Program Description

The Automotive Technology Associate Degree program provides entry-level skills necessary to enter into and excel in the automotive service and repair industry. Automotive theories are built upon by extensive hands-on training in an active shop environment. The automotive industry has a high demand for qualified technicians who complete automotive training programs. Learners may build upon their education and experience to find employment in managerial and supervisory roles as well. Many technicians with advanced skills eventually find employment with manufacturers of new vehicles or their suppliers, or related businesses within the transportation industry.

Accreditation Information: The Automotive Technology Associate Degree program is accredited as a Master Automobile Service Technician (MAST) program. The highest obtainable automotive program level by the National Automotive Technician's Education Foundation (NATEF).

Found in These Career Fields:

Approximate Program Cost

$12,144
Tuition: $11056 , Books: $1088

Starting Salary

$27,040–$54,340
Average, based on the NTC Graduate Outcomes Report

Financial Aid

Available
Total financial aid offered may not exceed the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA).

Media from the Automotive Technology Program

An aerial view of NTC's Wausau Campus main entrance on a sunny summer day. Trees and greenery frame the spacious side walks that lead up to the light-brown brick building.

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Availability

Courses for this program may be available at a variety of campus locations through multiple modes of delivery if you meet the admission requirements and prerequisites.

100%
at Wausau
20-30%
at Antigo
20-30%
at Medford
20-30%
at Phillips
20-30%
at Spencer
20-30%
at Wittenberg
20-30%
at Online

* Campus and online availability of courses and programs may be subject to change.

Outcomes

Graduates will be able to…

  • Perform diagnosis, service and repair of automotive hybrid drivetrains
  • Perform diagnosis, service and repair of automotive engine performance systems
  • Perform diagnosis, service and repair of automotive heating and air conditioning systems
  • Perform diagnosis, service and repair of automotive electrical/electronic systems
  • Perform diagnosis, service and repair of automotive brake systems
  • Perform diagnosis, service and repair of automotive steering and suspension steering systems
  • Perform diagnosis, service and repair of automotive manual drive train and axles systems
  • Perform diagnosis, service and repair of automotive automatic transmission/transaxle systems
  • Perform diagnosis, service and repair of automotive internal combustion engines
  • Demonstrate professionalism appropriate for the auto service industry

Careers

Some of the potential careers graduates can pursue are:

  • Fleet Technician (Commercial)
  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certified Master Technician
  • Specialty Technician
  • Automotive Technician

Courses

The Automotive Technology Associate Degree is a 65 Credit program. The following is a typical semester breakdown of the courses within the program.

First Term

ENGINE REPAIR 1 2.00
AUTO SERVICE FUNDAMENTALS 2.00
ENGINE REPAIR 2 3.00
STEERING & SUSPENSION SYSTEMS 3.00
ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS 1 2.00
COLLEGE MATHEMATICS 3.00
COLLEGE 101 1.00

Second Term

SERVICE ADVISOR TECHNIQUES 2.00
AUTOMOTIVE WELDING 1.00
BRAKE SYSTEMS 3.00
ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS 2 3.00
MANUAL DRIVE TRAIN AND AXLES 4.00
PSYCHOLOGY OF HUMAN RELATIONS 3.00
INTRO TO PSYCHOLOGY 3.00

Third Term

AUTO TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLE 4.00
ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS 3 3.00
HYBRID DRIVETRAINS 2.00
ADVANCED CHASSIS SYSTEMS 2.00
ORAL/INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION 3.00
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION 3.00
ENGLISH COMPOSITION 1 3.00

Fourth Term

CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEMS 3.00
ENGINE PERFORMANCE 1 3.00
ENGINE PERFORMANCE 2 4.00
COLLEGE PHYSICS 1 3.00
ECONOMICS 3.00

Credit for Prior Learning Available

View All Detailed Course Information

Accreditation

The Automotive Technology Associate Degree program is accredited as a Master Automobile Service Technician (MAST) program. The highest obtainable automotive program level by the National Automotive Technician’s Education Foundation (NATEF).

