Qualifications
You'll need at least a high school education (or the equivalent), so stay in school kids. If you're lucky and you have an uncle who will take you on for an apprenticeship, all your training and licensing can happen on the job.
But cars are getting more and more sophisticated and classy, so a lot of shops want their auto mechanics to have completed a formal training program with a postsecondary institution. It's only going to be about six months to a year out of your life (so quit your whining). If you're really a go-getter, you can get an associate's degree in basic math, computers, electronics, or automotive repair. You can even do a short-term certificate program in a specific skill if you're feeling saucy (source).
Once you're hired, you'll get even more training. To become fully qualified will take about two to five years. It depends on how much training you snagged before getting hired. You'll work with experienced mechanics and technicians and have a fancy title, like: Trainee Technician or Lubrication Worker.
Now that you're finally qualified, you'll need another one to two years to get familiar with every single type of repair. Cars are like a big vast ocean of parts and complications. It takes time. And, if you feel like you just want to keep learning and grabbing certifications, there's good news: You'll absolutely need to be licensed for refrigerant handling if you're buying or working with refrigerants—the EPA is not going to mess around with that stuff.
There are also eight more certifications you can get:
- Automatic Transmission/Trans-axle
- Brakes
- Electrical/Electronic Systems
- Engine Performance
- Engine Repair
- Air Conditioning
- Manual Drive Train and Axles
- Suspension and Steering
You'll need at least two years of experience in each of these areas and then it's back to the desks, pencils, and papers—you're going to take an exam (and pass it, if you want the certification).
It may seem like a lot of silly paper work, but you will probably have to get certified in at least one thing to keep your job. And if you pass all eight, you'll be the big cheese around the shop: a master service technician. How do you fix that? I don't know...why don't we ask...The Master (source).