Automotive Service Sales & Marketing
School of Transportation Technology
Parkes Automotive Technology Center, Room 133 · (570) 327-4516
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the placement rate of your graduates?
A: The AK major is relatively new as a major field of study in the School of Transportation Technology. The first graduates will have received their associate’s degrees in the spring of 2004. This means that we will not have data on these graduates until some time after that. However, Penn College decided to develop this program after extensive research and consultation with our Industry Advisory Committees which indicated that there was a significant, unmet need for employees who are trained in this area.
Q: How much will I be able to earn?
A: As with any field, our graduates will start out at varying levels of income, depending on a number of factors. Generally, students who perform better in school end up receiving better job offers. Location also plays a big part in how much a graduate will make. Salaries, as well as cost of living, are higher in and around major metropolitan areas. Since AK is a relatively new major, we do not have data on our graduates at the present time. However, within the field of automotive service, job openings for people with a few years’ experience in the areas of management, sales, and customer relations advertise potential salaries anywhere from $28,000 to over $100,000.
Q: When should I apply?
A: The automotive and collision repair programs at Penn College enjoy an outstanding reputation for producing quality technicians for the automotive repair industry in our service area. As a result, spaces in our first-year classes (where the AK students start) have recently been filling six to nine months before the classes begin. You should apply as early as possible in order to reserve a seat in the program. The beginning of your senior year, or even at the end of your junior year in high school, is not too early to apply. The admissions office can tell you when the next seat in the program is available to you. Once you are accepted, your tuition deposit will hold your seat in the AK program.
Q: Can I receive advanced placement if I attended an automotive or collision repair vocational program in high school?
A: We do give advanced placement for some first-year courses for students who attend automotive and collision repair vocational programs in high school, on a case-by-case basis. We will consult with your high school instructor to determine what courses you place out of. You should speak with the Dean of the School of Transportation Technology after being accepted into the program, but before you begin your education here, in order to take advantage of this opportunity.
Q: Do I need my own tools?
A: We require students to purchase their own starter set of tools and a toolbox in which to store them. The tool list is different, depending upon whether you start out in the automotive or collision repair directed electives.
Tools may be purchased through our College Store, or you may buy them elsewhere. The College Store supplies industry-quality tools at a substantial discount.