Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Illinois Ranked For 2026

The program lists 51 weeks and 61 semester credit hours for locations including Lisle, Illinois.

Online classroom instruction is combined with hands-on laboratory training on campus.

The catalog lists 723 classroom hours and 664 laboratory hours, totaling 1,387 instructional hours.

Battery Electric Vehicle Technology includes 74.5 instructional hours, divided into 35.5 classroom and 39 lab hours.

The diploma includes 55 semester credits and 1,320 instructional hours over approximately 57 weeks, including holidays and scheduled breaks.

Day, afternoon, and evening programs combine on-campus hands-on instruction with some coursework online.

Program objectives include understanding alternative-fuel and hybrid vehicles alongside conventional automotive repair and diagnostics.

Students complete professional development activities and seminars, with training in customer communication, time management, and career skills.

The program’s learning objectives include preparation for ASE certification exams.

The 2026–28 catalog lists 63 total program hours for the Automotive Technology Associate in Applied Science.

The plan includes Automotive Lab I, II, and III, each worth four credits, across the first spring and both second-year semesters.

The six-credit summer term contains Vehicle Heating and AC Systems and Manual Drive Train and Axles. The HVAC course is offered in summer only.

All courses in Lake Land’s Auto Mechanic I certificate count toward the two-year Automotive Technology degree.

ASE-certified instructors teach the shop/lab curriculum, which prepares students for Automotive Service Excellence certification.

The college offers a two-year AAS, a one-year technician certificate, and one-semester certificates in HVAC, brakes, and steering/alignment.

Automotive training includes connections with Ford/Lincoln ACE and Toyota/Lexus T-TEN.

Automotive students must have a basic tool set; qualifying tools they already own can reduce the purchase cost.

For the August 24, 2026–May 13, 2027 technician certificate, LLCC estimates in-district tuition and fees at $7,869 and tools and books at $6,633.49.

Lincoln Land identifies an automotive bachelor’s transfer option with Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

The automotive AAS requires 68–69 credits across a suggested four-semester plan.

Certificate options include electrical, brake and suspension, engine mechanical repair, transmission and drivetrain, engine performance, and automotive HVAC.

The HVAC certificate requires five credits; Engine Mechanical Repair requires seven, and Engine Performance requires 14.

The engine course covers disassembly and assembly, inspection, measurement, and engine machining procedures.

Automotive students provide hand tools, safety glasses, and protective clothing.

Hybrid and electric-vehicle servicing is integrated into CLC’s automotive classes.

Students begin with basic skills and train across the eight defined automotive service systems.

The program holds ASE Education Foundation Master Automotive Service Technology certification.

CLC offers a master technician AAS plus certificates in oil change, maintenance and light repair, general service, and master technician training.

The program identifies transfer routes to Southern Illinois University and Ferris State University.

The 63-credit plan includes 15 general education credits and 24 automotive credits in each of the two years.

Required second-year courses include three credits of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Systems and three of Light Duty Diesel Service and Repair.

The second year also includes Comprehensive Diagnostic Principles, Advanced Engine Control Systems, and Automotive Accessories and Diagnostics.

Waubonsee identifies the program as Master ASE and NATEF certified, with classes preparing students for selected ASE tests.

Students supply hand tools, safety glasses, protective clothing, and safety shoes.

The two-year Automotive Technology AAS holds Master Automobile Service Technology accreditation through the ASE Education Foundation.

Automotive certificates can be earned separately or applied toward the AAS; options include electric-vehicle repair, service advising, climate control, chassis, and drivability.

Students with relevant certificates or noncredit training can receive credit after demonstrating proficiency.

The optional Mopar program starts in fall, requires full-time study, and includes work at an approved dealership.

The college identifies Southern Illinois University and Ferris State University routes that can lead to a bachelor’s degree with two additional years of study.

Oakton lists a 66-semester-credit Automotive Technology AAS including automotive and general education courses.

The program offers certificates focused on different automotive systems and components.

Oakton says its curriculum is recognized by the ASE Education Foundation.

