Local Automotive Training Comparisons

Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Virginia Beach Ranked For 2026

Compare 4 automotive school options within 50 miles of Virginia Beach. 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 Virginia Beach guide — Virginia · Geographic Illustration

Schools Compared: 4
Annual Tuition From: $4,962
Virginia Median Pay: $59,330
Virginia Employment: 17,880

A sensible shortlist has one cost anchor and one credential alternative, with distance beside both. If you are comparing the best auto mechanic schools in Virginia Beach, this search covers 4 nearby school options. The May 2025 BLS OEWS median wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics was $59,330 statewide in Virginia.

Virginia Beach has 2 public campuses and 2 private campuses in this comparison. Virginia Beach combines public community-college choices with private certificate and associate routes. The closest school is Advanced Technology Institute, 9.5 straight-line miles away; Tidewater Community College reports the most awards, at 269. The schools include certificate and associate degree routes.

Distances are straight-line estimates from a representative point in Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach

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
Tidewater Community College	Norfolk, VA	$4,962	269
Tidewater Tech-Trades	Norfolk, VA	$16,200	75
Advanced Technology Institute	Virginia Beach, VA	$13,848	55
Virginia Peninsula Community College	Hampton, VA	$4,962	7

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.

Norfolk, VA · 15.3 Miles From Virginia Beach

Tidewater Community College

63.0Score

Certificate · Associate DegreePublic

Multiple Certificates And Manufacturer Options

Tidewater fits you if you want to start with an 18- or 25-credit certificate, continue into the 68-credit AAS, or add a manufacturer specialization.

Tidewater Community College offers a 68-credit, five-semester Automotive Technology AAS and two-semester certificates in Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair and Automotive Technician. The curriculum covers major repair systems, ASE exams, Virginia licensing, manufacturer specializations, and ASE Education Foundation accreditation at the Regional Automotive Center.

Tidewater Community College is 15.3 straight-line miles from Virginia Beach and offers certificate and associate degree options across 269 awards. Annual institution tuition is $4,962 in state and $10,620 out of state. The 32% graduation rate is schoolwide.

Annual In-State Tuition: $4,962
Automotive Awards: 269
Schoolwide Graduation: 32%

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026

AAS Structure: The Automotive Technology Associate of Applied Science requires 68 credits across five semesters and covers engine repair, transmissions, suspension, brakes, and engine performance.
Automotive Technology
Short Certificates: Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair requires 25 credits over two semesters, while Automotive Technician requires 18 credits over two semesters.
Automotive Technology
Licensing Preparation: The AAS prepares students for national ASE exams, the A/C Refrigerant Recovery License, and the Virginia State Inspection License.
Automotive Technology
Manufacturer Specializations: Tidewater offers manufacturer specialization courses connected to Ford, Honda, Chrysler, Toyota, and Subaru, combining theory, hands-on work, and live-shop experience.
Automotive Technology

Explore Tidewater Community College Federal School Record ↗

Norfolk, VA · 12.8 Miles From Virginia Beach

Tidewater Tech-Trades

57.8Score

CertificatePrivate for-profit

48-Week Hands-On Route

Tidewater Tech-Trades fits you if you want a full-time, hands-on program built around shop tasks and a published 48-week completion target.

Tidewater Tech-Trades' Auto Technician Program is a hands-on private career-training route that can be completed in 48 weeks for full-time students. Training covers steering, brakes, engine repair, electrical systems, engine performance, HVAC, inspection, diagnosis, and repair, with opportunities to pursue industry credentials.

Tidewater Tech-Trades is 12.8 straight-line miles from Virginia Beach and offers certificate options across 75 awards. Annual institution tuition is $16,200 for both in-state and out-of-state students. The 71% graduation rate is schoolwide.

Annual In-State Tuition: $16,200
Automotive Awards: 75
Schoolwide Graduation: 71%

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026

Completion Target: Tidewater Tech-Trades says full-time students could graduate from the Auto Technician Program in 48 weeks.
Auto Technician School
Shop Skills: Students practice vehicle maintenance, inspection, diagnosis, and repair, including pre-alignment checks, power-steering flushing, and automatic-transmission diagnosis.
Auto Technician School
Systems Covered: The listed areas include steering and suspension, brakes and anti-lock brakes, engine repair, electrical and electronics, engine performance, and HVAC systems.
Auto Technician School
Credential Preparation: The program says students have opportunities to earn industry-recognized certifications and prepares them to pursue ASE certification.
Auto Technician School

Explore Tidewater Tech-Trades Federal School Record ↗

Virginia Beach, VA · 9.5 Miles From Virginia Beach

Advanced Technology Institute

55.8Score

Certificate · Associate DegreePrivate for-profit

15-Month Manufacturer-Linked Training

ATI fits you if you want a defined 15-month route that includes light-duty diesel, hybrid systems, and manufacturer training across several brands.

