Training Guide
How Long Is Mechanic School?
How long is mechanic school? Certificates commonly run one to two years and associate degrees run two, but programs differ by trade and school. This guide counts the lengths three ways: from the federal award levels of 698 ranked programs, from the lengths 186 schools print on their own program pages, and from the months to complete that programs priced as a whole report.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- Certificates print a median of 12 months. Across 17 certificates whose schools state a length, the middle half run 12 to 21 months.
- Associate degrees are two-year programs. The schools that state a length print a median of 24 months and 70 credit hours.
- 280 of 415 ranked automotive programs awarded an associate degree in 2024-25, and 233 awarded a certificate of under a year.
- Programs priced as a whole run a median 14 months in automotive and diesel, 12 in collision repair and 17 in aviation maintenance.
- The FAA's experience route is 18 months for one rating or 30 months for both, and graduating from a certificated school is the other way to qualify for the aviation mechanic tests.
How Long Is Mechanic School by Award Level
The federal IPEDS survey files every award a school grants in one of four length bands: a certificate of 12 weeks to under 1 year, a certificate of 1 to under 2 years, a certificate of 2 to under 4 years, and an associate degree. A school can award at several levels, so a program counts in every band where it awarded something in 2024-25, and a row does not add up to its total.
| Trade | Certificate, 12 Weeks to Under 1 Year | Certificate, 1 to Under 2 Years | Certificate, 2 to Under 4 Years | Associate’s Degree | Ranked programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive | 233 | 279 | 69 | 280 | 415 |
| Diesel | 21 | 63 | 9 | 37 | 76 |
| Collision Repair | 20 | 46 | 5 | 22 | 59 |
| Aviation Maintenance | 48 | 86 | 56 | 102 | 148 |
Certificates of 1 to under 2 years are the most common award in diesel (63 of 76 programs) and collision repair (46 of 59). Associate degrees are the most common in aviation maintenance (102 of 148), and automotive programs split almost evenly between the two, with 279 awarding the certificate and 280 the degree.
How Long Schools Say Their Programs Take
The award bands are wide. For a closer figure, these are the lengths printed on the schools' own program pages for 186 ranked programs. A length printed in years counts as 12 months for each year, and each row shows the median with the middle half of the figures, so that one unusual program does not set the number.
| Credential and unit | Credentials | Middle half | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate, in months | 17 | 12 to 21 | 12 |
| Certificate, in credit hours | 29 | 24 to 37 | 30 |
| Diploma, in months | 4 | 9 to 10 | 9 |
| Diploma, in credit hours | 9 | 33 to 58 | 54 |
| Associate degree, in months | 27 | 24 | 24 |
| Associate degree, in credit hours | 32 | 65 to 76 | 70 |
Read down the months column: the middle half of certificates run 12 to 21 months, diplomas print a median of 9 months, and associate degrees print a median of 24 months, which is 65 to 76 credit hours for the middle half.
How Long Is Mechanic School in Each Trade
Schools that charge one price for the whole program also report how many months it takes, from IPEDS or from the school's own count of weeks. That gives a second, independent length for each trade.
| Trade | Programs | Shortest | Median | Longest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive | 85 | 6 | 14 | 27 |
| Diesel | 31 | 8 | 14 | 24 |
| Collision Repair | 12 | 6 | 12 | 16 |
| Aviation Maintenance | 21 | 9 | 17 | 19 |
Auto Mechanic and Diesel Programs
BLS says high schools, community colleges and technical institutes offer automotive service technology programs that may end in a certificate or an associate degree. In the ranked data, 280 automotive programs and 37 diesel programs awarded an associate degree in 2024-25, and the automotive associate degrees that print a figure run a median 69.5 credit hours. The automotive associate degree ranking and the diesel degree ranking list the programs that award them.
Collision Repair Programs
BLS says trade and technical school programs in collision repair typically award certificates after 6 months to 1 year of study, and that some community colleges offer 2-year programs. The ranked collision programs priced as a whole report a median of 12 months, and 22 of the 59 awarded an associate degree.