Courses are offered in morning, midday, late-afternoon, and evening periods.

Oakton says the program can be completed within four years of part-time study.

Joliet lists an AAS degree and several Automotive Service Technology certificates.

The program is certified at the ASE Education Foundation Master level.

Students spend more than 500 hours repairing actual customer vehicles during training.

The repair experience uses school-owned tools while students work with modern automotive equipment and technology.

The automotive shop spans 18,000 square feet and contains four classrooms and several service bays.

The 2026–27 catalog lists 28 credits for the Basic certificate and 28 for the Advanced certificate.

The Basic certificate spans fall, spring, and summer; its summer requirement is a three-credit Heating and Air Conditioning course.

Advanced study includes Engine Performance, Fuel Systems, Automatic Transmissions, Automotive Computer Controls, and an Automotive Certification course.

Smaller certificates include Brake, Suspension and Alignment at 9.5 credits, Engine Performance at six, and Drivability at 12.5.

IVCC identifies the automotive certificate program as preparation for employment and states that it is not designed for transfer.

The Automotive Technology AAS is a two-year, 69-credit program with a four-semester course plan.

The fourth semester includes the two-credit Supervised Occupational Experience course.

The AAS requires Hybrid and Electric Vehicles at two credits and Hybrid and Electric Vehicles II at three credits.

Rend Lake’s Automotive Technology program is accredited by the ASE Education Foundation.

AAS graduates can continue through the college’s articulation agreements or capstone options at participating four-year institutions.

Automotive students complete 1,200 hours of combined classroom and lab/shop instruction in the Master Automobile Service Technology program.

Triton offers automotive AAS routes in Automotive Technology, General Motors/ACDelco, and Honda/Acura PACT.

Certificate options include Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Service Technician and EV Charger Installation and Maintenance.

Students enrolled in AUT 296 must secure an instructor-approved local internship, maintain a valid license and insurable driving record, and pass the employer’s background check.

Triton identifies Automotive Technology AAS transfer agreements with Northern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Kishwaukee says students can enter the industry with a certificate or applied science degree.

The Automotive Technology program is identified as an ASE Accredited Training Program.

Students train with computerized shop equipment, electronic components, and traditional tools.

The program provides hands-on experience in a professionally equipped auto shop.

Kishwaukee offers a paid internship for on-the-job training in automotive or a related business.

The AAS requires 65 credits, at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA in applicable Richland coursework, and at least 15 credits completed at Richland.

Automotive Internship is a required three-credit course and appears in the final spring of the suggested sequence.

The required curriculum includes the three-credit Introduction to Hybrid/Electric Vehicles course.

The catalog states that full-time students who begin in spring may not finish within two years.

Richland lists an articulated route to Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s BS in Automotive Technology.

The Basic Certificate requires 24 credits, divided into 11 credits in fall and 13 in spring.

Spring includes a four-credit Automotive Service Lab I alongside engine repair, engine performance, and electrical systems courses.

Two additional courses lead to the Hybrid/EV Certificate: a two-credit online Hybrid Safety course and a three-credit summer Hybrid/EV course.

Students must furnish their own basic tool set for automotive training.

The 62-credit AAS is organized into four semesters, with technical courses, communication, mathematics, humanities, and social science requirements.

Required classes include Engine and EV Electrical Technology and Introduction to Engine and EV Motors.

Hydraulic-Regenerative Braking Systems is a required four-credit course in the third semester.

Automotive elective choices include Automatic Transmissions, Vehicle Performance and Safety, and Welding for Mechanics.

The final semester includes a one-credit Employment Seminar alongside air conditioning and alignment courses.

Truman identifies its Automotive Technology program as an ASE Education Foundation Master-certified program.

The program overview consists of 11 Automotive Technology courses and lists English 101 plus Math 90 or 98 eligibility requirements.

The Basic Certificate requires five courses: AUTOTEC 101, 103, 104, 109, and 209.

Truman’s Associate in Applied Science route combines all Automotive Technology courses with seven general education courses, for 18 courses total.

