Penn Foster Career School Auto Repair Technician

[BadVoodoo]

right now im enrolled in a 4 year college but something tells me its not right for me and i may be interested in going into auto repair as a living. My only problem is i have no real experience with cars, and i dont know how to go about getting into this field at my age. I looked online and found a program that allows me to study / work at home in auto repair. The program is provided by Foster Career School (http://www.pennfoster.edu/autorepair/index.html). Has anyone here gone through this school and if so how was the program designed and what problems or complications occured while enrolled. Also what are some other options that i can pursue if i want to start a career with cars but have no previouse experience with them.

[MagicRat]

Go and have a frank discussion with some professional mechanics in your area.
Talk to them about the career, their training, the challanges it has and the rewards. They will be happy to advise you on what has worked best for them.

I used to be a mechanic apprentice. I quit years ago and went to university instead. IMHO the auto career is very challanging and difficult these days.
There is a huge volume of information you must learn in order to fix cars properly. Much more training is required than to do other trades. Furthermore, the pay system for mechanics encourages the work be done as quickly as possible.

As a trade career goes, it is very stressful and has a high burnout rate. When I was training, the average mechanic in Ontario would quit and start a new career by the time they were 30 years old.

If you want to learn a trade, frankly, commercial electrical or plumbing is better. If you must be a auto technician, have a plan to advance in the industry. For example, after a few years experience, you could go back to college and train to be a shop teacher. Or you could take some basic business courses and open your own auto repair shop.

On the positive side, there is a tremendous demand for good technicians. If you complete your training, you will be virtually guaranteed steady employment because there are not enough people entering the field these days.

[Hungrycat7]

I don't know about becoming a technician with online courses. I think the best training is hands on training. It would be so much more beneficial to you to not do it from home. There are things that books and papers just can't teach you!

[2.2 Straight six]

Originally Posted by Hungrycat7

I don't know about becoming a technician with online courses. I think the best training is hands on training. It would be so much more beneficial to you to not do it from home. There are things that books and papers just can't teach you!

Definitely.

I work as a tech full-time. I don't have any training or qualifications though. It can hard and stressful, there's a lot to take in and learn. Don't forget that you have to pay for your own tools too. I've spent about $10,000 on tools so far. That's in little over a year.

[72chevelleOhio]

The guy in the picture on the website has long hair, and an old trouble light with a regular bulb in it....


Go to a real school. No matter what, you will start from the bottom. Work part time at a garage somewhere. You will learn a lot more working then reading about it.

Originally Posted by 2.2 Straight six

I've spent about $10,000 on tools so far. That's in little over a year.

I stopped counting at $39,000 quite a few years ago.....

Originally Posted by MagicRat

As a trade career goes, it is very stressful and has a high burnout rate. When I was training, the average mechanic in Ontario would quit and start a new career by the time they were 30 years old.

......I am tired of wrenching....

[2.2 Straight six]

Originally Posted by 72chevelleOhio

I stopped counting at $39,000 quite a few years ago.....

Give me a few more years..

Originally Posted by 72chevelleOhio

......I am tired of wrenching....

I think certain shop environments make people tired of it more than the work itself.