Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Idaho Ranked For 2026

The catalog lists 63 minimum credits for the Associate of Applied Science, including five general education courses and a major sequence that ends with Automotive Technology Capstone.

CWI’s recommended plan places many AUTO courses in consecutive four-week sessions, with full-semester technical math or communication courses alongside the compressed automotive blocks.

Required major courses include electrical systems, brakes, suspension and steering, engine repair, manual and automatic drivetrains, engine management, HVAC, light-duty diesel, and electric and hybrid technology.

Students enter at the start of fall or spring, attend orientation before AUTO 112, complete a drug and alcohol test, hold a valid driver’s license, and undergo a motor-vehicle-record check for the capstone.

The March 2023 suggested B.S. course sequence linked by the program totals 120 credits across eight semesters, plus a one-credit Automotive Engineering internship.

The suggested degree plan includes Introduction to Engineering and Technology, pre-calculus, calculus, engineering computation, statics, strength of materials, mechanical CAD, manufacturing processes, and CNC coursework.

The major page highlights Electrical Systems, Engine Performance, Vehicle Electronics, Engine Management Systems, Drivability and Diagnostics, Data Acquisition and Analysis, and Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technology.

Automotive internships need an approved reputable employer, related duties, supervision, and an employer evaluation. Department guidelines call for a paid placement and at least two semesters of university credit before applying.

The catalog plan totals 65 to 67 credits, combining general education with four semesters of automotive requirements and advanced lab or internship choices in the final term.

Automotive Lab I, II, and III carry seven credits each in the AAS plan, alongside courses in fundamentals, manual drivetrains, electrical systems, brakes, steering, engine repair, HVAC, and performance.

NIC places Automotive Technology classes at the Parker Technical Education Center in Rathdrum, about 12 miles from Coeur d’Alene, rather than at the main Coeur d’Alene campus.

Students must successfully complete each semester or obtain instructor permission before entering the next one, and English and math placement are determined through the college assessment test.

The 2026–27 catalog describes Automotive Technology as a two-year A.A.S. and lists 71 total credits, including 15 credits of general education and the required automotive major.

Required courses progress through electrical systems, engine repair, engine performance, steering and suspension, brakes, manual and automatic drivetrains, live work, heating and air conditioning, and advanced electrical systems.

Students must earn at least a C in core subjects to advance to the next semester.

ISU estimates the A.A.S. at $23,629.89 for Idaho residents, including $17,828 tuition, $343 fees, $770.89 books, and $4,688 for tools and supplies.

CSI identifies Automotive Service Technology as an Associate of Applied Science program with limited enrollment; the admission page says the cohort admits students in the fall semester.

Every ASTP applicant must complete a mechanical-reasoning test at the CSI Testing Center; the school describes it as a timed 12-minute test requiring a CSI ID and valid photo identification.

CSI estimates $500 for textbooks, $1,000 to $4,400 for tools, and $190 in course fees for the whole program, and tells applicants to wait until acceptance before purchasing.

After acceptance, students must secure a job with a local dealership and work there throughout the program.

CEI lists a 69-credit, four-semester AAS; a 54-credit, four-semester Advanced Technical Certificate; and a 30-credit, two-semester Intermediate Technical Certificate as its three program exits.

The curriculum follows all nine ASE automobile and light-truck areas, including engine repair, automatic transmissions, manual drivetrains, steering and suspension, brakes, electrical systems, HVAC, and engine performance.

CEI reports approximately two hours per day in classroom theory and about four and a half hours per day in hands-on labs, where students troubleshoot modules and diagnose and repair actual vehicles.

Admission is competitive, applicants must reapply each semester, and students must complete program classes in sequence with at least a C or 75% before moving to the next semester.

LC State lists a 64-credit associate degree, a 55-credit Advanced Technical Certificate, a 30-credit Intermediate Technical Certificate, and a 24-credit Specialized Certificate in Auto Mechanics Technology.

Students perform customer projects in the college shop, applying automotive service and repair skills to live work.

LC State describes advanced on-the-job training through internship opportunities, giving students a route to add supervised workplace experience to the college shop sequence.

Students must pass the Automotive Service Excellence test to graduate from the program.