Becoming an Automotive Technician or Mechanic in Missouri
If you’re passionate about servicing and repairing automobiles, there are great career options available to you in Missouri. Two-year automotive service technology programs are offered at community colleges and technical institutions throughout the state. Some courses focus on general auto mechanics studies, while others focus on a specialty area such as chassis, electronics or transmissions. Programs feature both academic work and on-the-job training. All alumni are eligible to continue their education through the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
Requirements for becoming an Automotive Service Technician in Missouri
Missouri does not require one to have a professional license for auto mechanics. However, to work as an automotive service technician in Missouri you must have a high school diploma or GED and complete an accredited post-secondary program. Once you have completed your studies and obtained the necessary experience, you will be qualified to work as an automotive service technician in Missouri.
Those who choose to pursue studies in automotive technology can expect to learn about some of the following topics:
- Auto maintenance and light repair
- Damage analysis
- Brake systems
- Auto repair and service
- Engine repair and maintenance
- Electrical systems
- Collision repair
- Steering and suspension systems
Additionally, students can expect to gain hands-on experience in the shop, performing repairs and maintenance on cars. Some programs may also include courses on business management or customer service skills.
Auto Mechanic Training in Missouri
Missouri has 17,210 working automotive service technicians and mechanics, according to BLS May 2025 OEWS data. That is a large workforce, and it sits inside a state with 23 ASE-accredited schools running 38 programmes across automobiles, collision repair, and medium/heavy-duty trucks. Whether you are just finishing high school or changing careers as an adult, Missouri has a training path that fits where you are right now.
ASE accreditation means the ASE Education Foundation, the recognised national quality standard for automotive training, has reviewed the school’s equipment, instructors, and curriculum and found them up to standard. An accredited programme gives you a stronger foundation for your ASE certification exams later.
ASE Certification
To become ASE certified, a candidate must have two years of work experience or one year of work experience plus a certificate or degree. To become certified in a specialty area, the ASE requires testing and additional education.
ASE certification exams include but are not limited to:
- Truck equipment certification tests
- Light repair certification test
- Collision repair and refinish certification tests
- Engine machinist certification tests
- Light truck certification tests
- Transit bus certification tests
- Parts specialist certification tests
- School bus certification tests
- Alternate fuels certification test
- Damage analyses and estimating certification test
These tests are offered at a variety of locations throughout Missouri. Passing exams and obtaining ASE certification is a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in the field, making you more competitive in the job market.
Manufacturer-sponsored programmes in Missouri
If you want the fastest path to a dealer job with a specific brand, a manufacturer-sponsored programme is worth looking at first. These programmes combine your college coursework with paid placements at a franchised dealership. You earn money while you train. You also finish with a manufacturer-specific certification that many dealerships look for when hiring. Community colleges generally cost less per credit hour than private technical institutes, though you should contact each school for current figures.
Missouri has 6 manufacturer-sponsored programme seats at 2 schools. All 6 are listed below.
| School | City | Programme | Series | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Community College – Longview | Lee’s Summit | Ford ASSET | Automobile | June 2029 |
| Metropolitan Community College – Longview | Lee’s Summit | GM ASEP | Automobile | June 2029 |
| Ranken Technical College | St. Louis | Ford ASSET | Automobile | October 2027 |
| Ranken Technical College | St. Louis | Toyota T-TEN | Automobile | October 2027 |
| Ranken Technical College | St. Louis | GM ASEP | Automobile | October 2027 |
| Ranken Technical College | St. Louis | Honda PACT | Automobile | October 2027 |
Ford ASSET (Automotive Student Service Educational Training) and GM ASEP (Automotive Service Educational Program) are Ford and General Motors’ respective dealership pipeline programmes. Toyota T-TEN (Technical Education Network) is Toyota’s version. Honda PACT (Professional Automotive Career Training) is Honda’s. Each programme ties you to a specific sponsoring dealership from day one. Talk to the school’s automotive department before applying so you understand what the dealership commitment involves.
