Becoming an Automotive Technician or Mechanic in Kansas
To pursue a career as an auto mechanic in Kansas, having the desire to learn and be educated is all that’s necessary. Though it isn’t required, gaining certification or earning a two-year degree can open up even more job opportunities for you. With these credentials under your belt, you’ll have no problem finding a great entry-level position where your mastery of the field will continue to grow while on the job.
Requirements for becoming an Automotive Service Technician in Kansas
A professional license is not required to be an automotive service technician in Kansas, but it is recommended. With that being said, the most important thing needed to become a successful mechanic is knowledge of the industry and related skills.
You can gain this through vocational school or community college programs as well as apprenticeships with experienced technicians.
For auto mechanics and technicians seeking employment, having both formal training in automotive technology as well as experience is preferred by employers. Automotive programs may cover the following topics:
- Engine repair
- Engine performance
- Electronic systems
- Manual drive train
- Air conditioning
- Electrical systems
- Brakes
- Suspension and steering
- Machining and welding
- Fuel systems
- Computerized technology
In addition to formal training, mechanics need strong communication skills, attention to detail and problem-solving abilities. These skills are integral for success in the field.
ASE Certification
Obtaining an ASE certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence is a valuable and powerful tool for those in the auto repair industry. Gaining this recognition requires only one exam and proves that you are knowledgeable, capable, and professional within your trade.
There are over 40 ASE certification exams available, some of which include:
- Damage analysis and estimating certification test
- Collision repair and refinish certification tests
- Light truck certification tests
- School bus certification tests
- Transit bus certification tests
- Alternate fuels certification test
- Truck equipment certification tests
- Auto maintenance and light repair certification test
- Engine machinist certification tests
- Parts specialist certification tests
Auto mechanic training in Kansas
Kansas has 6,240 working automotive service technicians and mechanics, according to BLS May 2025 OEWS data. That is a large existing workforce, which means established shops, dealerships, and fleet operators are already hiring in this state. If you want to join that workforce, the first step is finding a program that carries ASE accreditation. ASE accreditation means the ASE Education Foundation, the recognized quality standard for automotive training in the US, has reviewed and approved the school’s curriculum, equipment, and instructors.
This page lists every ASE-accredited program currently operating in Kansas. The count and the details come directly from the ASE Education Foundation directory. You will also find wage data by role and a separate section written for high school students who want to start now.
ASE-accredited post-secondary programs in Kansas
Below are all 18 post-secondary programs across 17 Kansas institutions that currently hold ASE accreditation. These are programs you can enroll in as an adult or after high school graduation. The accreditation expiry date tells you when each school must renew its approval; a date in the future means the accreditation is active today. Community colleges generally cost less per credit hour than private technical institutes, though this page does not publish specific figures because they change frequently.
All 18 post-secondary programs in Kansas (from 20 total ASE-accredited programs in the state, with 2 secondary-only programs listed separately below):
| Institution | City | Training series | Level | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler Community College | El Dorado | Automobile | Post Secondary | April 2027 |
| Coffeyville Community College – Columbus Technical Campus | Columbus | Automobile | Secondary and Post Secondary | June 2028 |
| Coffeyville Community College – Columbus Technical Campus | Columbus | Collision Repair and Refinishing | Secondary and Post Secondary | May 2031 |
| Flint Hills Technical College | Emporia | Automobile | Post Secondary | June 2030 |
| Fort Hays Tech | Hays | Automobile | Secondary and Post Secondary | June 2027 |
| Fort Hays Tech – North Central | Beloit | Automobile | Secondary and Post Secondary | May 2030 |
| Gardner Edgerton High School | Gardner | Automobile | Secondary and Post Secondary | January 2031 |
| Highland Community College Technical Center | Atchison | Automobile | Post Secondary | January 2026 |
| Johnson County Community College | Overland Park | Automobile | Post Secondary | June 2029 |
| Kansas City Kansas Community College | Kansas City | Automobile | Secondary and Post Secondary | December 2028 |
| Manhattan Area Technical College | Manhattan | Automobile | Post Secondary | April 2029 |
| Manhattan Area Technical College at Manhattan High | Manhattan | Automobile | Post Secondary | January 2025 |
| Northwest Kansas Technical College | Goodland | Automobile | Post Secondary | June 2029 |
| Northwest Kansas Technical College | Goodland | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Post Secondary | March 2027 |
| Pittsburg State University | Pittsburg | Automobile | Post Secondary | June 2027 |
| Pratt Community College | Pratt | Automobile | Post Secondary | March 2029 |
| Washburn Institute of Technology | Topeka | Automobile | Post Secondary | June 2027 |
| Wichita State University College of Applied Science and Technology | Wichita | Automobile | Post Secondary | November 2028 |
Note on Highland Community College Technical Center: its accreditation expiry date is January 2026, which is before today’s date of July 2026. Contact the school directly to confirm whether renewal is in progress before you apply.
