Becoming an Automotive Technician or Mechanic in New Jersey
Most employers in New Jersey prefer that automotive workers have some type of post-secondary training, whether it be an industry specialized certification or degree. However, at minimum, a high school diploma is required for entry-level positions.
Requirements for becoming an Automotive Service Technician in New Jersey
Mechanic license requirements do not apply to general auto mechanics in New Jersey. However, any specialized services such as emissions repair or advanced diagnostics may require state certification.
Auto mechanics are required to have a valid driver’s license and must be able to pass a background check. Employers also prefer that automotive technicians in New Jersey have some form of higher education and formal training, although it is not mandatory for entry-level positions.
Auto Mechanic Schools in New Jersey
New Jersey has 40 ASE-accredited schools running 59 programmes across secondary, post-secondary, and manufacturer-sponsored tracks. The sections below break down every accredited option by level and type. Use them to compare your choices before contacting a school.
What ASE accreditation means for you
When a programme carries ASE accreditation, a third party has checked that the shop equipment is current, the instructors are qualified, and the curriculum covers what working technicians actually need. Dealerships and independent shops in New Jersey recognise this standard. If you graduate from an accredited programme, employers know what you have learned.
Accreditation is not permanent. Each programme carries an expiration date, shown in the tables below. A programme with an expiration date in the past is not necessarily closed, but you should confirm its current status directly with the school before you apply.
Manufacturer-sponsored programmes: the highest-value path
Four programmes in New Jersey are manufacturer-sponsored. These are partnerships between a car brand, a dealership network, and a community college. You study automotive technology at the college while also working at a sponsoring dealership. The dealership pays you during your work rotations. When you finish, you hold both a college credential and manufacturer-specific certification that other graduates do not have.
The three manufacturer programmes running in New Jersey are GM ASEP (General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program), Mopar CAP (the Stellantis/Chrysler programme), and Ford ASSET (Automotive Student Service Educational Training). Each one ties you to a specific brand’s dealerships, so apply to the programme that matches the brand you want to work on.
All 4 manufacturer-sponsored programmes in New Jersey:
| School | City | Programme | Series | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookdale Community College | Lincroft | GM ASEP | Automobile | 2030-06-01 |
| Camden County College | Blackwood | GM ASEP | Automobile | 2030-05-01 |
| Mercer County Community College | West Windsor Township | Mopar CAP | Automobile | 2030-05-01 |
| Rowan College of South Jersey | Sewell | Ford ASSET | Automobile | 2030-04-01 |
If you can get a spot in one of these programmes, take it. You graduate with employer relationships already in place and brand training that generic certificate holders have to earn on the job.
All post-secondary programmes in New Jersey
Post-secondary programmes are open to adults and recent graduates. Community colleges generally cost less per credit hour than private technical institutes, though exact figures vary and you should confirm current tuition directly with each school.
All 22 post-secondary programmes in New Jersey (source: ASE Education Foundation directory):
| School | City | Series | Programme | Level | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen County Technical Schools | Paramus | Automobile | AYES | Secondary & Post Secondary | 2029-07-01 |
| Bergen County Technical Schools | Paramus | Collision Repair and Refinishing | Secondary & Post Secondary | 2028-04-01 | |
| Brookdale Community College | Lincroft | Automobile | Post Secondary | 2030-06-01 | |
| Brookdale Community College | Lincroft | Automobile | GM ASEP | Post Secondary | 2030-06-01 |
| Camden County College | Blackwood | Automobile | Post Secondary | 2030-05-01 | |
| Camden County College | Blackwood | Automobile | GM ASEP | Post Secondary | 2030-05-01 |
| Hunterdon County Polytech, Central Campus | Flemington | Automobile | AYES | Secondary & Post Secondary | 2026-07-01 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute | Union | Automobile | Post Secondary | 2029-04-01 | |
| Lincoln Technical Institute | Mahwah | Automobile | Post Secondary | 2030-07-01 | |
| Lincoln Technical Institute | South Plainfield | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Post Secondary | 2027-09-01 | |
| Mercer County Community College | West Windsor Township | Automobile | Mopar CAP | Post Secondary | 2030-05-01 |
| Ocean County Vo-Tech School – Brick | Brick | Automobile | AYES | Secondary & Post Secondary | 2026-09-01 |
| Ocean County Vo-Tech School – Jackson | Jackson | Collision Repair and Refinishing | Secondary & Post Secondary | 2026-09-01 | |
| Ocean County Vo-Tech School – Jackson | Jackson | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Secondary & Post Secondary | 2029-03-01 | |
| Ocean County Vo-Tech School – Waretown | Waretown | Automobile | AYES | Post Secondary | 2026-09-01 |
| Raritan Valley Community College | Branchburg | Automobile | Post Secondary | 2026-09-01 | |
| Rowan College of South Jersey | Sewell | Automobile | Ford ASSET | Post Secondary | 2030-04-01 |
| Salem County Vo-Tech School | Woodstown | Collision Repair and Refinishing | Secondary & Post Secondary | 2029-11-01 | |
| UAW-LETC – Edison Job Corps Center | Edison | Automobile | AYES | Secondary & Post Secondary | 2031-01-01 |
| Union County Vocational-Technical HS | Scotch Plains | Automobile | Post Secondary | 2029-07-01 | |
| Universal Technical Institute | Bloomfield | Automobile | Post Secondary | 2026-09-01 | |
| Universal Technical Institute | Bloomfield | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Post Secondary | 2026-09-01 |
High school programmes: for current students only
This section is for you if you are currently enrolled in a New Jersey high school. These programmes are secondary-level only. They are not open to adult career-changers. If you have already graduated, skip to the post-secondary table above.
