If you have heard about or are interested in a career in Diesel Mechanics, you must be wondering what exactly are the educational requirements to become one.
Let us take a deeper look at all the requirements you would need to fulfill to become a certified diesel mechanic.
What Are the Requirements Needed to Become a Diesel Mechanic?
Complete your high school diploma or GED
The minimum requirement to become a diesel mechanic is for you to complete your high school diploma or a GED.
Diesel Mechanic Training
After you complete your high school diploma, you will be required to complete your diesel mechanic training. This training is important for aspiring diesel mechanics as it teaches them the basics of working with diesel engines, both in theory and practice.
There are three main ways of getting your diesel mechanics training, such as-
- Getting an associate’s degree:
An associate’s diesel mechanic degree is usually offered by technical universities or colleges. It takes 2 years to complete an associate’s degree course, wherein they teach you all about diesel engine-powered vehicles.
Even though getting an associate’s degree is considered to be a popular option, it is very expensive for students. The average cost of an associate’s degree is $30,000 to $50,000, and students ultimately end up with the burden of student loan debt.
- Getting a diploma/certification program:
Another option is to opt for a certification program, which is generally offered by community colleges and trade schools. These programs can take a year to complete and generally cost around $5000 to $10,000.
A certification program can be considered a better option as compared to an associate’s degree in terms of costs. But still, you have to attend classes on a schedule, and $10000 is expensive for many students.
- Online training programs (highly recommended)
Choosing an online training program for your diesel mechanic training is the best option. This is due to the several benefits an online training program has as compared to other alternatives.
- Complete your training faster in as little as 6 months.
- Significantly lower costs, around $5000
- Allows you to learn at your own pace and time schedule in the comfort of your own home
Hands-on Experience
After you have completed your diesel mechanic school, you will be required to gain relevant hands-on experience in working.
The minimum work experience required before sitting for some ASE certification exams is 2 years. During this period, you will be able to gain the skills and knowledge of working with the specialized tools and machinery required by diesel mechanics.
ASE Certification
After you complete your training and gain relevant experience, you will need to clear certification exams that will make you a certified diesel mechanic. Even though getting licensed or certified is not necessary, most employers prefer candidates who are certified.
The Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certification exams are accepted throughout the country by employers, and there are many levels of these exams. The levels depend on your education, experience, and skill sets.
The minimum requirement for diesel mechanics is to clear the G1 certification exam, which will enable you to start working as a diesel mechanic.
Once you grow and evolve in your career, you will gain more knowledge and skills and can attempt the advanced levels of ASE certifications.
Soft Skills
As a diesel mechanic, apart from theoretical and practical skills, you will also need to develop soft skills. Diesel mechanics often have to interact with customers, and therefore, developing good communication skills is extremely important. Soft skills are an important part of the diesel mechanic job description.
As you grow into your career, other soft skills, such as management skills, will also help you handle additional responsibilities.
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