Automotive Service Technician

If you enjoy working on cars and trucks, Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Automotive Service Technician program can fast-track you into a career. In less than a year, you could be working as a technician in an automotive shop, car and truck dealership, specialty shop, service station or transportation company.

You’ll need good problem-solving skills, mechanical aptitude and manual dexterity. At the end of the program, you’ll have transferable skills you can apply to other trades, including agricultural machinery technician, heavy duty equipment technician, truck and transport mechanic.

Automotive Service Technician is a one-year certificate program offered in Moose Jaw and Saskatoon. You’ll learn how to diagnose, repair, service and maintain advanced mechanical and electrical systems in today’s vehicles. Get practical, hands-on training in:

  • body and trim
  • brakes and chassis
  • charging, ignition and starting systems
  • transmissions and drive lines
  • electronics and electrical systems
  • engine repair 
  • fuel and emission systems
  • general shop procedures
Learn from highly trained instructors in Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s well-equipped automotive shops. You’ll work on real vehicles donated by local dealers and other sources. You’ll use industry-leading diagnostic and servicing equipment, including tools unique to specific manufacturers. By the time you graduate, you’ll have the kind of practical, hands-on training and experience you will need.
The Bachelor of Applied Management (BAMgt) degree provides journeypersons the unique opportunity to leverage existing education and experience into a bachelor's degree with two years of additional study. Part-time and remote options are available.

Career and salary information

Your career

When you graduate, look for jobs as an apprentice technician in an automotive shop or service station, in the service or warranty department of vehicle dealerships, in engine machine shops and engine building plants. You could work for a public transit agency, a transportation company or a large company that maintains a fleet of vehicles.

Potential careers

Sample job title NOC classification
Automotive service technician Automotive service technicians, truck & bus mechanics & mechanical repairers (72410)

Admissions

Admission requirements

Note

  • Applicants should be physically mobile, capable of moderate lifting and have good manual dexterity.
  • A valid driver's license is a requirement in order to operate and road test motor vehicles.

Alternative admission

Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through an alternative admission assessment. Applicants are automatically considered for alternative admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met.

ACCUPLACER©

Refer to the ACCUPLACER© cut scores for this program below, and review additional details concerning Alternative Admission using Accuplacer.

  • 250 Arithmetic
  • 247 Reading
  • 241 Writing

Post-secondary

Some programs allow applicants to meet the admission grade level requirement using 15 approved post-secondary credits. Review additional information.

If the program applied to has specific course requirements, they may be met through alternative post-secondary courses. Review already approved courses that may be used for admission purposes for your programs.

Admission method

First Qualified/First Admitted

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake. 

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year. 

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

Tuition and fees

Estimates are based on current rates and are subject to change. Amounts for a program may vary by campus. Totals shown here include all mandatory fees as well as approximate cost for books and supplies. Visit the Tuition and Fees web page for a complete breakdown of tuition and fees for this program.

2023-24 academic year

$9,650

International students

View tuition rates for international students.

Courses

Get credit for what you know

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.

See link(s) below to get more information about PLAR.

Transfer credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

Student awards

Thanks to the generosity of donors and alumni, Saskatchewan Polytechnic gives away more than $2 million in student awards during the academic year.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers student awards for every certificate and diploma program at every campus. Not all student awards are based on marks - some are based on financial need or things like community or volunteer involvement.

More about scholarships

Auto Body Technician

Agricultural Machinery Technician

Heavy Equipment and Truck and Transport Technician

Parts Management Technician

Additional information

Women in Trades and Technology