Automotive Service Technician Foundation
This program teaches participants how to examine, test and repairs parts and systems of cars and trucks. Using computerized equipment, students will learn to diagnose various issues and fix problems that arise. Students will participate in a work placement, that will introduce students to real workplace environments, as well as provide perspectives to industry standards and expectations.
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Credential
Certificate
Delivery options
Full-Time
Tuition and fees
2024-25: $5,318.30
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This program is student loan eligible. View Financial Aid & Awards
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All amounts are approximate and are subject to change.
Program details
If you have any questions about how a course or program is delivered, you can check the , email the Department Chair or email the Trades & Apprenticeship office:
Apprenticeship: apprenticeship@okanagan.bc.ca
Foundation and General Interest: trades@okanagan.bc.ca
This 33-week (990 hour) program takes students with little or no previous experience in the automotive repair trade and supplies them with the necessary skills to seek employment in this industry as an apprentice technician. The courses introduce the students to many aspects of servicing and repair in the automotive repair trade with a focus on developing practical skills. Graduates of this program will receive 450 hours towards Automotive Service Technician Year 1 (AST 1) certification and the opportunity to write the AST 1 Certificate of Qualification exam. The AST 1 Certificate of Qualification and 1590 workplace hours are required to proceed into AST 2.
There are a number of physical activities involved in training for a skilled trade, please review the physical activities of the program and the recommended student characteristics as listed below. ¹û½´ÊÓƵ strives to make all learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience disability related academic barriers (including mental health, chronic or temporary medical conditions), please contact at your campus so that you can privately discuss options.
Physical activities of this trade:
- Lift and carry tools, equipment, supplies and materials weighing up to approximately 10 Kgs.
- Lift, carry, hold and operate hand, air and power tools from below grade to above shoulders
- Stand on concrete and asphalt for extended periods of time
- Bend, stoop, kneel and crawl to perform various tasks
Recommended student characteristics:
- Good general health and respiratory condition
- Capable of doing physical work
- Physical strength and stamina compatible with the handling of heavy equipment and materials Ability to tolerate noise and vibration
- Good manual dexterity
- Satisfactory eyesight, line, form and depth perception
Required textbooks and supplies for students in the Automotive Service Technician Foundation program:
- Fundamentals of Automotive Technology $234.79
- AST Foundational Worksheets $7.29
- 7850001034 Oxyacetylene Heating & Cutting $7.79
- 7850001867 Gas Metal Arc Welding $6.99
5% GST is not included in price. Price is subject to change.
Other required supplies:
- PC or access to a PC that has Windows or MacOS (not Chromebook) for distance delivery
- coveralls
- safety glasses
- CSA approved work boots (steel toed)
- binder
- earbuds or headphones for computer-room assignments
- pencils, pens, erasers
- hearing protection (ear plugs or ear muffs)
Government-issued picture ID is required to write the provincial and national exams: driver's licence, photo ID or valid passport. Student ID cards are not acceptable.
Applicants who have not satisfied the Math admission requirement within the last seven years, and/or do not meet the English admission requirement, must write the TEA Math and/or English test. Both of the assessments are online, multiple-choice and timed. Applicants are allotted 1 hour to complete each section (2 hours for both). A practice assessment and study resources are offered to all applicants who register to write the TEA. Calculators are not allowed while completing the Math section; applicants who are observed to use a calculator of any sort, will receive a grade of zero. Applicants who do not achieve the minimum passing requirement on their initial attempt, are offered a second attempt, at no additional cost, after a two-week study period.
Please ensure you write the assessment, and any required re-writes, prior to the deadline for admissions requirements, provided by the Registrar’s office. For more information or to register for the Trades Entrance Assessment, . Further questions can be directed to the Trades and Apprenticeship office at trades@okanagan.bc.ca.
Please note: Applicants who successfully completed the ABLE test at ¹û½´ÊÓƵ, within the two years prior to application for admission shall have their results accepted as equivalent to the Trades Entrance Assessment.
The textbook list above was current at the time it was posted and may be used for initial planning purposes. Please check back with the bookstore 2 weeks before your program starts under Current Book List for a final, updated list of book titles and prices, and to order!
Textbooks available online only at . If you have any questions, call 250-862-5638 or email campusstores@okanagan.bc.ca.
It takes approximately two to three business days to fill the online orders, please be sure to purchase the necessary items prior to the 1st day of class.
Admission requirements
- B.C. secondary school graduation, or equivalent, or 19 years of age and out of secondary school for at least one year as of the first day of classes.
- English 10 with minimum 50% or .
- Math requirement:
- A minimum of 50% in any of:
- Pre-calculus Grade 11
- Foundations of Mathematics Grade 11
- Apprenticeship and Workplace Mathematics Grade 11
- Workplace Mathematics 11
- Principles of Mathematics 11
- Applications of Mathematics 11
- Essentials of Mathematics 11
- Adult Basic Education MATH 011
- Adult Basic Education MATH 084 and MATH 085
- Adult Basic Education IALG 011
- Or a minimum of 63% on the Trades Entrance Assessment (TEA) mathematics test. Test scores are only good for two (2) years.
- Applicants who have not satisfied the Math requirement within the last seven (7) years must write the ABLE Mathematics test and must receive a minimum of 63%.
- A minimum of 50% in any of:
Program outline
ASTF 109 Industry Work Placement students must receive a "Pass" grade. Minimum passing grade is a GGA of seventy percent (70%).
Additional information
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