An Automotive Service Technician is Part of One of Canada’s Largest Industries

Have you always been fascinated with how a car engine works? Do you enjoy figuring out what’s wrong with your car when it breaks down? Do you like working with your hands? If you answered yes to any of these questions, a career in the transportation industry might be for you. The transportation industry is one of the largest in Canada and service technicians are in demand. The job of a service tech includes: inspecting, maintaining, and repairing automobiles that run on electricity, gasoline, or alternative fuels like ethanol. This professional is also responsible for executing basic care maintenance like tire rotations and oil changes, diagnosing complex problems, and planning and executing vehicle repair.

You can now get your foot in the door of the transportation field with Centennial College’s Automotive Service Technician Co-op, partnered with the Toronto Automobile Dealer’s Association. The training begins with eight months in school, which is an essential component of the apprenticeship. During this time, you will participate in courses that are geared to making you job-ready for the on-the-job aspect of the undertaking. Many of these aren’t your typical lecture courses, as you actually train on automotive assemblies in fully equipped campus automotive labs in the province’s largest transportation training centre, Ashtonbee campus. The vehicles on which you work reflect the products sold by supporting T.A.D.A dealerships. Some of the hands-on courses include: Engine Systems, Drive Train Systems, Suspension/Steering Brakes, Air Conditioning Systems and much more. In addition, you will take courses in general education, English and the automotive trade. These lecture-type courses are meant to prepare you for administrative roles, should you go in that direction. They include: Work Practices, Occupational Health & Safety, College Communications, Organizational Behaviour, Auto body Estimating, Fixed Operations Management and more. The well-rounded training means that upon graduation from Centennial College, you’ll also be eligible to work as a service writer, instructor or professor, automotive company representative, advisor and service manager. Automotive Training imparted at Centennial, makes students well equipped in the industry.

Once you have successfully completed eight months in school, you move onto the eight month co-op portion of the Automotive Service Technician program. The training takes place in a T.A.D.A dealership, where you apply everything you learned about vehicles to real-life situations. You also gain additional knowledge by working alongside experienced professionals who can share anecdotes and their own experiences with you. These professionals will also guide you in dealing with difficult customers and problem resolution. Many times, students are actually hired by the company at which they do their co-op placement.

To apply for the Automotive Service Technician Co-op Apprenticeship (with T.A.D.A), Centennial College expects you to present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or General Educational Development (GED) or equivalent. In addition, a resume and transcript may be required and English proficiency may be considered. You must also attend a program admission session, during which you will fill out a questionnaire. Possession of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.