How to Teach Auto Mechanics

Teaching auto mechanics is very different than teaching other professions. It is a much more hands-on profession than teaching about the theory of the wheel or being able to decrease the wind resistance of a pickup truck. Instead, it focuses on what can go wrong with a car, and how to best take it apart and put it back together. Teaching auto mechanics also encourages the teacher to stay at the forefront of automobile technology, making the teacher a better auto mechanic in the process.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Get a job as an auto mechanic. Almost all people who teach auto mechanics have spent years as professional mechanics themselves before moving into the field of teaching. Even those teachers who were not professional mechanics have had a substantial amount of experience in the automobile industry, such as an automobile designer or an engineer.

2. Become certified as an automobile repair professional. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence offers one of the premiere certifications for auto mechanics, and provides someone who wants to teach auto mechanics with a lot of credibility (see Resources below).

3. Apply for membership with professional auto mechanic associations such as American Automobile Manufacturers Association or the Automotive Service Association (see Resources below). Both associations provide opportunities to meet other members, cutting-edge information about the state of the industry and perhaps befriend some other auto mechanic teachers.

4. Contact your local community college to see whether they are offering automobile courses. If the community college does offer courses, ask to be a teacher. Alternately, look at the community college's job site to see whether or not they are searching for auto mechanic teachers, and what their requirements are for the job.

5. Teach auto mechanics on your own. You can easily advertise for students by putting up fliers and advertising services on social networking sites such as Craigslist (see Resources below). In addition, you may also take on apprentices to work in your garage.

Tips & Warnings

• Despite the stereotype, the auto mechanics of the 21st century are not stupid. They need to know how to repair and replace the computers that are found inside literally every modern car, and they need to figure out how to "diagnose" a car to find out what is wrong with it, in much the same way doctors do with people.

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