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Automotive Technology Schools in Texas
52 schools in Texas offer automotive technology-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Prefer to earn while you learn? 38 registered apprenticeship programs in Texas train automotive technology apprentices — see apprenticeships. 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 Texas 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 Texas: No license — certification expected
Texas does not license auto mechanics — the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's list of regulated occupations does not include automotive technicians, so you can start working with no state credential. Employers expect ASE certification, which requires passing an exam plus 2 years of hands-on experience (1 year if you hold a 2-year automotive degree). A registered apprenticeship or entry-level shop job is a legitimate no-tuition path in.
Official source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation does not license auto mechanics · Exam: No state exam. ASE A-series exams (A1-A8) are the employer-expected credential. · Typical requirement: None mandated by the state. Employers typically prefer a certificate or associate degree in automotive technology; ASE certification requires 2 years of hands-on experience (or 1 year plus a 2-year degree).
Official license records related to automotive technology in Texas
From the U.S. Department of Labor's License Finder — these may include contractor, specialty, or related licenses beyond entry-level requirements:
- WEIGHTS AND MEASURES LICENSED SERVICE TECHNICIAN — Texas Department of Agriculture~Licenses and Registrations
- CUSTOMER SERVICE INSPECTOR (Water System) — Texas Commission on Environmental Quality~Occupational Licensing
- AUCTIONEER — Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
- GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAMS, REGISTERED — Texas Judicial Branch Certification Commission
- NURSING FACILITY ADMINISTRATOR — Texas Health and Human Services Commission~Licensing, Credentialing and Regulation
- ON-SITE SEWAGE FACILITY ON-SITE INSTALLER II — Texas Commission on Environmental Quality~Occupational Licensing
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Texas College | McAllen | public | $1,751 | 32.7% | $36,788 |
| Southwest College for the Deaf | Big Spring | public | $2,458 | 38.1% | $38,382 |
| Texas Southmost College | Brownsville | public | $3,085 | 32.9% | $41,900 |
| Lamar State College-Port Arthur | Port Arthur | public | $2,846 | 32.5% | $37,120 |
| Dallas College | Dallas | public | $3,214 | 22.8% | $41,714 |
| Del Mar College | Corpus Christi | public | $3,399 | 23.7% | $38,656 |
| El Paso Community College | El Paso | public | $3,206 | 24.1% | $35,212 |
| Tarrant County College District | Fort Worth | public | $4,337 | 24.5% | $42,727 |
| Midland College | Midland | public | $4,512 | 23.9% | $43,958 |
| Brazosport College | Lake Jackson | public | $4,732 | 35.9% | $45,910 |
| Wharton County Junior College | Wharton | public | $4,666 | 24.6% | $44,960 |
| Trinity Valley Community College | Athens | public | $4,092 | 29.1% | $38,567 |
| Amarillo College | Amarillo | public | $4,600 | 35.8% | $41,302 |
| St Philip's College | San Antonio | public | $4,273 | 18.5% | $38,224 |
| Coastal Bend College | Beeville | public | $4,237 | 28.8% | $35,086 |
| Kilgore College | Kilgore | public | $5,364 | 33.1% | $37,975 |
| Grayson College | Denison | public | $5,880 | 32.1% | $40,873 |
| Houston City College | Houston | public | $5,737 | 20.5% | $39,254 |
| Austin Community College District | Austin | public | $6,390 | 16.1% | $43,177 |
| Odessa College | Odessa | public | $6,368 | 23% | $42,026 |
| Vernon College | Vernon | public | $6,404 | 28.9% | $40,464 |
| Howard College | Big Spring | public | $6,147 | 32.3% | $38,382 |
| Lee College | Baytown | public | $6,879 | 54.5% | $42,178 |
| South Plains College | Levelland | public | $6,791 | 24.2% | $41,276 |
| Laredo College | Laredo | public | $5,798 | 32.7% | $33,934 |
| Ranger College | Ranger | public | $6,182 | 26.9% | $35,552 |
