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Automotive Technology Schools in North Carolina
46 schools in North Carolina offer automotive technology-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Federal program data groups automotive technology with diesel mechanics and aviation maintenance — schools below may offer any of these.
Occupation pay is what working automotive technology professionals in North Carolina earn (all experience levels) — school "earnings" figures above are medians for each school's recent federally-aided students across all its programs, which read lower.
Automotive Technology licensing in North Carolina: No license — certification expected
North Carolina does not license auto mechanics for general repair work — no state credential is needed to turn wrenches. Because NC requires an annual vehicle safety inspection, technicians who perform inspections must hold a Safety Inspection Mechanic license from the NCDMV License & Theft Bureau, earned through an 8-hour community college course and a written exam passed at 80% or higher. Outside inspections, voluntary ASE certification is the credential employers expect.
Official source: NCDMV License & Theft Bureau — inspection mechanic licensing only · Exam: No exam for general repair work. The Safety Inspection Mechanic license requires an 8-hour course at a North Carolina community college plus a written exam passed at 80% or better (19A NCAC 03D .0521). · Typical requirement: None mandated for general technicians. Inspection mechanics need a valid driver's license, employment at a licensed inspection station (Form LT-310), and completion of the 8-hour course.
Official license records related to automotive technology in North Carolina
From the U.S. Department of Labor's License Finder — these may include contractor, specialty, or related licenses beyond entry-level requirements:
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturer Branch — NC Department of Transportation~Division of Motor Vehicles~License & Theft
- Motor Club — NC Department of Insurance~Agent Services Division~855-408-1212
- Funeral Service — NC Board of Funeral Service
- Delivery Service — NC Department of Public Safety~NC Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC)
- Courier Service Profession — NC Department of Public Safety~Private Protective Services
- Resale Of Electric Service — Utilities Commission~Electric Power Generation~Operations
Wage and license data provided by CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) and Minnesota DEED.
Schools, ranked by earnings per tuition dollar
| School | City | Type | Net price / yr | Completion | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Community College | Shelby | public | $995 | 30.6% | $33,755 |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham | public | $1,664 | 24.1% | $36,142 |
| Johnston Community College | Smithfield | public | $1,776 | 40.5% | $37,310 |
| James Sprunt Community College | Kenansville | public | $1,863 | 41% | $29,307 |
| Wayne Community College | Goldsboro | public | $2,245 | 39.8% | $34,148 |
| College of the Albemarle | Elizabeth City | public | $2,253 | 34% | $33,234 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | public | $3,345 | 24% | $37,865 |
| Wilson Community College | Wilson | public | $3,064 | 29.5% | $32,973 |
| Nash Community College | Rocky Mount | public | $3,338 | 27.8% | $34,912 |
| Vance-Granville Community College | Henderson | public | $3,286 | 31.9% | $34,304 |
| Craven Community College | New Bern | public | $3,289 | 36.7% | $34,231 |
| Martin Community College | Williamston | public | $2,676 | 36% | $26,016 |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville | public | $3,589 | 28.2% | $31,861 |
| Lenoir Community College | Kinston | public | $4,127 | 36.3% | $33,866 |
| Sandhills Community College | Pinehurst | public | $4,157 | 35.9% | $31,656 |
| Surry Community College | Dobson | public | $4,961 | 47% | $36,012 |
| Southwestern Community College | Sylva | public | $5,207 | 41.4% | $34,145 |
| Stanly Community College | Albemarle | public | $5,721 | 37.7% | $36,686 |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Flat Rock | public | $5,756 | 48.8% | $36,324 |
| Central Carolina Community College | Sanford | public | $5,446 | 41.6% | $33,525 |
| Alamance Community College | Graham | public | $6,109 | 33.1% | $34,241 |
| South Piedmont Community College | Polkton | public | $6,675 | 26.9% | $37,308 |
| Gaston College | Dallas | public | $6,592 | 44.1% | $35,386 |
| Haywood Community College | Clyde | public | $6,723 | 39.7% | $34,770 |
| Pitt Community College | Winterville | public | $7,337 | 29.3% | $37,259 |
| Beaufort County Community College | Washington | public | $6,500 | 42.7% | $32,519 |
| Randolph Community College | Asheboro | public | $6,918 | 37.6% | $33,336 |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh | public | $8,759 | 31.8% | $41,769 |
| Forsyth Technical Community College | Winston-Salem | public | $7,200 | 32.9% | $34,139 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | Salisbury | public | $7,981 | 32% | $34,936 |
| McDowell Technical Community College | Marion | public | $7,784 | 34.4% | $33,035 |
| Davidson-Davie Community College | Thomasville | public | $8,753 | 38.3% | $36,337 |
| Tri-County Community College | Murphy | public | $7,799 | 34% | $32,232 |
| Cape Fear Community College | Wilmington | public | $9,610 | 39.7% | $38,654 |
| Coastal Carolina Community College | Jacksonville | public | $9,461 | 32.7% | $36,444 |
| Catawba Valley Community College | Hickory | public | $10,528 | 34% | $36,977 |
| Halifax Community College | Weldon | public | $9,040 | 37.3% | $31,644 |
| Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | Hudson | public | $10,810 | 32.8% | $34,515 |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Asheville | public | $11,602 | 33.6% | $36,048 |
| Carteret Community College | Morehead City | public | $10,764 | 37.5% | $33,357 |
| Montgomery Community College | Troy | public | $13,832 | 66.7% | $32,742 |
| Guilford Technical Community College | Jamestown | public | $15,002 | 27.4% | $33,934 |
| Universal Technical Institute-Mooresville | Mooresville | private for-profit | $28,915 | 62.4% | $52,873 |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte | Charlotte | private for-profit | $25,733 | 56.5% | $42,759 |
| Edgecombe Community College | Tarboro | public | not reported | 38.7% | $33,267 |
| Wilkes Community College | Wilkesboro | public | $-264 | 46.4% | $34,728 |
Ranking = median earnings 10 years after entry per $1,000 of average yearly net price (methodology). Figures are institution-wide federal medians for each school as a whole — not automotive technology graduates specifically. Schools without both figures sort last — "not reported" means the federal dataset lacks the value, not that the school is bad.
Common questions: Automotive Technology school in North Carolina
- How much do Automotive Technology schools cost in North Carolina?
- The median annual net price (what students actually pay after aid) across 46 automotive technology schools in North Carolina is $6,500. Individual schools range widely — the table above shows each school's real cost, not sticker price.
- Do you need a license to work as a automotive technology in North Carolina?
- North Carolina does not license auto mechanics for general repair work — no state credential is needed to turn wrenches. Because NC requires an annual vehicle safety inspection, technicians who perform inspections must hold a Safety Inspection Mechanic license from the NCDMV License & Theft Bureau, earned through an 8-hour community college course and a written exam passed at 80% or higher. Outside inspections, voluntary ASE certification is the credential employers expect.
- What does a automotive technology earn in North Carolina?
- Working automotive technology professionals in North Carolina earn a median of $48,200 per year, ranging from about $31,500 to $79,610 (U.S. Department of Labor). This is what people in the job earn, which differs from a school's reported graduate-earnings figure.
Aid deadlines for automotive technology programs in North Carolina
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Automotive Technology schools in nearby states
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See all states & the full automotive technology guide →