# Arkansas > Markdown rendering of https://automechanicschools.com/arkansas/ for AI agents and researchers. > Same facts as the HTML page, with navigation and sponsored units removed and sources listed. The HTML page is canonical. > Publisher: automechanicschools.com · Last checked: 2026-08-19 A career in automotive repair or body work is interesting, lucrative, and offers opportunities to use your creative abilities. These hands-on careers are different every day and pay well because they require skills and specific knowledge. In Arkansas, mechanics are in high demand, making it a great state to pursue this career path. ## Requirements for becoming an Automotive Service Technician in Arkansas Auto mechanics in Arkansas are not required to be licensed by the state. However, employers may require certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), which offers a variety of certifications that are relevant to automotive repair. Obtaining a higher education in this field will give candidates an advantage when seeking employment in the automotive industry. Those who intend on furthering their education, can expect some of the following topics to be covered in an automotive service technology program: - Collision repair - Auto repair - Steering - Brake systems - Suspension - Computer systems - Engine repair - Electrical systems - Fuel and emission systems In addition to completing an academic program, candidates should gain practical experience through internships and apprenticeships. ## ASE Certification Although not necessary, most auto mechanics further their careers by becoming certified through the independent organization ASE. They offer tests for various types of automotive professionals including collision repair and automobile service and tech. To be eligible for a certifying exam, you must have either completed a secondary program along with one year of work experience or two years’ worth of experience itself. Some examples of tests offered by the ASE include: - Transit bus certification tests - School bus certification tests - Alternate fuels certification test - Damage analysis and estimating certification test - Collision repair and refinish certification tests - Truck equipment certification tests ## Job Outlook and Salary Expectations Arkansas has 7,310 working automotive service technicians and mechanics, according to BLS May 2025 OEWS data. Pay varies by specialty. Here is how the four main roles compare. ### Automotive service technicians and mechanics This is the largest group, with 7,310 people employed in Arkansas. The median wage is $44,160 per year. The bottom ten percent earn around $30,320. The top ten percent earn $75,600. The middle range, from the 25th to 75th percentile, runs from $35,760 to $57,910. Early in your career you will likely land somewhere in the lower half of that range. As you add ASE certifications and years of experience, your pay moves toward the upper half. Technicians who earn master technician status or specialize in a high-demand area, such as advanced driver-assistance systems, tend to reach the higher end of the scale. ### Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists Arkansas employs 4,090 diesel technicians. Their median wage is $52,330, which is higher than the general auto technician median. The 10th percentile starts at $38,620, and the 90th percentile reaches $69,260. If you complete one of the medium/heavy duty truck programs listed below, you enter this track directly. ### Automotive body and related repairers Body and collision repair pays well. The median in Arkansas is $49,310, with the top ten percent reaching $76,550. There are 1,140 people in this role statewide. Several Arkansas programs offer ASE-accredited collision repair and refinishing training, so this is a reachable path. ### Automotive glass installers and repairers This is a smaller specialty, with 190 people employed in Arkansas. The median is $45,180. The range is wide: the 10th percentile starts at $23,400, while the 90th reaches $59,800. It is not a common standalone training track, but technicians who pick up glass work as a secondary skill often add it to a broader shop role. ### How career progression works Most technicians start as lube techs or service assistants. After one to two years and some ASE testing, they move into general service roles. The jump from the 25th percentile ($35,760) to the 75th percentile ($57,910) for auto techs represents roughly that career arc. Diesel techs follow a similar path but start and finish higher. Body repair techs who add painting certification to structural repair skills also move up the pay scale steadily. The common thread across all four specialties is certification. Each ASE test you pass gives an employer a concrete reason to pay you more. ## Auto Mechanic Schools in Arkansas ASE accreditation means the ASE Education Foundation has reviewed the program and confirmed it meets national standards for automotive training. When a program carries that label, employers recognize it. Programs without it may still be fine, but you have no independent confirmation of quality. All 16 post-secondary programs in Arkansas are listed below. The table shows the institution, city, training series, level, and the date the current accreditation expires. Check each school’s site for current enrollment details. Community colleges generally cost less per credit hour than private technical institutes, though this page does not carry specific tuition figures. Contact each school directly for current costs and financial aid options. | Institution | City | Training series | Level | Accreditation expires | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Arkansas State University-Searcy](http://www.asub.edu) | Searcy | Automobile | Secondary & Post Secondary | January 2028 | | [Arkansas State University-Searcy](http://www.asub.edu) | Searcy | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Post