Becoming an Automotive Technician or Mechanic in Alaska

A career in auto mechanics may be the perfect match for you if you’re logical, good with your hands, and detail-oriented. Depending on job availability, possible positions include automotive service technician, body and collision repairer, glass repairer or diesel mechanic. With on-the-job or postsecondary training, you could learn how to repair any part of most automobiles.

Requirements for becoming an Automotive Service Technician in Alaska

No mechanic license requirements apply for auto techs in Alaska. However, employers prefer hiring techs who are certified or have some training in the field. This may include a postsecondary certificate in automotive technology or an associate degree in automotive technology.

Auto mechanic training programs may cover some of the following topics:

Engine performance
Ignition systems
Braking systems
Tire maintenance and repair
Transmission systems
Computerized engine diagnostics
Safety procedures

Auto Mechanic Schools in Alaska

Alaska has about 1,420 working automotive service technicians, according to BLS May 2025 OEWS data. That is a small workforce spread across a very large state, which means trained mechanics are in steady demand, particularly outside Anchorage. If you are thinking about a career working on vehicles, the programs below are your starting point.

ASE-accredited programs in Alaska

ASE accreditation means the ASE Education Foundation, the recognised quality standard body for automotive training in the US, has reviewed and approved a program’s curriculum, equipment, and instruction. An accredited program meets the same baseline standards you would find at good automotive schools across the country. Alaska has 3 accredited schools with 5 accredited programs in total. The table below shows all 4 post-secondary programs you can enrol in as an adult.

All 4 post-secondary programs in Alaska

Institution	Training series	Program	Level	Accreditation expires
University of Alaska Anchorage	Automobile	GM ASEP	Post-secondary	November 1, 2027
University of Alaska Anchorage	Automobile	General automotive technology	Post-secondary	November 1, 2027
University of Alaska Anchorage	Medium/Heavy Duty Truck	Medium/heavy duty truck technology	Post-secondary	November 1, 2027
University of Alaska Fairbanks Community and Technical College	Automobile	Automotive technology	Post-secondary	January 1, 2030

Both Anchorage and Fairbanks programs are at public universities, so community college credit-hour rates typically apply. Private technical institutes generally charge more per credit hour than public community colleges, though exact figures vary and you should contact each school directly for current costs.

Manufacturer-sponsored program: GM ASEP at UAA

The GM Automotive Service Educational Program, known as GM ASEP (a manufacturer-sponsored training path that combines college coursework with paid placements at GM dealerships), is the strongest single option on this list. It is worth understanding how it differs from a standard automotive certificate before you decide.

In a standard program, you study in a classroom and a shop, earn your credential, and then find a job. In GM ASEP, you alternate between college semesters and paid work terms at a local GM dealership. By the time you graduate, you have hands-on dealership experience, GM-specific factory training, and a two-year degree. You also graduate with GM manufacturer credentials that go beyond what a general ASE certificate covers. Dealerships that sponsor students in the program sometimes offer full-time employment when the program ends.

There is only 1 manufacturer-sponsored program in Alaska. It is listed separately here because it represents a materially different outcome from the general programs above.

Institution	Program	Training series	Accreditation expires	Website
University of Alaska Anchorage	GM ASEP	Automobile	November 1, 2027	uaa.alaska.edu

To enter GM ASEP you need a dealership sponsor before classes begin. Contact the UAA automotive department directly and ask which Anchorage-area GM dealerships are currently participating. Sponsorship spots are limited, so reach out early.

If you are still in high school

This section is written for you as a current high school student. It is not open to adult career-changers; adult learners should look at the post-secondary programs in the table above.

Alaska has 1 ASE-accredited secondary program. It is at North Pole High School in North Pole, which sits just outside Fairbanks in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. The program covers automobile technology at the secondary level and its accreditation runs to June 1, 2030.

Taking an accredited shop program in high school does three things for you. First, it tells any employer or post-secondary admissions officer that your training met a national standard, not just a local shop class. Second, it gives you a head start on ASE Student Certification exams, which you can sit while still enrolled. Third, it can shorten the time you spend in a post-secondary program, because some colleges award advanced placement or credit for verified secondary training.

There are no AYES programs currently listed in Alaska. AYES, which stands for Automotive Youth Educational Systems, is a structured pipeline that places high school students directly into dealership apprenticeships alongside their studies. It is a different level of commitment from a standard shop elective. If a program launches in Alaska in the future, it will be added here. For now, if you want that dealership-track experience while still in school, ask your counsellor whether any local dealers run informal co-op arrangements independently of AYES.

ASE Certifications

ASE certification is nationally recognized and desired within the automotive industry. To become certified, you must pass one ASE examination related to your area of expertise and renew your certification every five years through retesting or a recertification program. By successfully completing these requirements, you will be able to prove to both current and future employers that you have attained expert-level skills in auto repair.

