 hours of on-the-job training, you will be eligible to write the Certificate of Qualification to become a licensed Automotive Service Technician.
For more information on the Certificate of Qualification, visit the MLITSD website or contact them at 416-326-5800, or a regional office: Belleville 613-968-5558; Kingston 613-548-1151; Pickering 905-837-7721; or Peterborough 705-745-1918.
Several universities and colleges will provide credit recognition for your studies at Loyalist. Explore our available transfer agreements.

Resources for new and current students

Find information about your classes, campus, students services and more in the myLoyalist portal and on the Life at Loyalist page.

Some useful links include:

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