Secondary | June 2030 | | [Arkansas Tech University Ozark Campus](http://www.atu.edu/ozark) | Ozark | Automobile | Secondary & Post Secondary | June 2027 | | [Arkansas Tech University Ozark Campus](http://www.atu.edu/ozark) | Ozark | Collision Repair and Refinishing | Post Secondary | May 2030 | | [Black River Technical College](https://blackrivertech.org/) | Pocahontas | Automobile | Post Secondary | April 2030 | | [National Park College](https://np.edu/) | Hot Springs | Automobile | Post Secondary | January 2031 | | [North Arkansas College](http://www.northark.edu/) | Harrison | Automobile | Secondary & Post Secondary | January 2030 | | [North Arkansas College](http://www.northark.edu/) | Harrison | Collision Repair and Refinishing | Secondary & Post Secondary | May 2029 | | [Northwest Technical Institute](http://www.nwti.edu) | Springdale | Automobile | Secondary & Post Secondary | April 2030 | | [Northwest Technical Institute](http://www.nwti.edu) | Springdale | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Post Secondary | May 2029 | | [Pulaski Technical College](https://uaptc.edu/automotive) | Little Rock | Automobile | Post Secondary | June 2028 | | Saline County Career & Technical School | Benton | Automobile | Secondary & Post Secondary | February 2030 | | [South Arkansas Community College](https://www.southark.edu/academics/career-and-technical-education/automotive-service-technology) | El Dorado | Automobile | Secondary & Post Secondary | November 2030 | | [UA Pulaski Technical College, Little Rock South](https://www.uaptc.edu/) | Little Rock | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Post Secondary | December 2028 | | [University of Arkansas Community College of Morrilton](http://www.uaccm.edu) | Morrilton | Automobile | Post Secondary | June 2028 | | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith | Automobile | Secondary & Post Secondary | September 2026 | Source: ASE Education Foundation accredited program directory, current as of page update. Accreditation expiry dates reflect the current accreditation cycle; schools typically renew before expiry. ### A note on the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith accreditation date The Fort Smith automobile program has an accreditation expiry of September 2026. That is a near-term date. Contact the school directly to confirm the program’s current accreditation status before you apply. ### Diesel and truck programs Three programs specifically cover medium and heavy duty trucks: Arkansas State University-Searcy, Northwest Technical Institute in Springdale, and UA Pulaski Technical College at Little Rock South. If you want to work on semi-trucks, buses, or large commercial vehicles, these are your starting points. Diesel techs in Arkansas earn a median of $52,330, which is the highest median of the four occupations listed on this page. ### Collision repair programs Four programs cover collision repair and refinishing: Arkansas Tech University Ozark Campus, North Arkansas College in Harrison (which runs both automobile and collision programs), and two high-school-level programs listed in the section below. If body work and paint interest you, Harrison and Ozark are the two post-secondary options with current ASE accreditation. ## Manufacturer-sponsored programs Some automakers run their own training pipelines, often called OEM programs. OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer, meaning the carmaker itself. These programs, such as Ford ASSET, Toyota T-TEN, and the GM Automotive Service Educational Program, pair classroom study with paid work at a dealership. You earn dealership wages while you train, and the dealer often hires you full time after graduation. OEM programs are usually run in partnership with specific colleges. They are competitive, and the dealer sponsor plays a large role in selection. To find out which Arkansas colleges currently partner with a manufacturer program, contact the automotive department at schools near you and ask directly. Program availability changes, so a phone call or email to the school is the most reliable way to get current information. ## Programs for high school students in Arkansas This section is for you if you are currently in high school. These programs are not open to adult career-changers. They run through your school or a nearby career center, and they give you a head start on automotive training before you graduate. All 10 secondary programs in Arkansas are listed below. One of them includes an AYES designation. ### What AYES means AYES stands for Automotive Youth Educational Systems. It is a structured pipeline that connects you directly to a franchised dealership while you are still in high school. It is not a general shop class. In an AYES program, you work alongside dealership technicians in a real service department. You gain hands-on experience with current vehicles and factory diagnostic tools. When you graduate, you already have dealership contacts and documented work experience. That is a different starting point from a student who completes a standard shop class. Only one Arkansas program carries the AYES designation: the automobile program at Northeast Arkansas Career and Technical Center in Jonesboro. If you are in the Jonesboro area and serious about a dealership career, this program gives you a direct path that no other high school program in the state replicates. ### All 10 secondary programs in Arkansas | School or center | City | Training series | Notes | Accreditation expires | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Arkansas State University – Three Rivers Career Center](http://asutr.edu) | Malvern | Automobile | | March 2026 | | [Conway Area Career Center](http://www.conwayschools.org) | Conway | Collision Repair and Refinishing | | March 2029 | | [Huntsville High School](https://www.huntsvilleschooldistrict.org/) | Huntsville | Automobile | | June 2029 | | [North