There are over 40 ASE certification exams available, some of which include:

Truck equipment certification tests
Auto maintenance and light repair certification test
Engine machinist certification tests
Light truck certification tests
School bus certification tests
Transit bus certification tests
Alternate fuels certification test
Parts specialist certification tests
Damage analysis and estimating certification test
Collision repair and refinish certification tests

What mechanics earn in Alaska

Wages in Alaska run higher than the national average for most trades, partly because of the cost of living and partly because of the limited supply of trained workers in a remote state. The figures below come from BLS May 2025 OEWS data.

Automotive service technicians and mechanics

This is the core occupation for most graduates of an automotive technology program. Alaska has about 1,420 people working in this role.

Median wage: $60,840 per year
Mean wage: $65,620 per year
Bottom 10 percent: $44,060
25th percentile (entry-level range): $49,340
75th percentile (experienced): $79,560
Top 10 percent: $94,600

The gap between the 25th and 75th percentiles, about $30,000, shows how much experience and ASE certification affect pay. A new tech with one or two years in the field can expect to sit somewhere near $49,000. A tech with five or more years and multiple ASE certifications typically sits well above the median.

Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

If you complete the medium/heavy duty truck program at UAA, this is the occupation you are training toward. Alaska has about 860 people in this role, and the pay is the highest of any vehicle-related trade in the state.

Median wage: $75,580 per year
Mean wage: $74,580 per year
Bottom 10 percent: $52,000
25th percentile: $62,450
75th percentile: $83,210
Top 10 percent: $98,610

The median for diesel and truck mechanics is nearly $15,000 higher than the median for general automotive techs. Alaska’s trucking and transportation infrastructure, including year-round heavy commercial traffic on the Alaska Highway and major freight routes, keeps demand for these skills consistent.

Automotive body repairers

Body repair is a separate trade from mechanical repair. Alaska has about 270 people working in this field.

Median wage: $61,680 per year
Mean wage: $64,240 per year
Bottom 10 percent: $46,370
25th percentile: $57,080
75th percentile: $75,200
Top 10 percent: $81,060

Body repair wages in Alaska sit very close to general automotive tech wages at the median. The 25th-percentile figure of $57,080 is notably high for an entry range, which reflects both Alaska’s cost of living and consistent demand from weather-related damage across the state.

Automotive glass installers and repairers

This is a narrower specialty. Alaska has about 40 people in this role, making it a small but real part of the local trade.

Median wage: $52,260 per year
Mean wage: $53,910 per year
Bottom 10 percent: $42,030
25th percentile: $49,260
75th percentile: $61,410
Top 10 percent: $61,710

The narrow range between the 75th percentile and the 90th percentile suggests the wage ceiling in this specialty is lower than in other vehicle trades. It is most often a secondary skill added to a general auto tech role rather than a standalone career path.

How pay progresses across your career

The pattern across all four occupations is clear. You enter near the 25th percentile and move toward the median as you build hours and earn ASE certifications. The biggest jumps in pay come between years two and five, when most techs complete their certification testing and move from general assistant work to flat-rate or certified tech status. Diesel and truck mechanics reach higher absolute wages at every stage of the career than general automotive techs do in Alaska.

If you are deciding between the general automobile program and the medium/heavy duty truck program at UAA, the wage data alone points toward trucks if long-term earning is your priority. If you want the manufacturer-specific track and the potential for a direct dealership hire, GM ASEP is the clearest path.

Working as an Auto Mechanic in Alaska

From Anchorage to Juneau and from Fairbanks to Ketchikan, you will find plenty of auto repair shops throughout Alaska. If you are looking for job opportunities in the automotive industry, consider applying at independent repair shops, car dealerships and other related businesses that require knowledgeable and experienced technicians. Many of these establishments also offer competitive pay and benefits.

Choosing the right program for you

Alaska has a small number of accredited programs, which makes the choice straightforward. The main question is location and specialisation.

If you are in Anchorage or can relocate there, the University of Alaska Anchorage gives you three options: the general automobile program, the medium/heavy duty truck program, and GM ASEP. If you are in or near Fairbanks, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Community and Technical College covers automobile technology with accreditation running to 2030. If you are still in high school and live in the Fairbanks area, North Pole High School is the one accredited secondary option in the state.

Check each school’s current enrollment dates, contact their automotive departments, and ask specifically about GM ASEP dealer sponsorship if that path interests you. Program details change, and the school itself is always the most accurate source.

Use the tables above to compare your options, then visit the program pages directly to take the next step.

In conclusion, if you’re looking to become an automotive technician in Alaska, you are entering a field that can be both challenging and rewarding.

Sources:

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, Occupational Employment and Wages, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes493023.htm
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm