| For those of you who are tired of getting your auto | | | | advancements found in cars, students at automotive |
| fix by continuously customizing and modifying your | | | | technology schools cannot complete their training |
| own car, or gluing yourselves to TV shows like | | | | without knowledge in these fields. In fact, according |
| "American Choppers" or "Pimp my Ride", there are | | | | to the College Board, more automotive technology |
| ways to expand -- automotive technology could be a | | | | schools are now even offering courses in stress |
| lucrative career instead of just a way of letting the | | | | management and customer service. |
| day speed by on the couch. | | | | Not that automotive technology should be a stressful |
| Automotive technology schools provide students | | | | job -- to the contrary, a successful automotive |
| with the possibility of blending their technical and | | | | technician is one who is passionate about his or her |
| creative passions together. Your interest in design, | | | | career. But let's face it, cars are a big part of the |
| form, color, and presentation can be satisfied along | | | | way we live and keeping them on the road is no |
| with your desire to problem solve, tinker, experiment, | | | | small task. According to the Center for Automotive |
| and work with ever-evolving technology and science. | | | | Research, by the year 2000, there were about 217 |
| According to the National Automotive Technicians | | | | million vehicles on the road in the U.S., traveling 2.5 |
| Education Foundation, professional automotive | | | | trillion miles, and consuming 160 billion gallons of |
| technicians can earn $60,000 or more per year with | | | | gasoline. So sure, the job can get a little stressful at |
| the appropriate training -- and with good reason. | | | | times -- which is why an automotive technology |
| According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pros in | | | | career relies on education during crunch time. |
| the field are in demand, with over 800,000 | | | | Once you've received your training from an |
| automotive technicians employed as of 2004. As the | | | | automotive technology school, certification is the only |
| number of multi-car families continues to increase, job | | | | thing standing between you and your career. |
| opportunities for automotive technicians are | | | | Voluntary certification by ASE is the standard |
| expected to grow as well. | | | | credential in the automotive industry. Your |
| An automotive technician career isn't the same as it | | | | certification will be in a specialty field of your choice, |
| was 10 years ago, and as a result automotive | | | | of which there are eight. These include electrical |
| technology schools have had to update their | | | | systems, engine repair, brake systems, suspension |
| curriculum accordingly. With global positioning systems, | | | | and steering, and heating and air-conditioning. Master |
| Internet access, and alternate-fuel systems among | | | | automobile technicians are certified in all eight areas . |
| the many increasingly common technological | | | | |