Becoming an Automotive Technician or Mechanic in Minnesota
If you’re skilled at working with your hands, have a passion for cars and trucks, and are motivated by helping people, then becoming an automotive service technician or diesel mechanic may be the perfect career opportunity for you! Minnesota offers various avenues to become a professional in this field such as apprenticing under an experienced master mechanic. Certificate or degree programs can also provide useful guidance on how to proceed with entry-level jobs after completion of training.
Requirements for becoming an Automotive Service Technician in Minnesota
No professional licensing or certification requirements apply for auto mechanics in Minnesota. However, employers may prefer job applicants to have a minimum of a high school diploma for entry-level positions. Employers also look for those who have successfully completed an accredited auto technician program or an automotive training program.
An automotive technician program may cover the following topics:
- Electrical systems
- Preventive maintenance of auto mobiles and light trucks
- Engine performance
- Emission systems
- Manual drive train
- Hands on car repair
- Air conditioners
- Fuel systems
- Brakes
- Steering
ASE Certifications
Attaining acknowledgment from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is a groundbreaking achievement for automotive repair professionals. Through this one-of-a kind assessment, applicants can prove their capacity and expertise in the field. Earning ASE accreditation confirms that they possess proficiency within this area.
There are over 40 different specialties for those who are interested in taking an ASE Certification exam.
- Damage analysis and estimating certification test
- Collision repair and refinish certification tests
- Truck equipment certification tests
- Auto maintenance and light repair certification test
- Engine machinist certification tests
- Light truck certification tests
- Parts specialist certification tests
- School bus certification tests
- Transit bus certification tests
- Alternate fuels certification test
Auto mechanic training in Minnesota
Minnesota has 11,980 working automotive service technicians and mechanics, according to BLS May 2025 OEWS data. That workforce is spread across a state with harsh winters, a heavy commercial trucking corridor along I-35 and I-90, and a dense metro area in the Twin Cities. All of that creates steady demand for trained technicians. If you want to enter this field, Minnesota has 26 ASE-accredited schools running 36 programs, from short certificate courses to manufacturer-sponsored co-op programs that pay you while you learn.
ASE accreditation means the ASE Education Foundation, the recognized quality standard body for automotive training in the US, has reviewed and approved the program’s curriculum, equipment, and instructors. An accredited program is the safest starting point when comparing schools.
Manufacturer-sponsored programs: the highest-value path
Two programs in Minnesota combine college coursework with a paid placement at a franchised dealership and direct manufacturer certification. These are not standard certificate programs. You graduate with college credit, hands-on dealer experience, and a manufacturer credential that puts you ahead of most entry-level applicants. Both programs are listed separately from general programs because they work differently and produce different outcomes.
All 2 manufacturer-sponsored programs in Minnesota:
| School | City | Program | Series | Accreditation expires | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Co. Technical College | Rosemount | GM ASEP | Automobile | January 2030 | dctc.edu |
| Hennepin Technical College | Brooklyn Park | Ford ASSET | Automobile | February 2028 | hennepintech.edu |
How these programs work
GM ASEP (Automotive Service Educational Program) is General Motors’ training pipeline. You split your time between classroom instruction at Dakota County Technical College and paid work at a local GM dealership. The dealership sponsor covers some costs and gives you real shop hours from day one.
Ford ASSET (Automotive Student Service Educational Training) works the same way at Hennepin Technical College. A Ford dealership sponsors you, you alternate between college and the shop, and you finish with Ford-specific certification alongside your college credential.
If you can get a dealer sponsorship for either program, take it. The combination of paid experience and manufacturer certification is hard to match through a standard program.
All ASE-accredited post-secondary programs in Minnesota
All 27 post-secondary programs in Minnesota are listed below. These are the programs you can enroll in as an adult. The manufacturer-sponsored programs at Dakota County and Hennepin appear in the manufacturer section above and are not repeated here.
Community colleges generally cost less per credit hour than private technical institutes, though exact figures vary by school and change each year. Contact each school directly for current tuition rates.