Advanced Technology Institute's 15-month Automotive Technician program combines gasoline, diesel, and hybrid vehicle work with manufacturer training from Audi, GM, and Ford. The curriculum includes engines, transmissions, electrical diagnostics, climate control, and suspension, while a 15-week Trades Leadership upgrade adds supervisory-focused communication, computing, and critical-thinking study.

Annual In-State Tuition: $13,848
Automotive Awards: 55
Schoolwide Graduation: 79%

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026

Program Length: ATI describes its Automotive Technician program as 15 months and says the program aligns with ASE Master Certified standards.
Automotive Technician
Vehicle Systems: Training covers gasoline, diesel, and hybrid engines, steering and suspension, brake systems, automatic and manual transmissions, climate control, and electrical and electronic systems.
Automotive Technician
Manufacturer Training: Audi, GM, and Ford manufacturer training is integrated into ATI's Automotive Technology program across several vehicle brands.
Automotive Technician
Leadership Upgrade: Students can add an Associate's degree through 15 additional weeks of Trades Leadership coursework in communication, computing, and critical thinking.
Automotive Technician

Explore Advanced Technology Institute Federal School Record ↗

Hampton, VA · 29.2 Miles From Virginia Beach

Virginia Peninsula Community College

22.5Score

Associate DegreePublic

Open-Entry Hampton Certificate

Virginia Peninsula fits you if you need flexible start timing and day or evening Automotive Lab classes while building entry-level repair skills.

Virginia Peninsula Community College's Automotive Technology Certificate uses daytime and evening classes at the Hampton Campus Automotive Lab. The program is open entry and open exit, teaches engine performance, electrical diagnostics, and vehicle maintenance, and lists repair shops, dealerships, and service centers as employment settings.

Annual In-State Tuition: $4,962
Automotive Awards: 7
Schoolwide Graduation: 34%

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026

Teaching Location: Automotive courses are offered at the Hampton Campus in daytime and evening sections and take place in the Automotive Lab building.
Automotive Technology Certificate
Open Entry And Exit: The program is open entry and open exit, meaning students may start in any semester according to the published program information.
Automotive Technology Certificate
Technical Topics: The certificate covers engine performance, electrical diagnostics, and vehicle maintenance with instruction from industry-experienced faculty.
Automotive Technology Certificate
2026–27 Tuition And Fees: For fall 2026 through summer 2027, Virginia residents pay a published tuition-and-fee rate of $181.70 per credit hour and out-of-state students at $398.80 per credit hour.
Automotive Technology Certificate

Explore Virginia Peninsula Community College Federal School Record ↗

Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Virginia Beach

This search is easier when you decide between a fast certificate and a broader degree first. Advanced Technology Institute sits 9.5 straight-line miles from Virginia Beach. Tidewater Community College reports the most awards, with 269. The schools include certificate and associate degree routes; straight-line distance is a map measure, not a driving estimate.

A good shortlist pairs one nearby campus with one broader credential option for a direct comparison. Tidewater Community College lists $4,962 in state and $10,620 out of state. Tidewater Tech-Trades lists $16,200 for both in-state and out-of-state tuition. Advanced Technology Institute lists $13,848 for both in-state and out-of-state tuition. Schools with both residency categories show separate in-state and out-of-state tuition.

Tidewater Community College offers certificate and associate degree options at 15.3 straight-line miles; Tidewater Tech-Trades offers certificate options at 12.8 straight-line miles; Advanced Technology Institute offers certificate and associate degree options at 9.5 straight-line miles. 3 nearby schools offer an associate degree. Graduation percentages describe the whole institution, not the automotive program alone.

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.

Virginia Beach Auto Mechanic School Questions

What Is The May 2025 Wage Reference For Virginia Beach?

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 Virginia Beach?

Advanced Technology Institute is 9.5 straight-line miles from Virginia Beach and shows 55 awards across certificate and associate degree credentials. Its schoolwide graduation rate is 79%.

Which School Has The Most Listed Awards Near Virginia Beach?

Tidewater Community College lists $4,962 in annual in-state institution tuition and $10,620 out of state. It also shows 269 awards in the Virginia Beach 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.

Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Virginia Beach Ranked For 2026

Compare The Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Virginia Beach

Tidewater Community College

Program Details

Tidewater Tech-Trades

Program Details

Advanced Technology Institute

Program Details

Virginia Peninsula Community College

Program Details

Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Virginia Beach

Auto Mechanic Pay In Virginia

School Credentials And ASE Certification

Virginia Beach Auto Mechanic School Questions

Sources For These School Comparisons

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