All post-secondary programmes in Missouri
All 26 post-secondary programmes in Missouri are listed below. These are the programmes open to adult enrolment. Secondary-only programmes are in a separate section further down this page.
| School | City | Series | Special programme | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center | Cape Girardeau | Automobile | June 2029 | |
| Four Rivers Career Center | Washington | Automobile | February 2027 | |
| Hillyard Technical School | St. Joseph | Automobile | June 2024 | |
| Hillyard Technical School | St. Joseph | Collision Repair and Refinishing | April 2025 | |
| Jefferson College | Hillsboro | Automobile | April 2027 | |
| Kirksville Area Technical Center | Kirksville | Automobile | January 2030 | |
| Metropolitan Community College – Longview | Lee’s Summit | Automobile | June 2029 | |
| Metropolitan Community College – Longview | Lee’s Summit | Automobile | Ford ASSET | June 2029 |
| Metropolitan Community College – Longview | Lee’s Summit | Automobile | GM ASEP | June 2029 |
| Mineral Area College | Park Hills | Automobile | March 2031 | |
| North Central Career Center | Bethany | Automobile | January 2027 | |
| North Central Career Center | Bethany | Collision Repair and Refinishing | January 2027 | |
| Northland Career Center | Platte City | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | July 2027 | |
| Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield | Automobile | AYES | June 2028 |
| Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield | Collision Repair and Refinishing | AYES | June 2028 |
| Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | AYES | December 2027 |
| Ranken Technical College | Wentzville | Automobile | March 2030 | |
| Ranken Technical College | St. Louis | Automobile | October 2027 | |
| Ranken Technical College | St. Louis | Automobile | Ford ASSET | October 2027 |
| Ranken Technical College | St. Louis | Automobile | Toyota T-TEN | October 2027 |
| Ranken Technical College | St. Louis | Automobile | GM ASEP | October 2027 |
| Ranken Technical College | St. Louis | Automobile | Honda PACT | October 2027 |
| Ranken Technical College | St. Louis | Collision Repair and Refinishing | August 2030 | |
| Ranken Technical College | Wentzville | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | September 2026 | |
| St. Louis Community College | St. Louis | Automobile | April 2031 | |
| State Fair Community College | Sedalia | Automobile | February 2027 |
A note on accreditation expiry dates
An accreditation expiry date is not a school closure date. Schools renew accreditation on a regular cycle. If a date has passed or is close, contact the school directly to confirm current accreditation status before you apply.
Choosing between series
The Automobile series covers the service and repair skills most dealerships and independent shops want. The Collision Repair and Refinishing series focuses on bodywork and paint. Medium/Heavy Duty Truck prepares you for fleet shops, freight carriers, and diesel specialists. Each series leads to different ASE certification tests and different career paths. Look at the wage data section below before you decide which direction fits your goals.
High school programmes in Missouri
This section is for you if you are currently enrolled in high school. These 12 programmes are secondary-level only. Adult career-changers cannot enrol in these programmes. If you are an adult looking for training, go back to the post-secondary table above.
Starting automotive training in high school gives you a real advantage. You finish with documented, ASE-accredited lab hours before you ever pay for a post-secondary programme. Some employers look specifically for applicants who completed a secondary automotive programme because it shows commitment and hands-on time.
All 12 secondary programmes in Missouri are listed below, showing 12 of the 12 available.
| School | City | Series | Special programme | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career and Technology Center at Fort Osage | Independence | Automobile | September 2027 | |
| Clinton Technical School | Clinton | Automobile | September 2029 | |
| Columbia Area Career Center | Columbia | Automobile | May 2029 | |
| Excelsior Springs Area Career Center | Excelsior Springs | Automobile | December 2027 | |
| Franklin Technology Center | Joplin | Automobile | October 2030 | |
| Gibson Technical Center | Reeds Spring | Automobile | December 2024 | |
| Hart Career Center | Mexico | Automobile | June 2031 | |
| Lewis and Clark Career Center | St. Charles | Automobile | December 2026 | |
| NKC Schools Career and Technical Education Center | Kansas City | Automobile | December 2028 | |
| Nichols Career Center | Jefferson City | Automobile | April 2030 | |
| St. Louis Community College | St. Louis | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | April 2031 | |
| State Fair Community College | Sedalia | Automobile | AYES | October 2025 |
The AYES programme: what it means for you
AYES stands for Automotive Youth Educational Systems. It is not a general shop class. AYES is a structured pipeline that connects your high school training directly to a franchised dealership placement. Most shop classes teach you general skills with no guaranteed next step. AYES gives you a named dealership partner while you are still in school.
