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Foundation or apprenticeship? How to apply

Automotive Service Technician

As an automotive service technician, you’ll utilize a full range of knowledge and abilities to perform preventative maintenance, diagnose problems and repair vehicle systems on cars and light trucks.

Foundation

Learn the skills you need to become an apprentice mechanic, even if you don’t have any experience.

VIDEO SOURCE: WORKBC’S CAREER TREK

What you’ll learn:

  1. General shop practice and automotive fundamentals, and how to operate basic test equipment.
  2. Gain familiarity working with engines, electrical systems, running gear, clutches, transmissions, rear axles, steering systems and braking systems.
  3. Applied mathematics and safety education.

What makes our program unique:

  • Learn from an instructor with over 40 years of experience in the trade, who is still active repairing vehicles, and building hot rods and customs.
  • Students are encouraged to bring their own vehicles to work on when relevant topics are covered in classes.
  • Tools are supplied.

What you’ll graduate with:

  • Automotive Service Technician Foundation Certificate of Completion
  • The in-school technical training required for Level 1 Apprenticeship
  • 450 hours of work-based training towards your Apprenticeship training

Program requirements:

  • High school graduation (or equivalent) or mature student status
  • English 11 with a minimum grade of C (or equivalent)
  • Math 11 with a minimum grade of C (any Math 11 or equivalent)

Stats:

  • 85% of graduates from this program are in labour force
  • 90% of graduates from this program satisfied with training
  • 100% quality of instruction rated by program graduates

Instructors:

John Wrigley
John Wrigley

Automotive has always been John’s passion. He became an Automotive Journeyperson in 1981 and started his teaching career in 2007. He has raced stock cars, rebuilt cars and is still building rods and customs, and finds joy working on cars and sharing his knowledge with others.

How to apply
for this foundation program
SkilledTradesBC profile
for this trade
Job search
for this trade
Location

Kamloops

Next program intake

Kamloops
Aug 18, 2025 to Mar 27, 2026
Available

Program length

27 weeks

Contact
[email protected]

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship provides automotive service technician certification through work-based training and in-school technical training. Employers sponsor students for the work-based training and TRU offers the in-school technical training for levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 of your apprenticeship. Each level consists of seven weeks of on-campus training. Once you’ve completed all four levels and the required work-based hours, you’ll receive an Automotive Service Technician Certificate of Apprenticeship and qualify to write the interprovincial Red Seal exam for your Certificate of Qualification.

Program requirements:

  • Sponsored by an employer registered by SkilledTradesBC
  • Must be in good physical health

Apprenticeship training dates

All apprenticeships have a waitlist. Adding your name is free and you will be contacted when your name comes up.

 FromToLocationAvailability
(updated weekly)
Automotive Service Technician (Harmonized) - Level 3January 6, 2025February 21, 2025KamloopsWaitlist
Automotive Service Technician (Harmonized) - Level 1March 24, 2025May 9, 2025KamloopsLimited Space
Automotive Service Technician (Harmonized) - Level 4April 22, 2025June 6, 2025KamloopsLimited Space
Automotive Service Technician (Harmonized) - Level 2May 19, 2025July 4, 2025KamloopsAvailable
Automotive Service Technician (Harmonized) - Level 1November 3, 2025December 19, 2025KamloopsAvailable
Automotive Service Technician (Harmonized) - Level 2January 5, 2026February 20, 2026KamloopsAvailable
Automotive Service Technician (Harmonized) - Level 3March 30, 2026May 15, 2026KamloopsAvailable
Submit your name
to the interest list for an apprenticeship course

Contact

[email protected]

Costs for AST programs

Fees are subject to change.

Estimated Costs include items such as student/ancillary fees, books, personal tools and safety gear, which are kept by students when they graduate from the program.

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Foundation
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Apprenticeship
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Contact us for more rates