Students who complete the AAS can continue toward a Southern Illinois University bachelor’s degree with SIU classes offered at Truman College on weekends.

Kaskaskia’s AAS covers brakes, electrical systems, engine performance, engine repair, suspension and steering, transmissions, drivetrains, and HVAC.

The degree combines classroom instruction with hands-on automotive training.

Kaskaskia identifies its Automotive Technology program as accredited by NATEF, part of ASE.

Program outcomes include knowledge and skills for ASE certification exams.

The college lists hybrid and electric vehicle technology, light diesel, maintenance and inspection, and parts specialist certificates.

Illinois Central lists Automotive Maintenance Specialist, Automotive Repair Specialist, Electric Vehicle Specialist, and two-year Automotive Technology options.

The Automotive Maintenance Specialist listing names hands-on engine repair, electrical systems, suspension, and related entry-level technician preparation.

The Automotive Repair Specialist route covers diagnosis and repair of drivetrains, ignition systems, and hybrid and electric technologies.

The Electric Vehicle Specialist program is listed as a one-year route for hands-on EV work in dealerships, repair shops, and related service industries.

Illinois Central lists Automotive Technology as a two-year program.

Students pursuing the Associate in Applied Science can choose Automotive Service Technician or Automotive Management.

Rock Valley offers an Automotive Technician Certificate and an Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair certificate.

Available courses include Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Powertrain, Advanced Vehicle and Chassis Systems, and Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Battery Systems.

The automotive program covers electrical/electronics, engine repair, engine performance, heating and air conditioning, suspension, brakes, and transmissions.

College of DuPage lists an associate degree taking four semesters and certificates taking two to four semesters.

Students learn to operate, diagnose, and repair automotive systems through hands-on shop experience.

Coursework includes engine design and operation, suspension, automotive electrical systems, transmissions, and emissions.

The program includes hybrid vehicle technology within its automotive service courses.

The college says certificate and associate programs can support workforce entry or transfer to complete a bachelor’s degree.

Students use handheld scanners, computerized alignment, and diagnostic equipment in the automotive facilities.

The college describes small classes that allow one-on-one instruction.

Alongside the AAS, certificates include Driveline, Suspension and Brakes; Performance, Accessories and HEV; and Undercar.

The automotive program identifies partnerships with Robert’s Motors and Lou Fusz Auto Group.

Automotive students have a transfer route to Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Parkland says Automotive Technician training uses current technology in its state-of-the-art Parkhill Applied Technology Center.

Graduates are prepared for entry-level technician roles in new-car dealerships and independent service centers.

Students can take single classes for personal interest or enroll full time for a new career.

Parkland identifies a motorsport technology concentration for racing enthusiasts.

AAS graduates are eligible for an SIUC automotive-program 2+2 transfer agreement.

The Automotive Repair Technology Associate in Applied Science requires 67 credits.

Coursework covers engines, electrical systems, transmissions, drivetrains, suspension, computerized controls, and electronic fuel control on domestic and foreign vehicles.

The program includes preparation for Automotive Service Excellence certification tests before its work-experience internship.

Students intern at automotive dealerships and repair establishments during the final semester.

Enrollment is limited, and students must provide their own basic set of tools.

McHenry identifies its Automotive Technology AAS as an ASE Education Foundation accredited program.

Automotive classes are taught by ASE Master Certified Technicians with extensive industry experience.

Students can take automotive classes full or part time, during days or evenings, year-round.

The Advanced Automotive Maintenance Technician Certificate can be applied toward the Automotive Technology AAS.

The AAS provides knowledge and hands-on skills for entry-level automotive repair technician work.

Kankakee’s catalog lists 64 credits for the Automotive Technology AAS.

In Engine Diagnosis and Overhaul, students supply an engine and parts, perform an overhaul, and compare measurements with specifications.

The two-credit Service Shop Operations II capstone applies earlier coursework to diagnosis and repair using manufacturers’ specifications.

Required degree courses include four credits of AutoCAD and three credits of information processing.

Automotive students use computerized diagnostic tools and engine analyzers during service training.

The AAS sits alongside certificates in alignment, brakes, drivability, engines, HVAC, parts, service technology, service management, and transmissions.

Prairie State identifies Automotive Technology as an ASE-certified program.

The Automotive Parts certificate includes inventory control, pricing, stocking, catalog use, business, and computer skills.

The Automotive Service Management certificate develops skills in repair orders, estimating, and the business side of service operations.

Olney’s Automotive Technology AAS is a two-year program. The July 2026 catalog addendum sets its requirement at 68 credits for fall 2026.

The program’s instructor describes training as approximately 40% classroom and 60% lab.

Olney provides tools for classes; students are encouraged to develop their own set for use in the industry.

Lab equipment includes a tire machine and balancer, computer diagnostic equipment, a Snap-on alignment machine, and an automotive lighting trainer.

Students can complete AC Delco training modules and receive Snap-on multimeter training at Olney’s NC3-certified training center.

The 2025–27 catalog lists a one-year certificate requiring at least 31 credit hours and a minimum 2.0 overall GPA.

Several requirements allow an automotive or diesel course, including mechanical skills, electronics, engine fundamentals, brakes, and suspension/steering.

The diesel lab is in Southeastern’s Robert I. Gregg Technology Center; automotive labs are located at area high schools.

The catalog marks designated courses as dual credit, including the listed automotive alternatives in the certificate sequence.

Students furnish a basic tool set and must wear safety glasses while working in the shop.

Highland offers an Automotive Mechanics AAS plus Automotive Service Level I and Level II certificates.

The AAS prepares students in computerized engine controls, air conditioning, transmissions, alignments, brakes, and engine overhaul.

The Automotive Mechanics AAS and Automotive Service certificates are accredited through the ASE Education Foundation.

Completing the Service Level I and II certificates provides the coursework intended to prepare students for ASE automobile service technician tests.

Highland encourages workplace experience in the mechanics AAS and says it may be made available.

More than 70% of the certificate’s laboratory experience includes live work, alongside lecture instruction.

Students receive an engine or transmission to rebuild, then evaluate the completed unit on a test machine for functionality.

Sandburg estimates $8,289 for tuition, books, and fees, with its tuition calculation based on 29 credit hours.

The automotive certificate is an open-enrollment program without additional program admission criteria.

The catalog lists 64 credits for the Automotive Technology AAS, including a minimum of 23 general education credits.

The final semester includes the two-credit Successful Career and Life Strategies course alongside engine performance, steering/suspension, and advanced electrical systems.

Successful Maintenance and Light Repair certificate students earn Ford training credentials in brakes, electrical, air conditioning, and steering/suspension.

The Mobile Electronics certificate teaches installation of audio, alarms, remote-start systems, and basic video systems while preparing students for the MECP exam.

Morton identifies its Automotive Technology program as accredited by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation.

The Automotive Technology AAS requires at least 61 credits across a suggested four-semester plan.

Electric Vehicle Safety is a required two-credit course in the first fall semester.

A three-credit Basic Diesel course appears in the second fall semester of the automotive degree.

The final semester includes the two-credit OSHA 30 General Industry course.

The first semester includes Advanced Computer Diagnostic Systems, followed by engine-performance and computer-control courses later in the sequence.

Kennedy-King offers automotive training during both day and evening periods.

The department lists an Associate in Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology.

Students train with diagnostic and automotive equipment as part of their technical preparation.

The program evaluates safety, initiative, integrity, responsibility, pride in workmanship, and professional appearance alongside technical subjects.

The department offers basic or advanced certificates in automotive collision technology and mechanical technology.

Automotive Technology is available as a Basic Certificate, Advanced Certificate, and Associate in Applied Science.

Hands-on automotive training covers passenger cars, SUVs, and light trucks.

Students learn engine repair, diagnostics, tune-ups, electrical systems, brakes, suspension, and steering.

The program also teaches shop safety, customer service, preventive maintenance, and vehicle inspections.

Automotive students train in Olive-Harvey’s Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics building.