Note on Manhattan Area Technical College at Manhattan High: its accreditation expiry date is January 2025, which has also passed. Contact the school to confirm current status before applying.
Manufacturer-sponsored (OEM) programs
Some automakers run their own training programs at selected schools. These are called OEM programs, meaning the vehicle manufacturer (Original Equipment Manufacturer) helps design the curriculum and sometimes supplies equipment or vehicles. Graduates from OEM programs often get a direct path to interviews at that brand’s dealerships.
Toyota T-TEN, Ford FACT, and GM’s ASEP are among the most widely known manufacturer programs in the US. To find out which Kansas schools carry an active OEM program, contact the admissions office at each school in the table above and ask specifically whether they partner with any vehicle manufacturers. Johnson County Community College in Overland Park and Wichita State University College of Applied Science and Technology in Wichita are both large programs in metro areas with significant dealership networks, making them logical starting points for that inquiry.
Programs for current high school students
This section is for you if you are still in high school and want to start building automotive skills now. These programs are not open to adult career-changers. They are secondary-level programs, meaning they run through your high school schedule.
All 2 secondary programs in Kansas (both listed below; 1 of the 2 is an AYES program):
| Institution | City | Series | Program type | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence College Career And Tech Center | Lawrence | Automobile | ASE-accredited secondary | January 2028 |
| Olathe Advanced Technical Center | Olathe | Automobile | AYES (Automotive Youth Educational Systems) | June 2029 |
What ASE-accredited secondary programs give you
The Lawrence College Career And Tech Center runs an ASE-accredited automobile program. That means you train with the same quality standards used at college and technical school programs. You graduate with documented, verifiable skills that post-secondary programs and employers recognize. It is not a general shop class; the curriculum follows the same framework as the college programs listed in the table above.
What AYES means and why it matters
The Olathe Advanced Technical Center runs Kansas’s only AYES program. AYES stands for Automotive Youth Educational Systems. It is a structured pipeline from high school directly into a franchise dealership, not a general automotive class. Here is what makes it different from a standard shop program.
In an AYES program, you train in a curriculum that a network of dealerships helped shape. You get a direct connection to dealership partners before you graduate. Many AYES students start working at a dealership while still in school, sometimes as paid technician assistants. When you finish the program, you already have contacts, documented hours, and in many cases a job lead at a specific shop.
If your goal is to work at a dealership, an AYES program gives you the fastest structured path to that outcome. No other high school program in Kansas currently offers this pipeline. If you live near Olathe, it is worth a visit to the Olathe Advanced Technical Center to learn the specific dealerships they partner with and how the work placement side of the program operates.
Wages by role in Kansas
Not all automotive careers pay the same. Your earning potential depends on the type of work you do, how long you have been in the field, and the skills you build over time. The figures below come from BLS May 2025 OEWS data and cover four distinct roles in Kansas.
Automotive service technicians and mechanics
This is the core role most students train for. Kansas has 6,240 people working in this occupation, making it the largest of the four groups. The median wage is $47,790 per year. At the lower end of experience, the 10th percentile earns $31,970. At the 25th percentile, pay reaches $38,150. More experienced technicians at the 75th percentile earn $63,000, and those at the 90th percentile earn $77,340.
