Automotive Technology
School of Transportation Technology
Parkes Automotive Technology Center, Room 126 · (570) 327-4516
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the AU and AM programs have been employed in a wide variety of jobs relating to the automotive service industry, including (but not limited to):
- General automotive technician
- Dealership service technician
- Assistant manager
- Skilled jobs in automotive manufacturing
- Service equipment representative
- Rebuilding shop assembler
- Repair shop operator
- Parts department manager
- Fleet technician
Additional manufacturer-specific training is available to our graduates. Opportunities are available to receive training from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Volvo, Audi, and Volkswagen in factory-sponsored programs that range from 3-6 months in length for those who can qualify following Penn College graduation.
Employment Outlook
The employment outlook is very positive for those with a formal education in the field of automotive service. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicates that there are currently about 840,000 people employed as automotive technicians. The job outlook in this field is projected to be very good until at least 2010 for automotive technicians and mechanics with good diagnostic and problem-solving skills and knowledge of electronics and mathematics. Projected growth in the field in that timeframe is expected to be between 10-20%. Formal automotive training is described as the best preparation for these technology-based jobs.
Other Opportunities at Penn College
On occasion, students in automotive programs find, after working on vehicles their first year, that they don’t like actually working on cars. However, many still enjoy working around cars. For those students, Penn College offers an associate’s degree in Automotive Service Sales and Marketing (AK). This program gives students a background in automotive technology and then some coursework in management, economics, customer relations, etc. It will prepare students for a start in the management side of the auto repair industry. The great thing is that at Penn College students can make that decision at any time, up until the start of their second year, and still have time to finish in two years.
For those students who have the ability and desire to continue their education, Penn College offers a bachelor’s degree in Automotive Technology Management. The transition from the AU program into the BAU program at Penn College is smooth, as virtually all the AU courses will meet BAU requirements. A student in the AM program will need a few more classes when transitioning to BAU. This degree will open up management, teaching, and auto manufacturer career opportunities to graduates.