| Naturally, when you are researching auto mechanic | | | | industry, as they demonstrate to employers and |
| programs, one of your main concerns is cost. To | | | | customers alike that a mechanic has mastered his or |
| many people, the tuition charged by auto tech schools | | | | her areas of certification; as such, any good |
| seems exorbitant when compared with the less | | | | automotive education program will train and test |
| expensive programs offered at community colleges. | | | | students in the areas of ASE certification. |
| However, as a school that specializes in one area of | | | | Besides factors that are directly related to the quality |
| instruction, an automotive school offers many benefits | | | | of a student's education, such as high quality |
| over a low budget community college program. | | | | equipment, teachers, and educational programs, as |
| For instance, most auto tech schools offer better | | | | private institutions auto tech schools can also offer |
| equipment than community colleges. The reason for | | | | superior student services, such as job placement |
| this is that community colleges depend on the | | | | services. Job placement services in particular are very |
| government for their funding, and as a result are | | | | important, as the primary reason for pursuing an |
| constantly struggling to pay their teachers, let alone | | | | education is to become more qualified for a specific |
| stay up to date on equipment for their students. On | | | | job or career. Auto tech schools tend to have an |
| the other hand, the tuition you pay at an automotive | | | | office dedicated to helping graduates find jobs, and |
| school ensures that the school can provide and | | | | usually have a good reputation with local employers. |
| maintain state of the art equipment for its students. | | | | Additionally, many auto tech schools have long term |
| Another advantage of the degree programs offered | | | | relationships with local business, meaning that many of |
| by auto tech schools is superior teachers. Under | | | | these businesses go directly to the school when they |
| funding at community colleges also results in underpaid | | | | are in need of interns or fulltime mechanics. All of |
| teachers, which usually means that the best and most | | | | these factors help the graduates of an auto tech |
| knowledgeable teachers won't settle for a job at a | | | | school find jobs more easily than those who attended |
| community college. Also, since an automotive school | | | | a community college. |
| specializes in their field, rather than offering classes | | | | Saving yourself money by attending a community |
| simply as an alternative for non-traditional or | | | | college program may seem like a wise decision, but in |
| non-academic students, they tend to look for teachers | | | | the long run it may have a detrimental impact on your |
| who are better qualified to teach their subject. | | | | career path. Factors such as the curriculum, teachers, |
| The curriculum offered by an automotive school is also | | | | and equipment dictate how much you learn and how |
| generally higher quality than those offered by | | | | well you learn it, while support services for students, |
| community colleges. Again, this has to do with the fact | | | | such as job placement assistance, help you translate |
| that auto tech schools specialize in one field. As a | | | | your education into a career. The extra money it costs |
| result, a school that focuses on automotive training will | | | | to enroll in a degree program at an auto tech school |
| be able to offer a choice of several different degree | | | | may be the difference between a quality education |
| programs, including programs for earning Automotive | | | | and mediocre training, a career in the fast track or just |
| Service Excellence (ASE) certifications. ASE | | | | a job. |
| certifications are an important part of the automotive | | | | |