| School | City | Series | Special program | Accreditation expires | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anoka Technical College | Anoka | Automobile | October 2030 | anokatech.edu | |
| Central Lakes College | Brainerd | Automobile | June 2027 | clcmn.edu | |
| Century College | White Bear Lake | Automobile | May 2030 | century.edu | |
| Century College | White Bear Lake | Collision Repair and Refinishing | June 2027 | century.edu | |
| Dakota Co. Technical College | Rosemount | Automobile | GM ASEP | January 2030 | dctc.edu |
| Dakota Co. Technical College | Rosemount | Automobile | January 2030 | dctc.edu | |
| Dakota Co. Technical College | Rosemount | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | September 2029 | dctc.edu | |
| Dunwoody College of Technology | Minneapolis | Automobile | December 2029 | dunwoody.edu | |
| Dunwoody College of Technology | Minneapolis | Collision Repair and Refinishing | January 2028 | dunwoody.edu | |
| Hennepin Technical College | Brooklyn Park | Automobile | October 2029 | hennepintech.edu | |
| Hennepin Technical College | Brooklyn Park | Automobile | Ford ASSET | February 2028 | hennepintech.edu |
| Hennepin Technical College | Brooklyn Park | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | October 2029 | hennepintech.edu | |
| Minnesota North College, Hibbing Campus | Hibbing | Automobile | April 2031 | minnesotanorth.edu | |
| Minnesota State College-Southeast Tech | Winona | Collision Repair and Refinishing | January 2031 | southeastmn.edu | |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Moorhead | Automobile | April 2028 | minnesota.edu | |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Jackson | Automobile | June 2027 | mnwest.edu | |
| Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls | Automobile | September 2029 | northlandcollege.edu | |
| Northwest Technical College | Bemidji | Automobile | June 2029 | ntcmn.edu | |
| Pine Technical College | Pine City | Automobile | April 2028 | pine.edu | |
| Riverland Community College | Albert Lea | Automobile | June 2027 | riverland.edu | |
| Riverland Community College | Albert Lea | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | August 2026 | riverland.edu | |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | Rochester | Automobile | May 2028 | rctc.edu | |
| Saint Paul College | St. Paul | Automobile | June 2028 | ||
| South Central College | North Mankato | Automobile | June 2028 | southcentral.edu | |
| St. Cloud Technical and Community College | St. Cloud | Automobile | December 2027 | sctcc.edu | |
| St. Cloud Technical and Community College | St. Cloud | Collision Repair and Refinishing | April 2029 | sctcc.edu | |
| St. Cloud Technical and Community College | St. Cloud | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | January 2028 | sctcc.edu |
How to read the accreditation expiry dates
An accreditation expiry date is not a closing date. Schools renew on a regular cycle. A date that falls within the next year or two simply means the school is due for its next review. You can confirm current status directly with the school or at the ASE Education Foundation website.
Which series should you choose?
The Automobile series covers light vehicles: cars, SUVs, and light trucks. That is the largest job market in the state. The Collision Repair and Refinishing series trains you in body work, paint, and structural repair after accidents. The Medium/Heavy Duty Truck series focuses on commercial vehicles, buses, and semi-trucks. As you will see in the wages section below, diesel and truck roles pay more on average than light-vehicle roles in Minnesota.
Programs for current high school students
This section is for you if you are in high school right now. These are secondary-level ASE-accredited programs. They are not open to adult career-changers. They are a real head start: you leave high school with recognized automotive training already on your record.
Five of the nine programs below carry the AYES designation. AYES stands for Automotive Youth Educational Systems. It is a structured pipeline from high school into franchised dealerships. It is not a general shop class. AYES programs connect you directly with dealer partners, so you have a path to a paid technician position before you graduate. That connection is specific and intentional, and very few guides covering Minnesota automotive training list these programs at all.
All 9 secondary programs in Minnesota (5 with AYES designation):
| School | City | Series | AYES | Accreditation expires | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anoka-Hennepin S.T.E.P. | Anoka | Automobile | Yes | May 2026 | anoka.k12.mn.us |
| Burnsville High School | Burnsville | Automobile | No | May 2029 | bhs.isd191.org |
| Denfeld High School | Duluth | Automobile | Yes | February 2030 | |
| Fergus Falls High School | Fergus Falls | Automobile | No | September 2024 | fergusfalls.k12.mn.us |
| Northeast Metro 916 Career and Technical Center | White Bear Lake | Automobile | Yes | February 2027 | nemetro.k12.mn.us |
| Osseo Senior High School | Osseo | Automobile | No | April 2030 | district279.org |
| Saint Paul High School | St. Paul | Automobile | Yes | July 2027 | autocenter.spps.org |
| St. Cloud Technical and Community College | St. Cloud | Automobile | Yes | December 2027 | sctcc.edu |
| Wright Technical Center | Buffalo | Automobile | No | September 2029 | wtc.k12.mn.us |
A note on Fergus Falls High School
The ASE Education Foundation data shows an accreditation expiry of September 2024 for Fergus Falls High School. That date has passed. Contact the school directly to confirm whether the program is still active and whether it is pursuing renewal.
How AYES works for you
If you attend an AYES school, the program pairs you with a dealership before you finish high school. You get mentorship from working technicians and a direct line to a job interview when you graduate. That is different from a standard shop class, where the connection to employment is informal. AYES is specific: a named dealership, a structured placement, and a career path you can see before you leave school.
Talk to your instructor about which local dealers are AYES partners. Dealer partners change over time, so the list at your school is the most current one available.
What you can earn in Minnesota
Wages in automotive trades vary by specialty. The figures below all come from BLS May 2025 OEWS data for Minnesota.