Transfer Information

You can continue your education to earn a four-year degree in a variety of ways.

Program Transfer

The following transfer guides, executed in partnership with post-secondary institutions, are based on agreements that allow you to continue your program at another college.

School Name Degree Name
Ferris State University Automotive Management
Minnesota State University - Moorhead B.S. in Operations Management
Pennsylvania College of Technology Automotive Technology Management
Siena Heights University Bachelor of Applied Science
Southern Illinois University B.S. in Automotive Technology
UW Platteville Industrial Technology Management

General Transfer

All associate degrees transfer to a variety of programs at other partner colleges to give you the opportunity to continue your education in other areas of study.

View all transfer guides

Cost of Attendance

2023-2024 Estimated Academic Year Budgeted Cost of Attendance

The estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) is a budget that includes categories of expenses that a student can expect to incur while attending college. The COA does not reflect actual charges. It is an average based on the estimated living costs typical of our region. In determining the cost of attendance, Northcentral Technical College uses the budget established by the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Financial Aid Budget Work Group. This budget is used to determine financial need for all students who apply for financial aid. A student's cost of attendance is composed of all educational expenses that can be included for financial aid purposes that a student may accrue while pursuing their education for the year (or semester, if enrolled less than a year). A student's financial aid cannot exceed their cost of attendance. Schools are required to provide a fuller picture of what it may cost students to pursue their degree, not just what they will owe in tuition/fees and books/supplies.

Please Note: this COA budget estimate assumes full-time attendance for two semester Fall 2023 and Spring 2024.
Expenses Student Living With Parents (Home) Student Living on Own (Other)
Full-time Tuition (based on a total of 30 credits, 15 credits fall and 15 credits spring)
In-State Tuition & Fees
$4,713*
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$6,900*
In-State Tuition & Fees
$4,713*
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$6,900*
Living Expenses (Housing & Food) $4,052 $9,614
Books / Supplies $2,061 $2,061
Transportation $2,007 $2,007
Personal Expenses $2,245 $2,245
Loan Fees $83 $83
Total Estimated Cost Of Attendance
In-State
$15,161
Out-of-State
$17,348
In-State
$20,723
Out-of-State
$22,910

* Tuition listed is based on approved rates for the 2022-2023 academic year with a projected base increase of 1.65%. Rates are approved each March by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board and estimated budgets are updated at that time.

Students with dependent care, computer or study abroad expenses should contact the Financial Aid Office to document allowable expenses which may serve to increase their COA.

Students awarded Federal Direct Loan(s) also have an average of the mandatory loan fees automatically added to their COA.

Students with disability-related expenses may contact the Financial Aid Office to have their additional expenses considered. Disability-related expenses include but are not limited to: personal assistance, equipment, and supplies. The Financial Aid Office may potentially include disability expenses in the COA that are not provided by other assisting agencies.

NTC also offers a Net Price Calculator to help estimate costs.

For more information regarding billed tuition and fees visit https://www.ntc.edu/admissions/tuition-fees

We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about how the financial aid process works. Please feel free to reach out for more information.

NTC Financial Aid Office

715.803.1647
financialaid@ntc.edu

Additional Information

Take a Virtual Tour

Explore NTC’s Automotive Lab and get an idea of what it’s like to be a student in the Automotive Technology program.

Driver’s Record

Maintaining a valid and clean driving record is important for your success in this industry.

Licensure/Certification Information

NTC's Automotive Technology Associate Degree is designed to meet the State of Wisconsin's certification criteria. However, NTC has not made a determination whether this program meets certification requirements in states other than Wisconsin. Students who may be seeking professional certification elsewhere in states other than Wisconsin should contact the appropriate licensing board in that state to verify that the NTC program meets certification requirements.

Admissions Process

Our application process takes just a few minutes to complete, but we want to make sure you have the things you’ll need on hand to complete the application. We’re here to help if you have any questions while submitting your application.

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The application can be submitted online and takes just a few minutes to complete. There is no fee to apply.

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What’s Next?

We’ll review your application and let you know if we need anything else. If you’re all set, your acceptance letter will be mailed to you.