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
• clutches and drive lines
• electronics and electrical systems
• engine repair and rebuilding
• fuel and emission systems
• general shop procedures

Learn in Well-Equipped Shops

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.

Apprenticeship Credit

With this Saskatchewan Polytechnic credential, you may be eligible for credit towards apprenticeship training. To learn more, contact the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC).

Trade to Degree

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.

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

36 weeks

• Moose Jaw
• Saskatoon

Admission Requirements

• Grade 12
• English Language Requirement

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

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.

2022/23 Academic Year

$8,895

International Students

View tuition rates for international students.

ATBD 100

Body Components, Accessories and Trim

2

BRAK 117

Braking Systems 1 (Non-ABS)

3

BRAK 118

Braking Systems 2 (Non-ABS)

3

BRAK 119

Braking Systems 3 (ABS)

2

COMM 127

Fundamental Communication Skills

2

DRTR 110

Driveline Systems

4

ELCT 106

Electrical Systems 1

4

ELCT 107

Electrical Systems 2

4

ELCT 108

Starting, Charging, Lighting and Wipers

4

ENGN 125

Engine Systems 1

3

ENGN 126

Engine Systems 2

4

ENGN 127

Engine Systems 3

4

FUEL 102

Introduction to Fuel and Ignition Systems

4

INDG 100

Introduction to Indigenous Studies

1

MAIN 108

Vehicle Inspection, Apprenticeship and Mentoring

2

MATH 169

Trade Mathematics

2

SAFE 103

Automotive Shop Safety

4

SHOP 109

Automotive Shop Fundamentals

3

STER 106

Steering and Suspension 1

4

STER 107

Steering and Suspension 2

4

TRNM 109

Final Drive Assemblies

3

TRNM 110

Clutches and Transmissions Part 1

3

TRNM 111

Clutches and Transmissions Part 2

3

Note: Classroom time will include demonstrations and shop work. 

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.

• Candidate Guide
• More 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.

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

• Personal Readiness

• Women in Trades and Technology

• Auto Body Technician
• Agricultural Machinery Technician
• Heavy Equipment and Truck and Transport Technician
• Parts Management Technician