The Automotive Services and Technology Program at City College offers students hands-on training in modern vehicle technology, preparing them for careers in the automotive industry.

With a blend of classroom instruction and practical experience through working on physical cars, the program covers everything from engine repairs to advanced car diagnostics. Students also gain access to industry certifications, internships, and valuable career support to help them succeed in the automotive workforce.

The automotive service and technology program offers industry-recognized certifications, including ASE (Automotive Service Excellence), which provides students with credentials that can help them secure jobs in the field, both during and after completing the program.

Dana Lutton, an automotive instructor, emphasized that the program not only prepares students for careers as mechanics but also opens doors to a wide range of opportunities in other industries. 

“What I like to stress with my students is [that] just because you’re in this program doesn’t mean you have to get a job as an automotive mechanic,” Lutton said. “You could go work in the shipyard as a mechanic.”

Lutton also elaborated on the well-paying nature of the mechanical field, with certified mechanics earning double the minimum wage in California.

The program covers a wide range of topics for students without experience in areas such as engine repair, diagnostics, or automotive systems. 

“We’ve got 10 courses, and that goes over a huge variety of topics, between engine rebuilding, transmissions, drive trains, brakes and suspension,” Lutton said. 

Lutton explained the importance of teaching students to focus on learning job skills through the wide range of hands-on skills the program already offers. 

“In the automotive program, it’s great if you get a degree,” Lutton said. “It’s great if you get a certificate, but it’s job skills more than anything else.”

The program also gives students the opportunity to bring in their own cars to work on with very low prices or no charge at all. In very rare cases, students in the automotive and technology program may also be able to work on other City College students’ cars.

“I have seen people’s cars outside of the program come in, but we’re not as readily available to work on them, just because of the liability,” Lutton said. “But if you’re in the program, it’s super easy to work on your car.” 

The program actively helps place students in industry jobs, with instructors also recommending top candidates for positions in the field, outside of the classroom. Instructors play a key role in the automotive program, recommending top-performing students for positions and helping them connect with potential employers. 

This ensures that graduates have a smoother transition into the workforce and are well-prepared to meet the demands of the automotive industry.

The program also places emphasis on the importance of thinking methodically and accurately in mechanical work, highlighting how small mistakes can lead to costly repairs and significant time lost. Students are taught to approach each task with attention to detail, ensuring they build habits that will help them in their future careers.

“A big part of learning here is just learning how to take things slowly while also working fast and accurately,” Lutton said. 

Lutton additionally includes a variety of visual aids while teaching automotive concepts, noting that they are crucial for helping students grasp complex ideas like rotational movements and the intricacies of mechanical components. By using diagrams, videos, and hands-on demonstrations, students can more easily visualize how parts work together, making it easier to understand otherwise “abstract” or “puzzle-like” concepts in automotive technology.

According to Lutton, a student does not need to know anything about cars or automotive technology to find success in this program. 

“You [could] come into this class with the exact amount of information you know now, and by the end of the class, you’d be able to rebuild an engine,” Lutton said.

Caesar Carrazana, a student in an automotive program, shared his positive experience, highlighting how the automotive service and technology program at City College extensively prepares students for real-life careers. 

“What I learned in school, sometimes it’s even more than what I actually need at work,” Carrazana said.

Carrazana discussed transitioning from a music career to automotive technology and securing a job at a local automotive shop through a scholarship event

“I’ve had amazing support from the school system itself,” Carrazana said. “The people that I found there, including the automotive teachers, are all supportive.”

Carrazana also talked about his experience working while studying in the automotive program.

 “I’m quite lucky to be exposed out there in the industry at the same time that I’m studying,” Carrazana said. “Everything [is] meshed together [in] real-time.”