In Missouri, State Fair Community College in Sedalia carries the AYES designation at the secondary level. If you are in that area, ask your counsellor whether your district sends students to that programme. The AYES structure means you are working alongside actual dealership technicians before you graduate, which shortens the time between your diploma and your first paying job in a shop.
No other automotive training listing in Missouri covers AYES at the high school level in this depth. It is a real difference between finishing school and finishing school with a dealer relationship already in place.
What you can earn as a mechanic in Missouri
All figures below are from BLS May 2025 OEWS data. Earnings vary by role, experience, and employer type.
Automotive service technicians and mechanics
This is the core occupation for most people who complete an automobile series programme. Missouri has 17,210 employed in this role, the largest group of the four tracked here. The median wage is $49,160 a year. Half of all technicians earn between $38,420 and $63,240. The lowest-paid 10% earn around $34,950. The highest-paid 10% reach $76,870.
When you are starting out, expect to land somewhere in the $34,950 to $38,420 range. As you earn ASE certifications and build diagnostic experience, your pay moves toward the median and then toward the upper quartile. Technicians who specialise in driveability, electrical systems, or advanced driver assistance systems tend to move up faster because fewer people have those skills.
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
If you train in the Medium/Heavy Duty Truck series, the pay picture looks different. Missouri has 6,780 employed in this role. The median is $59,360, which is $10,200 more per year than the automotive technician median. The top 10% reach $82,480. Entry-level wages start around $41,170.
Diesel and truck work tends to pay more than light-vehicle work across most states. Missouri follows that pattern. If you are deciding between an automobile programme and a truck programme and money is the main factor, the data points toward truck.
Automotive body and related repairers
Missouri has 4,350 employed in collision repair. The median wage is $60,540, the highest median of the four occupations listed here. The top 10% earn $81,630. Entry-level wages start around $36,240.
The gap between entry-level and median is wide in this field, around $24,000 a year. That reflects how long it takes to build the blend of metal work, filler, and paint skills that experienced body technicians carry. Patience in this career is rewarded financially.
Automotive glass installers and repairers
This is a smaller and more specialised field. Missouri has 580 employed in this role. The median is $47,060. The top 10% earn $62,130. Entry wages start around $36,660.
Glass work is a narrower path than the other three, but it is a steady one. Mobile glass services and dealership glass departments both hire from this field.
How pay progresses across a career
The pattern across all four roles is the same: early-career wages are modest, and they move up as you add certifications and shop experience. The biggest jumps happen when you move from a general service technician role to a diagnostic or master technician role, or when you move from an independent shop to a franchised dealership with a flat-rate structure that rewards speed and accuracy. A manufacturer-sponsored programme gives you a head start on that path because you arrive at a dealership already knowing their specific systems.
Working as an Auto Mechanic in Missouri
Those who have pursued an auto mechanic degree or certification in Missouri will find numerous job opportunities. Automotive service technicians work closely with customers and often need to explain complicated concepts in a clear, concise manner. They must also be able to recognize and diagnose problems quickly and accurately.
Auto service technicians may work for dealerships, private shops, government agencies, or even start their own business. With the proper training and certification, there are many career opportunities for an auto mechanic in Missouri.
How to read the accreditation data before you apply
The accreditation expiry dates in the tables above tell you when each programme is next due for review, not when it closes. Programmes with dates already past are likely in the renewal process. Always call the automotive department directly and ask: “Is this programme currently ASE-accredited?” That one question will get you a clear answer.
Also ask whether the programme offers dual credit. Some secondary programmes let you earn college credit while still in high school, which reduces what you need to do at the post-secondary level. That can save you real time.
Next steps
You have the full list of ASE-accredited programmes in Missouri, the manufacturer-sponsored options, and the wage data to compare roles. The next step is to contact two or three schools that are close to you and ask about current enrolment, any open houses, and what tools you need to bring on day one. Start with the programmes whose accreditation runs furthest out, since that gives you the most confidence the programme will be active through your full training period. Use the links in the tables above to go directly to each school’s site.
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