Automotive Service Industry
Degree and Certificate Requirements
2008-09 Catalog

Associate of Applied Science Degree or Certificate

The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Automotive Service Technology and related certificate programs are NATEF certified and taught by ASE certified Instructors.

The two-year Automotive A.A.S. and certificate degree programs are designed to train and prepare students for employment in the automotive service industry as professional technicians and to prepare students for the ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification examinations.

The automotive training program at ACC is organized into four outstanding “Tracks:”

1. ASEP - General Motors-specific program called GM Automotive Service Educational Program
2. CAP-Chrysler-specific program called the Chrysler College Apprenticeship Program
3. Nissan- Nissan-specific Nissan Denver Technician Apprenticeship Program
4. ATEC - The general apprenticeship program for professional automotive technicians

The corporate sponsored dealership apprenticeship programs (CAP, ASEP, and Nissan) are manufacturer-specific and are degree programs only. In-coming freshmen will begin only in the fall semester. These tracks require the student to obtain and maintain an apprenticeship position at a GM, Nissan, or Chrysler dealership for the duration of the program. Program faculty will assist the student in finding suitable placement. Additionally, these students will take web-based manufacturer technician training courses; their sponsoring dealership will receive training credit for that student upon his or her graduation with the A.A.S. degree.

The ATEC program allows students to obtain an apprenticeship position with any manufacturer dealership (other than GM Chrysler, or Nissan) or any independent automotive repair facility. In-coming freshmen can begin in the fall or spring semester. This track also requires students to maintain an apprenticeship position in the automotive repair field for the duration of the program, and is a degree program only.

All tracks have limited seats available and are filled on a first-come first-served basis, dependent upon satisfactory MVR, criminal background checks and drug screening.

Students wishing to pursue the two-year degree must be signed into the respective courses by the Program Director at the beginning of each semester to ensure that the student is currently on track academically to graduate in the prescribed two-year period. Classes for the corporate tracks will be filled with dealer sponsored students first; general program students may be allowed to fill any available remaining seats.

All students, regardless of their chosen track, should be aware of automotive repair industry expectations, specifically:

1. Technicians must drive their customers’ vehicles as part of the repair process; thus the technician and the student must have a clean motor vehicle record and valid driver’s license.
2. The hiring process at reputable repair shops and dealerships will include a drug screen and a thorough background investigation.

As a result of these industry policies, to be eligible for acceptance into the program, students must pass an industry standard MVR, criminal, background, and urinalysis, and take a department administered mechanical assessment test. Please access the American Data Bank Web site at http://www.accautotechscreening.com.

The National Automotive Technician Education Foundation, Inc. accredits the Automotive Service Technology Programs and can be reached at 101 Blue Seal Drive, Leesburg VA,20175, Telephone (703) 669-6650.

Automotive Service Management
Degree and Certificate Requirements
2008-09 Catalog

Certificate

This program is designed as a work co-op program for those interested in a job as an automotive service writer/consultant. The academic courses may be taken prior to or in conjunction with the automotive courses. Dealerships are particularly interested in female service writers as women are under-represented in the automotive service field. All entrance eligibility requirements for the certificate program are the same as the degree programs.

Electrical/Electronics, Engine Performance

Certificate
This program is designed as a work co-op program for those interested in a job as an advanced driveability specialist or would like to further their knowledge and training in advanced engine performance. Dealers are particularly interested in this specialty due to advances in technology on current model vehicles with increasing electrical/electronic devices. All entrance eligibility requirements for the certificate program are the same as the degree programs.

Course Descriptions | Degree Requirements