Automotive Technology

Automotive Technology

Get the Skills to Begin a Career in Automotive Technology in as few as 12 Months

Are you looking for hands-on training at an automotive and mechanic school that will help you start a new career as an automotive technician? Our Automotive Technology program can help you acquire the skills you need to diagnose, repair, and maintain most car makes and models. With automotive training from Porter and Chester Institute, you can be prepared to work in several automotive settings such as an independent service center or a car dealership.

Fast Facts

You can choose from two education delivery options currently offered at select campuses:

  1. Blended Program – Lecture online, labs on campus
    Offered at: Bridgeport CT, Hamden CT, Waterbury CT, Brockton MA and Chicopee MA
  2. On-Ground Program - Lectures and labs on campus
    Projected* to be offered at: Hamden CT and Waterbury CT
    *On-ground availability is anticipated for classes beginning 1/6/25. Should on-ground classes not be available, students could begin the program following the hybrid delivery schedule.
  • Graduates earn a diploma
  • Program Length: 12 months

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LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, CREDENTIALS

The program helps prepare students for the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification tests and graduates may choose to become certified once the tests are passed and the ASE work experience requirements are met. Students have the opportunity to earn ASE Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling Certification.

How/When to Apply

We start new sessions on a regular basis.
Next Start Date: January 6, 2025

At Porter and Chester Institute, we're making it easier than ever for you to enroll using our automated application portal. Upload your documents and start the financial aid process without the hassle of drawn-out application processes. And our admissions staff is still available to help you every step of the way. Taking control of your career just got easier!

Apply Online Now

 

Is a Career as an Automotive Technician Right for You?

Take the "PCI Automotive Technician Career Training Readiness Quiz"

The fun, online quiz takes 3 minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style plus the training and positions you’re best suited for.
Get your Automotive Technician Career Training Readiness score now!

From Our Blog

7 THINGS YOU'LL LEARN IN THE AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

The Automotive Technology (auto tech) program helps prepare you for a career as an automotive technician. You'll gain the knowledge needed diagnose, repair, and maintain most ...

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WHAT KIND OF REPAIRS WOULD I DO AS AN AUTO MECHANIC?

When your car starts to sputter, runs slowly, or can’t even start, it’s time to take it to the auto mechanic. But if you’re that auto mechanic, you’re a car doctor. You’ll ...

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How Can I Afford It?

Financial Aid is available to those who qualify. Our team of Educational Funding Specialists will work with you to determine what you’re eligible for and how to pay for school.

There are federal, institutional and private programs that can make your career training more affordable, as well as grant and scholarship opportunities that may be available to you.

Financial Aid

Will I Get A Job?

While employment is not guaranteed, our Career Service Advisors are dedicated to helping you find the right job for you! We'll help you with your job search, and also with resume and cover letter writing, and interviewing skills.

Career Services

Why PCI?

If you’re passionate about cars and looking for an automotive school that will help you reach your career potential, here are some reasons our programs in Connecticut and Massachusetts may be a perfect match!

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Concrete Skills:
You’ll be trained to diagnose and repair all major vehicle components including engines, electronics, fuel and emission systems, transmissions, and body control systems. You’ll also learn how to boost vehicle performance and keep cars in tip-top shape.

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Hands-on Training:
In addition to online instruction, you’ll spend a lot of time in our auto shops where you’ll get to work on real cars with real problems. We’ll test your skills with training models, but you’ll also get to work on real vehicles with the wear and tear you’d see in an actual service station. We equip our auto shops with scan tools, computer diagnostic oscilloscopes, emissions diagnostic equipment, computerized alignment machines, brake lathes, valve grinding machinery, wheel balancing equipment, and specialized pneumatic and hand tools.

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Qualified Instructors:
Our instructors are all ASE Certified Master Technicians with years of professional experience. They are knowledgeable on a wide variety of vehicle makes and models. They are also friendly, caring, and committed to your success. They’ll treat you like your employer would, with respect and confidence in your ability to get the job done.

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Job Outlook:
With more than 273 million cars on the road today, there are plenty of cars on the road that could make into your shop. The automotive training you will receive at Porter and Chester Institute will prepare you to work in dealerships, repair facilities and specialty shops. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, about 73,300 openings for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

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Soft Skills:
In addition to motor vehicle knowledge, you’ll learn auto technician soft skills to interact with customers with professionalism. And we’ll teach you what it means to be a good employee in a real-world setting.