Becoming an Automotive Technician or Mechanic in New Hampshire
If you are eager to begin a career as an automotive technician or truck and diesel mechanic, New Hampshire is the ideal place for various job opportunities. With no degree or certification required for entry-level positions, it’s easy to get your foot in the door!
Requirements for becoming an Automotive Service Technician in New Hampshire
Auto mechanics in New Hampshire do not need to have a professional license. In order to get an entry-level position, however, you must have a valid driver’s license and be at least 18 years old. You may also need to pass a criminal background check.
Although certification is not required, employers typically prefer if applicants have skills and/or formal training in automotive repair.
The following topics may be covered in an automotive technology program:
- Electrical systems
- Air conditioning
- Fuel systems
- Electronic systems
- Suspension systems
- Brakes
- Engine repair
- Auto repair
- Steering
- Tire rotations
Auto mechanic training in New Hampshire
New Hampshire has 4,840 working automotive service technicians and mechanics, according to BLS May 2025 OEWS data. That workforce is supported by 21 ASE-accredited schools running 23 programmes across the state. ASE accreditation means the Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation has reviewed and approved the curriculum, tools, and instruction at that school. It is the recognised quality standard for auto training in the US. This page lists every accredited programme available to you, from high school shop classes to manufacturer-sponsored college degrees.
ASE Certification
Achieving approval from the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is an incredible success for automotive repair professionals. This test allows them to prove their proficiency and expertise in this industry, while also earning ASE accreditation that indicates they are reliable leaders in car servicing.
With over 40 different ASE certification exams available, you’re sure to find the perfect one for your career. Here are just a few of them:
- Damage analysis and estimating certification test
- Collision repair and refinish certification tests
- Truck equipment certification tests
- Transit bus certification tests
- Alternate fuels certification test
- Auto maintenance and light repair certification test
- Engine machinist certification tests
- Light truck certification tests
- Parts specialist certification tests
- School bus certification tests
Manufacturer-sponsored programmes: the highest-value option
Two programmes in New Hampshire combine college coursework with paid placement at a dealership and manufacturer certification when you finish. These are called OEM programmes, meaning they are run in partnership with an original equipment manufacturer. You graduate with both a college credential and a brand-specific certification that dealers actively look for when hiring. No other training path in the state gives you that combination.
Both programmes are listed below. Each one has its own accreditation expiry date. Check with the school directly to confirm the programme is still active before you apply.
All 2 manufacturer-sponsored programmes in New Hampshire:
| School | City | Programme | Series | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakes Region Community College | Laconia | GM ASEP | Automobile | 2026-09-01 |
| Nashua Community College | Nashua | Honda PACT | Automobile | 2028-06-01 |
GM ASEP at Lakes Region Community College
The GM Automotive Service Educational Programme, known as GM ASEP, is run with General Motors. You alternate between classroom semesters at Lakes Region Community College in Laconia and paid work terms at a participating GM dealership. By the time you finish, you have hands-on hours, GM-specific diagnostic training, and a credential that GM dealers recognise. The current ASE accreditation runs to September 2026, so confirm enrolment timelines directly with the college.
Honda PACT at Nashua Community College
The Honda Professional Automotive Career Training programme, known as Honda PACT, works the same way. You study at Nashua Community College and rotate through a Honda or Acura dealership partner. The dealership pays you during your work terms. When you finish, you hold both a college credential and Honda-specific training. Accreditation runs to June 2028.
All ASE-accredited post-secondary programmes in New Hampshire
Post-secondary means you can enrol after high school, including if you are already working and want to retrain. Community colleges in New Hampshire generally cost less per credit hour than private technical institutes, though you should contact each school directly for current figures since none are published here.