Central Career Center](http://www.scsd.info) | Leslie | Automobile | | August 2027 | | [North Central Career Center](http://www.scsd.info) | Leslie | Collision Repair and Refinishing | | August 2027 | | Northeast Arkansas Career & Technical Center | Jonesboro | Automobile | AYES program | May 2031 | | Northeast Arkansas Career & Technical Center | Jonesboro | Collision Repair and Refinishing | | April 2031 | | Pine Bluff High School | Pine Bluff | Automobile | | June 2024 | | [Rogers Heritage High School](http://www.rogers.k12.ar.us/schools/rhs10/auto/autohome.html) | Rogers | Automobile | | June 2028 | | [Waldron High School](http://waldronschools.org) | Waldron | Automobile | | June 2029 | Source: ASE Education Foundation accredited program directory, current as of page update. ### Two programs to verify before you apply Pine Bluff High School shows an accreditation expiry of June 2024. That date has passed. Contact the school directly to confirm whether the program has been renewed or is still active. Similarly, the Three Rivers Career Center in Malvern shows an expiry of March 2026, which is in the near past relative to this update. Verify current status before you commit. ### Planning your next step after high school Several Arkansas post-secondary programs accept students who completed a secondary automotive program. If your high school program is at a campus that also runs a post-secondary program (for example, North Arkansas College in Harrison runs both levels), you may be able to continue there without changing location. Ask your instructor about articulation agreements, which are formal arrangements that let your high school credits count toward a college credential. ## Choosing the right program for your goal Your goal determines which program fits best. Here is a simple way to think about it. If you want to work at a dealership on passenger cars and light trucks, look for automobile series programs. Most of the 16 post-secondary programs cover this. If you are in the Jonesboro area and still in high school, the AYES program at Northeast Arkansas Career and Technical Center is the most direct path to that goal. If you want to work on semi-trucks and heavy equipment, the three medium/heavy duty truck programs in Arkansas point you directly toward the diesel technician role, which pays a median of $52,330 in Arkansas according to BLS May 2025 OEWS data. If paint and body work interest you more than mechanical repair, look at the collision repair and refinishing programs at Arkansas Tech University Ozark Campus and North Arkansas College. Body repairers in Arkansas earn a median of $49,310, with experienced specialists reaching $76,550 at the 90th percentile. For any path, ASE certification is the credential that moves your pay upward over time. The programs on this page are accredited by the ASE Education Foundation, which means they are built around preparing you for those tests. ## Working as an Auto Mechanic in Arkansas Those who choose to become an auto mechanic in Arkansas will find a few unique opportunities. Large cities like Little Rock and Fayetteville offer many job prospects, while the state’s rural areas have plenty of agricultural equipment to be serviced and maintained. Aspiring mechanics should also look into local automotive dealerships that may need experienced technicians for their service centers. Additionally, with the prevalence of vintage and classic cars in Arkansas, mechanics may be able to find employment specializing in older models. ## Next steps Pick two or three programs from the tables above that are within reasonable distance of where you live. Visit each school’s website using the links in the tables. Look for the automotive department page and find a contact name. Call or email and ask two things: whether the program is currently enrolling, and what the next start date is. That conversation takes five minutes and tells you more than any website can. If you are still in high school, talk to your counselor about the secondary programs listed above and ask whether your school has an articulation agreement with any of the post-secondary programs. That agreement could let you finish a credential faster and at lower cost once you graduate. According to BLS May 2025 OEWS data, Arkansas employs more than 12,700 technicians across the four automotive occupations covered on this page. Those jobs exist now, and they are filled by people who started with the same choice you are making. **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 ## Sources - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) — wage and employment figures. https://www.bls.gov/oes/ - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — job outlook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ - ASE Education Foundation — accredited automotive programme directory (1515 schools). https://www.aseeducationfoundation.org/ - National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) — certification. https://www.ase.com/ - Arkansas State University-Searcy — http://www.asub.edu - Arkansas Tech University Ozark Campus — http://www.atu.edu/ozark - Black River Technical College — https://blackrivertech.org/ - National Park College — https://np.edu/ - North Arkansas College — http://www.northark.edu/ - Northwest Technical Institute — http://www.nwti.edu - Pulaski Technical College — https://uaptc.edu/automotive - South Arkansas Community College — https://www.southark.edu/academics/career-and-technical-education/automotive-service-technology - University of Arkansas Community College of Morrilton — http://www.uaccm.edu - Arkansas State University – Three Rivers Career Center — http://asutr.edu - Conway Area Career Center — http://www.conwayschools.org - Huntsville High School — https://www.huntsvilleschooldistrict.org/ - Waldron High School — http://waldronschools.org Canonical: https://automechanicschools.com/arkansas/ Last checked: 2026-08-19