Local Automotive Training Comparisons

Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Richmond Ranked For 2026

Compare 1 automotive school options within 50 miles of Richmond. Compare credentials, costs, and program details alongside each institution’s location.

Edited By Taylor RupeUpdated September 8, 2026 · Our Methodology

Virginia geographic illustration for the best auto mechanic schools in Richmond guide — Virginia · Geographic Illustration

Schools Compared: 1
Annual Tuition From: $5,025
Virginia Median Pay: $59,330
Virginia Employment: 17,880

The closest campus provides an access reference, while the award mix helps you judge how much study you want. If you are comparing the best auto mechanic schools in Richmond, this search covers 1 nearby school option. The May 2025 BLS OEWS median wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics was $59,330 statewide in Virginia.

Richmond has 1 public campus in this comparison. Richmond has one nearby public college option, so the published credential and cost figures carry the comparison. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College gives you the shortest straight-line distance at 7.3 miles, and J Sargeant Reynolds Community College reports the most awards, with 11. The available routes include certificate and associate degree options.

Distances are straight-line estimates from a representative point in Richmond to each institution’s federally reported location. They measure geographic proximity, not driving time or the location of every teaching site. Salary figures below describe Virginia, not this city.

Compare The Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Richmond

Ranked schools receive a comparison score from automotive credential awards (50%), annual institution-wide tuition (30%), and schoolwide graduation rate (20%). These measures help compare reported scale, cost, and institutional completion. Read The Full Ranking Method.

School	Location	Annual In-State Tuition	Automotive Awards
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College	Richmond, VA	$5,025	11

Tuition is the institution’s annual undergraduate figure for 2024–25, excluding fees, tools, housing, and other expenses. Awards are credentials reported in 2023–24, not a count of unique graduates. Blank cells indicate an omitted measure.

Richmond, VA · 7.3 Miles From Richmond

J Sargeant Reynolds Community College

27.3Score

Certificate · Associate DegreePublic

Three-Semester Certificate With Internship

Reynolds fits you if you want a 34-credit certificate with a required internship and a direct continuation into the General Automotive AAS.

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College's Automotive Technology Certificate is a 34-credit, three-semester, in-person program for apprentice-level repair work. Students complete a required internship, study with ASE Certified Master Technicians, and can continue into the General Automotive Associate of Applied Science degree.

J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is 7.3 straight-line miles from Richmond and offers certificate and associate degree options across 11 awards. Annual institution tuition is $5,025 in state and $10,683 out of state. The 32% graduation rate is schoolwide.

Annual In-State Tuition: $5,025
Automotive Awards: 11
Schoolwide Graduation: 32%

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026

Program Structure: The certificate is delivered in person, requires 34 credit hours, and is designed for completion in one year across three full-time semesters.
Automotive Technology Certificate
Apprentice Preparation: Reynolds describes the certificate as preparation for apprentice-level technician work through current diagnostic and repair procedures.
Automotive Technology Certificate
Internship Requirement: Students complete a required internship that applies certificate skills in a real-world automotive repair setting and builds industry experience.
Automotive Technology Certificate
AAS Pathway: The certificate integrates into Reynolds' General Automotive Associate of Applied Science degree for students who want to continue their automotive education.
Automotive Technology Certificate

Explore J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Federal School Record ↗

Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Richmond

J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is 7.3 straight-line miles from Richmond and reports 11 awards across certificate and associate degree options. Its 32% graduation rate is schoolwide.

J Sargeant Reynolds lists $5,025 in state and $10,683 out of state. Annual institution tuition is one cost line, while fees, tools, and travel add to the total.

The nearby public option combines certificate and associate degree routes at one campus, so the central distinction is award length alongside the published institution tuition and 7.3-mile straight-line distance.

Auto Mechanic Pay In Virginia

The May 2025 BLS survey reports a $59,330 median annual wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Virginia, across 17,880 jobs. The median is the midpoint for the occupation, not an offer to new graduates.

10th Percentile: $36,540
Median: $59,330
90th Percentile: $92,570

Experience, employer, and the work you do affect where you fall in that spread. Explore Auto Mechanic Salaries.

School Credentials And ASE Certification

A college certificate is an academic credential; professional ASE certification requires passing the relevant ASE test and satisfying its work experience rule. For the A1–A9 automobile tests, that rule is two years of qualifying repair experience. You can take most tests before completing the experience requirement, but passing alone does not make you certified.

Completing an ASE-accredited automotive program can count for one year of that experience. An eligible ASE-accredited manufacturer co-op program can count for the full two years when it includes the required hands-on work. These substitutions cannot be combined. Source: ASE Work Experience Rules.

Our certificate and associate degree comparison explains the academic routes, while the ASE certification guide covers professional credentials. The school cost guide separates tuition, fees, and tools.

Richmond Auto Mechanic School Questions

What Is The May 2025 Wage Reference For Richmond?

The May 2025 BLS OEWS median for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Virginia is $59,330. The middle figure is a statewide occupation measure, with the 10th percentile at $36,540 and the 90th percentile at $92,570.

Which Campus Is Closest To Richmond?

J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is 7.3 straight-line miles from Richmond and shows 11 awards across certificate and associate degree credentials. Its schoolwide graduation rate is 32%.

Which School Has The Most Listed Awards Near Richmond?

J Sargeant Reynolds Community College lists $5,025 in annual in-state institution tuition and $10,683 out of state. It also shows 11 awards in the Richmond comparison.

Sources For These School Comparisons

School records and program sources checked September 8, 2026. Federal figures retain their original reporting years; program details cite the school’s published requirements and costs. Send A Correction.