Automotive service technicians and mechanics
This is the largest group in the state, with 11,980 employed. The median wage is $58,390 per year. The bottom 10 percent earn $38,310, which is typically where you start as a lube tech or entry-level service tech. By the time you reach the 25th percentile, after a year or two of experience and some ASE certifications, you are at $46,620. The 75th percentile is $73,250, and the top 10 percent earn $83,180. The mean wage for the full group is $59,300.
That spread tells you something useful. The gap between a starting tech and a senior tech in Minnesota is more than $40,000 per year. ASE certifications and specialization drive most of that increase. A master technician with multiple ASE credentials earns significantly more than a general service tech, and that difference compounds over a career.
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
Minnesota employs 7,300 people in this group. The median wage is $66,840, and the mean is $69,320. Both figures are higher than the light-vehicle technician median. The 10th percentile is $49,810, already above what a starting auto tech earns. The 75th percentile is $78,600, and the 90th percentile is $90,520.
If you train in the Medium/Heavy Duty Truck series, available at Dakota County, Hennepin, Riverland, and St. Cloud, you enter a smaller, better-paid specialty. Minnesota’s freight economy, with its interstate corridors and agricultural transport needs, keeps this field in steady demand.
Automotive body and related repairers
Body and collision repair technicians number 2,910 in Minnesota. The median wage is $60,970 and the mean is $65,530. The mean is notably higher than the median, which means a portion of experienced body techs earn well above the middle. The 90th percentile reaches $92,900, the highest top-end figure among all four groups. Entry-level workers at the 10th percentile earn $41,500.
Collision repair programs in Minnesota run at Century College, Dunwoody, Minnesota State College-Southeast Tech, and St. Cloud Technical and Community College.
Automotive glass installers and repairers
This is a smaller specialty: 480 employed in Minnesota. The median wage is $47,800 and the mean is $50,860. The 90th percentile is $69,260. Glass work is a narrower role and the wage ceiling is lower than in the other specialties, but it can serve as a secondary skill alongside a broader auto service background.
How pay progresses across a career
Most people start near the 10th or 25th percentile in their first one to three years. You are doing oil changes, tire rotations, and basic inspections. You are building speed and accuracy, which shops measure closely. As you pass ASE certification tests and take on more complex work, electrical diagnosis or engine repair, your pay moves toward the median and above. Technicians who reach master-level certification and develop a specialty in advanced driver assistance systems or diesel emissions tend to cluster in the top quarter of earners.
The path is predictable: certifications, specialization, and shop reputation move you up. The data from BLS May 2025 OEWS shows that Minnesota’s top-earning technicians earn more than double what entry-level workers earn. That range is worth understanding before you choose a program, because it shows how much your choices after training still matter.
Working as an Auto Mechanic in Minnesota
Working in the automotive service industry in Minnesota is a rewarding experience that comes with many benefits. Mechanics enjoy competitive wages, and there are plenty of opportunities for advancement. The state also offers a number of professional and educational organizations dedicated to helping automotive mechanics develop their skills and stay up-to-date on the latest trends in auto repair technology.
Skilled professionals who become employed in the field of automotive services also have the chance to work with a wide variety of vehicles, from classic cars and muscle cars, to high-end luxury models. Because of this, working as an auto mechanic in Minnesota can be a great way for individuals to stay involved in their passion for automobiles while making a living and developing valuable skills.
How to choose the right program for your situation
Start with geography. Minnesota is a large state. A program in Thief River Falls is not practical if you live in Rosemount. Most of the metro area is covered by Anoka Technical, Century College, Dakota County, Dunwoody, and Hennepin Technical. Greater Minnesota has strong options in Brainerd, Hibbing, Moorhead, Rochester, St. Cloud, Winona, and several other locations.
Next, consider your target specialty. If you want to work on light vehicles at a dealership, look at the Automobile series programs and consider applying for the GM ASEP or Ford ASSET programs. If you want to work on trucks and heavy equipment, the Medium/Heavy Duty Truck programs pay more from the start. If you want to work in body and paint, the Collision Repair and Refinishing programs at Century, Dunwoody, Minnesota State College-Southeast Tech, and St. Cloud are your options.
Look at the accreditation expiry dates too. A program with an expiry date several years away has recently been reviewed and approved. A program coming up for renewal shortly is not necessarily worse, but it is worth confirming the program is actively pursuing renewal before you enroll.
Finally, if you are still in high school, talk to your school counselor about whether your district offers one of the nine secondary programs listed above. Starting with an ASE-accredited secondary program, especially an AYES program with a dealer connection, gives you real advantages before you spend a dollar on post-secondary tuition.
Start exploring programs
Each school listed on this page has its own admissions process, start dates, and program length. The best next step is to contact two or three schools that match your location and specialty interest. Ask each one about current program length, ASE test pass rates among graduates, and whether they have relationships with local employers. Those three questions will tell you more than any website.
If you are aiming for a manufacturer-sponsored seat, contact Dakota County Technical College about GM ASEP or Hennepin Technical College about Ford ASSET and ask directly how to get a dealer sponsor. Those seats are limited and filled early.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, bls.gov/oes