| Northeast Texas Community College | Mount Pleasant | public | $6,706 | 44.5% | $37,870 |
| Collin County Community College District | McKinney | public | $8,969 | 20.3% | $48,701 |
| Alvin Community College | Alvin | public | $8,525 | 30.2% | $45,762 |
| Hill College | Hillsboro | public | $7,577 | 24% | $39,572 |
| Southwest Texas College | Uvalde | public | $7,372 | 38.9% | $35,563 |
| Angelina College | Lufkin | public | $7,773 | 24.9% | $37,301 |
| Weatherford College | Weatherford | public | $9,967 | 27.9% | $42,397 |
| Cisco College | Cisco | public | $9,624 | 26.1% | $39,092 |
| Central Texas College | Killeen | public | $10,265 | 17% | $40,995 |
| Texarkana College | Texarkana | public | $8,812 | 44.6% | $34,647 |
| Lone Star College System | The Woodlands | public | $11,252 | 20.2% | $42,466 |
| Tyler Junior College | Tyler | public | $10,206 | 26.2% | $38,140 |
| San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena | public | $12,143 | 32.2% | $43,062 |
| Texas State Technical College | Waco | public | $13,508 | 40.4% | $38,916 |
| Lamar Institute of Technology | Beaumont | public | $13,866 | 37.2% | $38,991 |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston | Houston | private for-profit | $23,529 | 62.3% | $58,327 |
| Universal Technical Institute of Texas Inc. | Houston | private for-profit | $23,096 | 61.6% | $51,222 |
| School of Automotive Machinists & Technology | Houston | private for-profit | $28,242 | 93% | $57,529 |
| Universal Technical Institute-West Texas | Austin | private for-profit | $26,117 | 74.7% | $51,222 |
| Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth | Irving | private for-profit | $26,265 | 63.6% | $51,222 |
| Southwest University at El Paso | El Paso | private for-profit | $16,906 | 82.1% | $29,648 |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Dallas | Irving | private for-profit | $27,139 | 54.4% | $42,375 |
| Miller-Motte College-STVT-San Antonio | San Antonio | private for-profit | $20,077 | 69.6% | $31,102 |
| Miller-Motte College-STVT-Corpus Christi | Corpus Christi | private for-profit | $20,477 | 70.9% | $31,102 |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie | Grand Prairie | private for-profit | $33,250 | 71.1% | $46,396 |
| Western Technical College | El Paso | private for-profit | not reported | 67.9% | $36,156 |
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 Texas
- How much do Automotive Technology schools cost in Texas?
- The median annual net price (what students actually pay after aid) across 52 automotive technology schools in Texas is $6,791. 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 Texas?
- Texas does not license auto mechanics — the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's list of regulated occupations does not include automotive technicians, so you can start working with no state credential. Employers expect ASE certification, which requires passing an exam plus 2 years of hands-on experience (1 year if you hold a 2-year automotive degree). A registered apprenticeship or entry-level shop job is a legitimate no-tuition path in.
- Can you get paid to train as a automotive technology in Texas?
- Yes — Texas has 38 registered apprenticeship programs where you earn wages while you train instead of paying tuition. See the automotive technology apprenticeships page for the current list.
- What does a automotive technology earn in Texas?
- Working automotive technology professionals in Texas earn a median of $48,310 per year, ranging from about $29,360 to $81,720 (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 Texas
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Automotive Technology schools in nearby states
- Automotive Technology schools in Arkansas
- Automotive Technology schools in Louisiana
- Automotive Technology schools in Oklahoma
- Automotive Technology schools in Alabama
- Automotive Technology schools in Alaska
- Automotive Technology schools in Arizona
- Automotive Technology schools in California
- Automotive Technology schools in Colorado
- Automotive Technology schools in Connecticut
- Automotive Technology schools in Delaware
See all states & the full automotive technology guide →