All 6 post-secondary programmes in New Hampshire (showing 6 of 6):
| School | City | Programme | Series | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakes Region Community College | Laconia | GM ASEP | Automobile | 2026-09-01 |
| Manchester Community College | Manchester | General | Automobile | 2025-01-01 |
| Nashua Community College | Nashua | General | Automobile | 2028-06-01 |
| Nashua Community College | Nashua | Honda PACT | Automobile | 2028-06-01 |
| Nashua Community College | Nashua | General | Collision Repair and Refinishing | 2027-02-01 |
| White Mountains Community College | Berlin | General | Automobile | 2028-04-01 |
Note on Manchester Community College: its accreditation expiry date is listed as January 2025. Contact the college directly to confirm the current status of this programme before you apply.
Nashua Community College runs three separate accredited programmes: a general automobile programme, the Honda PACT manufacturer track, and a collision repair and refinishing programme. If you are considering body work rather than mechanical repair, the collision programme is the only post-secondary ASE-accredited option for that specialty in New Hampshire.
ASE-accredited high school programmes in New Hampshire
This section is written directly to you if you are currently in high school. These programmes are not open to adult career-changers. They are built into the secondary school system and run through career and technical education centres.
Completing one of these programmes before graduation gives you a real advantage. You enter a post-secondary programme or apprenticeship with documented, ASE-reviewed training behind you. Four of the seventeen programmes below carry AYES designation, which is explained right after the table.
All 17 secondary programmes in New Hampshire (showing 17 of 17):
| School | City | Programme | Series | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin Regional Career & Technical Center | Berlin | General | Automobile | 2030-06-01 |
| Concord Regional Technology Center | Concord | AYES | Automobile | 2028-04-01 |
| Dover High School | Dover | General | Automobile | 2026-12-01 |
| Hugh Gallen Vocational Center | Littleton | General | Automobile | 2028-06-01 |
| Huot Technical Center | Laconia | General | Automobile | 2028-02-01 |
| Lakes Region Technology Center | Wolfeboro | General | Automobile | 2029-06-01 |
| Manchester School of Technology | Manchester | General | Automobile | 2026-03-01 |
| Mascenic Automotive Career Center | New Ipswich | General | Automobile | 2029-03-01 |
| Mt. Washington Valley Career & Tech Center | N Conway | General | Automobile | 2029-03-01 |
| Nashua High School North | Nashua | General | Automobile | 2028-06-01 |
| Pinkerton Academy | Derry | AYES | Automobile | 2031-04-01 |
| Plymouth Applied Technology Center | Plymouth | General | Automobile | 2028-01-01 |
| RW Creteau Regional Tech Center at Spaulding High School | Rochester | General | Automobile | 2027-05-01 |
| Salem High School | Salem | AYES | Automobile | 2030-05-01 |
| Seacoast School of Technology | Exeter | AYES | Automobile | 2031-06-01 |
| Somersworth Vocational Center | Somersworth | General | Automobile | 2030-02-01 |
| Sugar River Valley RTC | Newport | General | Automobile | 2030-02-01 |
What AYES means and why it matters to you
AYES stands for Automotive Youth Educational Systems. It is a structured pipeline that connects your high school programme directly to a franchised dealership. It is not a general shop class. Four New Hampshire high schools run it: Concord Regional Technology Center, Pinkerton Academy, Salem High School, and Seacoast School of Technology.
In an AYES programme, you work alongside technicians at a real dealership while you are still in school. The dealership is a partner, not just a field trip destination. When you finish, you have documented work experience at a franchised shop and a direct connection to the dealer. That matters when you apply for your first full-time job. Most competing resources online do not mention AYES at the high school level at all. If you attend one of these four schools, ask your instructor specifically about the dealer partner and what the placement process looks like.
If you are not near one of the four AYES schools, the other 13 programmes still carry ASE accreditation. That means the curriculum and equipment meet the same national standard. Any of the 17 schools in this list gives you a recognised foundation for the next step.
What mechanics earn in New Hampshire
Pay in this field varies depending on what kind of vehicles you work on and how far you advance. All figures below come from BLS May 2025 OEWS data.
Automotive service technicians and mechanics
This is the core occupation for someone who repairs and maintains passenger cars and light trucks. In New Hampshire, 4,840 people work in this role. The median wage is $59,020 a year. That means half earn more and half earn less.
