Master Automotive Service Technology A.A.S. - Career Degree

Keep vehicles running smoothly

Become an expert in vehicle repair

Vehicles need a lot of love—and you can give it to them by earning this degree at CLC. You learn all the inner workings of cars and trucks—everything from heating and air conditioning to engines.

This Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program is Master Certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Once you pass the ASE technician certification exams and complete the work experience requirement, you are awarded certification by ASE.

You receive a solid foundation and an assortment of in-demand skills to carry into a rewarding career working on cars, trucks and more. Or boost your marketability with further undergraduate study.

What can you do with an Automotive Technician degree?

The A.A.S. in Master Automotive Service Technician prepares you to work in the automotive field as an apprentice technician or other in-demand automotive technology service-related careers.

See what students love about the automotive technology program at CLC. Picture yourself here:

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Highlights

Recognized Automotive Service Excellence

This program is Master Certified (MAST) by the ASE Education Foundation.
EV and Hybrid Training

Electric Vehicles (EVs) & Hybrid servicing practices are integrated into our classes thanks to the Rev Up EV! Community College Initiative.
Financial Aid/Scholarships Available

Based on need and/or achievement. Explore ways to pay for college.
Career Degree

Earn an associate degree in 2 years and gain in-demand technical and job-ready skills.
Program Length: 2 Years

Full-time students finish in 2 years.
WIOA Program

Eligible for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)-awarded vouchers.

Career Outlook

Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $28,376
  
  Median
  
  $50,462
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $83,220
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $13.63
  
  Median
  
  $24.25
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $40.00
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  65.34%
  
  Certificate
  
  34.65%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Assist engineers in determining the practicality of proposed product design changes and plan and carry out tests on experimental test devices or equipment for performance, durability, or efficiency.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $50,706
  
  Median
  
  $70,032
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $101,593
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $24.37
  
  Median
  
  $33.66
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $48.84
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  3.7%
  
  Certificate
  
  14.81%
  
  Some college
  
  3.7%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  37.04%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  29.63%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  11.11%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Replace or repair broken windshields and window glass in motor vehicles.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $35,272
  
  Median
  
  $46,847
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $77,471
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $16.95
  
  Median
  
  $22.52
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $37.24
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  98.62%
  
  Certificate
  
  1.37%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $31,808
  
  Median
  
  $51,961
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $87,901
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $15.29
  
  Median
  
  $24.98
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $42.25
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  42.6%
  
  Certificate
  
  50.25%
  
  Some college
  
  5.78%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  1.37%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. Use such materials as water, cleaning agents, brushes, cloths, and hoses.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $29,992
  
  Median
  
  $36,865
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $67,101
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $14.41
  
  Median
  
  $17.72
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $32.26
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  77.78%
  
  Certificate
  
  2.27%
  
  Some college
  
  19.94%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Install, adjust, or maintain mobile electronics communication equipment, including sound, sonar, security, navigation, and surveillance systems on trains, watercraft, or other mobile equipment.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $67,013
  
  Median
  
  $85,792
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $103,525
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $32.21
  
  Median
  
  $41.24
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $49.76
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  28.33%
  
  Certificate
  
  47.69%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  9.63%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  14.35%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Install, diagnose, or repair communications, sound, security, or navigation equipment in motor vehicles.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $46,423
  
  Median
  
  $46,437
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $59,044
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $22.32
  
  Median
  
  $22.32
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $28.38
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  47.17%
  
  Certificate
  
  47.4%
  
  Some college
  
  1.12%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  4.31%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).

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Recommended Pathway

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their College and Career Navigator (CCN) to identify coursework that will meet degree requirements based on individual academic goals. View degree requirements in the college catalog.

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*Cost is estimated based on recommended pathway credit hours from academic year 2024-2025. This includes in-district tuition and other fees, such as books and materials before financial aid is applied, as well as grants, loans or scholarships. There are many opportunities for financial assistance at CLC. Learn more about Cost of Attendance.

Automotive Technology at CLC

Get the bigger picture

This degree is just one possible way to study Automotive Technology. Get the bigger picture—degrees, credentials and extra options.

View the Automotive Technology program overview

Frequently asked questions

You earn in-demand industry credentials from this certificate, including the SP2 certification for shop and environmental safety and a 609a EPA certificate. You also earn a credential in ALLDATA, which is an automotive service repair database.
The course content for this certificate is accredited by the ASE Education Foundation. This A.A.S. program at CLC covers all eight areas of ASE.
After you complete the courses in this advanced-level program at CLC, you are ready to advance in the automotive field with the knowledge and confidence you gained from a blend of lectures, media, demonstrations and hands-on learning.
We prepare you for an in-demand career. Our instructors are experts in everything automotive, and they love to share their knowledge and pass on in-demand tips and tricks. Because of our small class sizes, you get to know your instructors personally. These valuable relationships boost your abilities through personalized instruction and connect you to potential employers.
Plus, you’re able to attend on a part-time or full-time basis, and you save serious money with our low tuition costs. Oh, and did we mention internship possibilities and our state-of-the-art facilities?
The Master Automotive Service Technician Certificate is 67 credit hours and takes an average of four semesters to complete.
You spend about 60% of your time in our state-of-the-art training lab, where you gain hands-on experience as you repair and restore vehicles. The rest of your time is spent in the classroom studying foundational repair theories and other important information.
Your coursework introduces you to engine repair, auto electrical, powertrain controls, heating and air conditioning, suspension and more.
During this program, you build the comprehensive skill set you need to begin a successful career in auto tech. By taking the courses in this program, you become skilled in these areas:
- basic electrical service
- braking systems
- engine servicing
- heating and air conditioning
- suspension systems
You will be able to complete basic automotive services, including:
- alternator, starter and basic engine repairs
- battery replacement (12-volt)
- belt and hose repairs
- fluid changes
- oil changes
- recharge A/C systems
- shock, strut, tire, brake
- tire rotations
Yes, some—but not all of them. We hold most classes for this program in person but do offer some courses fully online or hybrid. Attend class in the way that works best for your goals.
- Virtual Live: Learn remotely in real-time. Take classes taught live via Zoom.
- Online: Have the flexibility to complete coursework without scheduled meetings while staying actively engaged in a fully online environment.
- In-person: Keep your degree on track with classes that meet face-to-face, providing you with opportunities to interact in person with faculty and peers.

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Master Automotive Service Technology

Keep vehicles running smoothly

Become an expert in vehicle repair

What can you do with an Automotive Technician degree?

Highlights

Recognized Automotive Service Excellence

EV and Hybrid Training

Financial Aid/Scholarships Available

Career Degree

Program Length: 2 Years

WIOA Program

Career Outlook

Automotive Body and Related Repairers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Automotive Engineering Technicians

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Need help?

Recommended Pathway

Automotive Technology at CLC

Get the bigger picture

Frequently asked questions

Why study Master Automotive Service Technician at CLC?

How long is the program?

What skills will I learn?

Can I take my classes online?

Take the next step...

Be debt-free at CLC

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