Aviation Mechanic Programs
Associate degrees are the most common award in aviation maintenance: 102 of the 148 ranked programs awarded one in 2024-25, and the programs priced as a whole report a median 17 months. A school is one route to the FAA mechanic certificate: the other is 18 months of practical experience for one rating or 30 months for airframe and powerplant together, under 14 CFR 65.77. The aviation mechanic school ranking covers the FAA Part 147 schools.
Manufacturer Programs With Paid Shop Time
Manufacturer programs set their own length, and they alternate school with paid shop time. Ford says ASSET students alternate six to eight weeks in the classroom with six to eight weeks at their sponsoring dealer over two years, ending in an associate degree. Caterpillar describes eight-week rotations between school and a paid dealer internship, and John Deere describes a two-year program with a paid six-month internship. Mopar says a student could finish with a certificate or associate degree within 12 to 24 months. The guide to manufacturer training programs covers each one.
Program Length and ASE Experience
A longer program does not earn more ASE experience credit. ASE counts completing an accredited program as 1 year toward the 2 years of work experience the A1 to A9 tests ask for, however long the program ran, and counts other training at 1 month of credit for every 200 program hours, up to 1 year. The ASE certification guide has the full table.
Questions About How Long Mechanic School Takes
How long is mechanic school?
It depends on the award. Among the certificates whose schools state a length, the median is 12 months, and the middle half run 12 to 21 months. Associate degrees are two-year programs: the median is 24 months, or 70 credit hours.
How long is auto mechanic school?
In the federal data, 233 ranked automotive programs awarded a certificate of 12 weeks to under 1 year in 2024-25, 279 awarded a certificate of 1 to under 2 years, and 280 awarded an associate degree. Automotive associate degrees print a median of 70 credit hours.
How long is diesel mechanic school?
63 of the 76 ranked diesel programs awarded a certificate of 1 to under 2 years in 2024-25 and 37 awarded an associate degree. Diesel programs priced as a whole print a median of 14 months. BLS says heavy vehicle programs may last 1 to 2 years and lead to a certificate, and that associate degree programs generally take 2 years.
How long is aviation mechanic school?
102 of the 148 ranked aviation maintenance programs awarded an associate degree in 2024-25, and 86 awarded a certificate of 1 to under 2 years. The aviation programs priced as a whole print a median of 17 months. The FAA route without a school is 18 months of practical experience for one rating or 30 months for both.
How many credit hours is an associate degree in automotive technology?
The schools that print a number give a median of 69.5 credit hours, from 60 to 92, across 20 automotive associate degrees.
Do you have to finish a program to work as a mechanic?
No. BLS says some automotive service technicians enter with a high school diploma and learn on the job, and that diesel technicians who start without postsecondary education are trained extensively on the job. A program shortens that on-the-job stretch, and the apprenticeship guide covers the routes that combine the two.
Sources for How Long Is Mechanic School?
ASE, FAA and BLS pages were read on October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Completions (awards July 2024 to June 2025, provisional), tuition and fees for 2024-25, graduation rates within 150% of normal time and the institutional directory.
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study earnings, released June 10, 2026.
- ASE Education Foundation, accredited program list Downloaded November 3, 2026.
- FAA, Part 147 aviation maintenance technician school list FAA data updated October 26, 2026, read October 30, 2026.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics 2025-35 edition.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians 2025-35 edition.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Automotive Body and Glass Repairers 2025-35 edition.
- FAA, Become an Aviation Mechanic Experience routes, tests and school graduation.
- ASE, Work Experience Form Instructions Years by test and the training that substitutes for experience.
This site earns money from sponsored school listings served by the education ad network Esyoh, which are marked as ads wherever they appear. Schools pay to appear in those listings, not in the rankings: a listing is not scored, and no listing can change a ranking. Rankings come from published records, and program details from each school’s own published pages.