That range, from roughly $32,000 to $77,000, reflects the difference between someone just starting out and a highly experienced technician who holds multiple ASE certifications and specializes in a high-demand area like advanced driver assistance systems or hybrid powertrains.
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
If you train on heavy vehicles, your pay floor is higher. Kansas has 3,300 people in this role. The median wage is $59,460, which is more than $11,000 above the median for general automotive technicians. The 10th percentile earns $43,610 and the 25th percentile earns $48,870. At the top, the 75th percentile reaches $71,430 and the 90th percentile reaches $81,000.
Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland is the only school in this listing that holds ASE accreditation in the Medium/Heavy Duty Truck series. If diesel and fleet work interests you, that program is worth a direct look.
Automotive body and related repairers
Collision repair technicians work on vehicle structures, panels, and finishes after accidents. Kansas has 1,530 people in this role. The median wage is $48,920. The 10th percentile earns $36,880 and the 25th percentile earns $44,780. At the upper end, the 75th percentile earns $61,470 and the 90th percentile earns $82,310, according to BLS May 2025 OEWS data. The 90th percentile figure for body repairers is actually higher than it is for general automotive technicians, which reflects how skilled collision work is compensated as physical damage estimating and structural repair become more complex.
Coffeyville Community College – Columbus Technical Campus is the only school in this listing that holds ASE accreditation specifically in the Collision Repair and Refinishing series.
Automotive glass installers and repairers
This is a smaller, more specialized occupation. Kansas has 60 people employed in this role. The median wage is $39,900. The 10th percentile earns $32,370 and the 25th percentile earns $36,540. At the top, the 75th percentile reaches $51,890 and the 90th percentile reaches $71,660, per BLS May 2025 OEWS data. Glass installation is often a starting point for people who want to enter the trades quickly, and some technicians move into broader collision repair work over time.
How pay progresses over a career
Across all four roles, the gap between the 10th and 90th percentile is wide. For general automotive technicians, that gap is more than $45,000 per year. The clearest drivers of movement up that range are ASE certifications, specialization in high-demand systems, and years of consistent diagnostic work. Technicians who earn certifications in electrical systems, engine performance, or advanced driver assistance systems tend to move toward the upper percentiles faster than those who stay generalist. Starting in an ASE-accredited program puts you on the right track from day one, because the curriculum is built around the same knowledge areas that ASE certification tests cover.
How to read the accreditation expiry dates
Every program in the tables above has an accreditation expiry date. This is the date by which the school must renew its approval from the ASE Education Foundation. A future date means the accreditation is currently active. A date that has already passed, as noted for two programs above, means you should contact the school before applying to confirm their current status. Schools that are mid-renewal may still be fully operational; the expiry triggers a review process, not an automatic closure.
When you contact a school, ask three things: Is your ASE accreditation currently active? What is the program length? And do you have any manufacturer partnerships that affect placement after graduation?
Working as an Auto Mechanic in Kansas
Auto mechanics can find employment in many of Kansas’ cities including Wichita, Overland Park and Kansas City. Many shops specialize in automotive repair, while others may focus on one particular type of vehicle or services such as brakes or transmissions.
Whether you are looking for a career in the automotive industry or want to grow your skills within the trade, Kansas offers a variety of automotive programs to meet your needs. With the right knowledge and experience, you can become a successful auto mechanic in Kansas.
Next steps
Use the tables above to identify programs in your part of Kansas. If you are in the Kansas City metro, Johnson County Community College and Kansas City Kansas Community College are both close and accredited. In Wichita, Wichita State University College of Applied Science and Technology covers that market. In western Kansas, Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland covers both automobile and heavy truck training. Once you have a short list, visit each school’s site using the links in the tables, confirm current enrollment dates, and ask about any manufacturer partnerships that could connect you to dealerships before you graduate.
Sources:
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm
- BLS May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)