Here is how pay is distributed across the field:
- Bottom 10 percent: $38,310
- 25th percentile: $46,600
- Median (50th percentile): $59,020
- 75th percentile: $73,010
- Top 10 percent: $82,250
- Mean: $60,690
The gap between the bottom and top is large. A technician just starting out near the 10th percentile earns $38,310. A technician in the top 10 percent earns $82,250. Training, certifications, and specialisation are what move you up that range.
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
If you move into heavy-duty vehicles, pay goes up significantly. New Hampshire has 1,040 people in this occupation. The median wage is $71,390, which is more than $12,000 above the median for general auto technicians. The top 10 percent in this group earn $99,590.
- Bottom 10 percent: $52,730
- 25th percentile: $60,440
- Median: $71,390
- 75th percentile: $82,700
- Top 10 percent: $99,590
- Mean: $72,860
Diesel training is a logical next step after general auto training. Many technicians start with a general programme and then add diesel coursework or on-the-job experience to move into this higher-paying category.
Automotive body and related repairers
Body and collision repair is a distinct trade. In New Hampshire, 750 people work in this specialty. The median wage is $52,790. Pay at the top of this field reaches $78,880, which gives experienced body technicians a clear earnings path.
- Bottom 10 percent: $43,910
- 25th percentile: $48,150
- Median: $52,790
- 75th percentile: $60,670
- Top 10 percent: $78,880
- Mean: $57,520
If you are considering the collision repair and refinishing programme at Nashua Community College, this is the wage data most relevant to your career path.
Automotive glass installers and repairers
This is a smaller, more specialised occupation. New Hampshire has 70 people working in it. The median wage is $52,000, with the top 10 percent reaching $69,560.
- Bottom 10 percent: $44,630
- 25th percentile: $49,180
- Median: $52,000
- 75th percentile: $62,240
- Top 10 percent: $69,560
- Mean: $55,600
How your career path affects your earnings
The clearest pattern in this data is that specialisation pays more. A general auto technician at the median earns $59,020. A diesel specialist at the median earns $71,390. Both trades start from similar training foundations, but diesel work commands higher pay across the entire wage distribution.
Within the general auto technician occupation, the jump from the 25th to the 75th percentile is $26,410 a year ($46,600 to $73,010). That gap exists because technicians who add ASE certifications, master specific systems, or move into diagnostic work earn more than those who stay in entry-level maintenance roles. Starting with an accredited programme gives you the foundation to move up that range faster.
How to choose the right programme for you
Start with your current situation. If you are in high school now, look at the 17 secondary programmes in the table above. If your school runs an AYES programme, that is worth exploring first because the dealer connection is built in. If you are past high school, the six post-secondary programmes are your options.
If you already know you want to work at a GM or Honda dealer, the two manufacturer-sponsored programmes at Lakes Region Community College and Nashua Community College are the most direct path. They are competitive to get into, and you should contact the schools early.
If you want to work on heavy vehicles or eventually move into diesel, start with a general automobile programme and look for opportunities to add diesel training. The BLS data shows that diesel specialists in New Hampshire earn a median wage $12,370 higher than general auto technicians.
If body and collision work is your goal, Nashua Community College runs the only ASE-accredited post-secondary collision repair programme in the state.
Use the tables on this page to find programmes near you, then go to each school’s website to get current enrolment dates, prerequisites, and any scholarship information they publish. Accreditation expiry dates are listed for each programme so you can see at a glance how recently the programme was reviewed.
The next step is simple: pick two or three schools from the tables above that are within a reasonable distance, visit their sites, and contact their admissions offices this week.
Working as an Auto Mechanic in New Hampshire
Professionals in the automotive industry have an opportunity to make a great living and gain skillsets that can be used for a lifetime. With the help of New Hampshire’s accredited schools, you can start your journey toward becoming an auto mechanic or diesel technician today.
Whether you’re searching for entry-level positions or looking to make a career out of automotive work, New Hampshire is full of great job opportunities and salaries. With the right experience and qualifications, you’ll be well on your way to success in this field.
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