- Texas requires five years of hands-on automotive experience in the field in order to qualify for the vocational certification program. Experience must be proven by work record and employers' ability to verify performance.
- A bachelor's degree in industrial technology with a minor in teaching certification is one path to certification. The other is a bachelor's degree in education with the requisite automotive field experience. Again, field experience must be verifiable.
- Each candidate will be observed in the school he is working for. Alternately, the candidate will enter the apprentice teaching program and be placed in a school where he will be observed for a set number of credit hours.
- Most schools prefer an automotive teacher to be Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certified. Testing is available in most schools with an automotive program and at stations that service vehicles.
- It important to get a good adviser to walk you through the certification process. This will prevent you from taking courses you don't need and will keep you on track with your requirements. Be aware that some education departments are unaware of the requirements for an automotive vocational teacher; they may suggest courses that are necessary for those majoring in education only.
