Automotive Service Technician Foundation Training

Overview

The Automotive Service Technician Foundation program prepares students with the skills and knowledge they will need to find a position as an Automotive Apprentice or as a trainee Partsperson or Service Advisor.

Our program is taught by highly experienced Automotive Service Technicians who value hands-on, in-the-shop training methods whenever possible. We use customer owned vehicles for much of our training and we strive to keep the learning experience directly related to procedures and skills you will need to have in the automotive workplace. Classroom lectures are presented through dynamic PowerPoint presentations and also through CDX movie clips and graphics. All classroom homework and assignments are accessible through our "VIU Learn" learning management system.

Contact us to take a tour of the Automotive shop and meet our instructors.

This 10-month program (full-time, 4 days per week) covers all aspects of Automotive/Mechanical Repair, including:

  • shop safety
  • tool and equipment use
  • vehicle maintenance servicing
  • vehicle braking systems
  • suspension steering systems
  • automotive electrical systems
  • engine mechanical systems
  • EFI, engine electronic controls
  • drive-train systems
  • welding
  • job finding skills

This is a technically intense, job orientated program for people who want to gain an apprenticeship as an Automotive Technician, or gain employment as a Parts Person or a Service Advisor in an Automotive Repair facility. It is not a general interest course for people wanting to learn how to maintain their own vehicles.

A mandatory Employment Skills Module prepares students for the workforce and all students participate in three weeks of work experience at a local automotive business.

Graduates of the program may receive credit for the technical portion of the first year of the Automotive Service Technician Apprenticeship Program. To become a journeyperson, graduates would find a position as an automotive apprentice and then return to school for 6 or 7 weeks per year until completion of their 4th year.

Program Costs

See Program Costs for details regarding current fees.

(All fees are subject to change without prior notice.)

Admission Requirements

See Admission Requirements for details.

Outcomes

A Vancouver Island University Certificate will be awarded to each graduate.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible for credit of the technical portion for the 1st year of the Automotive Service Technician Apprenticeship Program and will have the ability to challenge the Level 1 Automotive Service Technician Apprentice Provincial exam. Graduates will have gained the knowledge and practical experience that may enable them to receive an Apprenticeship with an automotive business. More information on the Automotive apprenticeship program.

This program provides the graduate with the skills needed for Parts Person and Service Advisor positions.

Career Options

Job opportunities as an Apprentice Technician are readily available in the local area and throughout British Columbia and Canada.

Graduates from this program have also found employment as Parts Persons and as Service Advisors in automotive businesses.

After completion of the apprenticeship program and upon receiving the inter-provincial Certificate, you could find work anywhere in Canada.

Currently, there are shortages of skilled workers such as automotive technicians in Canada, and this trend is predicted to continue.

Apply

To become a student in the Automotive Program, apply to VIU.

 

Joseph Clifford, Automotive Journeyperson Technician

“Attending the Automotive ELTT (Foundation) program was one of the best decisions I made. The hands-on, and theory of the program helped me get a position in the automotive industry and I had a great time with the new people I met. I highly recommend this program for anyone who enjoys working with their hands.”