Thirty-seven secondary programmes across New Jersey carry ASE accreditation. That number is unusually high for a state of this size. It means you can likely find an accredited programme within a reasonable commute of where you live.
AYES: the direct path to a dealership job
Eleven of these secondary programmes carry the AYES designation. AYES stands for Automotive Youth Educational Systems. It is a structured pipeline, not a general shop class. In an AYES programme, you complete your high school automotive coursework alongside a placement at a participating dealership. You get real work experience before you graduate. When you finish, the dealership already knows your work. Many AYES completers receive job offers from their placement dealer without going through a public job search.
No other high school automotive track in New Jersey gives you that direct connection to a dealer. If you are serious about working at a dealership after graduation, an AYES school should be your first choice.
All 37 secondary programmes in New Jersey (11 carry AYES designation; source: ASE Education Foundation directory):
| School | City | Series | Programme | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic County Institute of Technology | Mays Landing | Automobile | AYES | 2029-03-01 |
| Burlington County Institute of Technology | Westampton | Automobile | AYES | 2028-12-01 |
| Camden County Technical School | Pennsauken | Automobile | AYES | 2031-01-01 |
| Camden County Technical School | Sicklerville | Automobile | AYES | 2029-07-01 |
| Camden County Technical School | Sicklerville | Collision Repair and Refinishing | 2029-07-01 | |
| Cape May County Vocational School | Cape May Court House | Automobile | 2029-04-01 | |
| Cumberland County Technical Education Center | Vineland | Automobile | 2029-10-01 | |
| East Brunswick Magnet School | East Brunswick | Automobile | 2031-04-01 | |
| Essex County Vocational School | West Caldwell | Automobile | 2031-03-01 | |
| Essex County Vocational School | Newark | Automobile | 2029-12-01 | |
| Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Sewell | Automobile | 2028-05-01 | |
| Mercer County Technical School – Assunpink | Trenton | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | 2028-08-01 | |
| Mercer County Technical School – Sypek Center | Pennington | Automobile | 2028-10-01 | |
| Mercer County Technical School – Sypek Center | Pennington | Automobile | 2028-10-01 | |
| Mercer County Technical School – Sypek Center | Pennington | Collision Repair and Refinishing | 2028-10-01 | |
| Mercer County Technical Schools – Hopewell Valley Central High School | Pennington | Automobile | 2028-06-01 | |
| Monmouth County Vocational School | Freehold | Automobile | 2024-03-01 | |
| Monmouth County Vocational School – Hazlet Campus | Hazlet | Automobile | 2024-04-01 | |
| Morris County School of Technology | Denville | Automobile | AYES | 2029-04-01 |
| Ocean County Vo-Tech School – Jackson | Jackson | Automobile | 2026-05-01 | |
| Ocean County Vo-Tech School – Waretown | Waretown | Automobile | AYES | 2026-09-01 |
| Old Bridge High School | Old Bridge | Automobile | AYES | 2027-06-01 |
| Passaic County Technical Institute | Wayne | Automobile | AYES | 2028-08-01 |
| Passaic County Technical Institute | Wayne | Collision Repair and Refinishing | 2028-08-01 | |
| Passaic High School | Passaic | Automobile | 2030-07-01 | |
| Perth Amboy Magnet School | Perth Amboy | Automobile | 2031-01-01 | |
| Piscataway Magnet School | Piscataway | Automobile | 2031-04-01 | |
| Salem County Vo-Tech School | Woodstown | Automobile | 2029-07-01 | |
| Somerset County Vocational and Technical School | Bridgewater | Automobile | AYES | 2029-01-01 |
| Sussex County Technical School | Sparta | Automobile | 2030-07-01 | |
| Sussex County Technical School | Sparta | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | 2029-06-01 | |
| Thomas Edison Career and Technical Academy | Elizabeth | Automobile | 2030-06-01 | |
| Thomas Edison Career and Technical Academy | Elizabeth | Collision Repair and Refinishing | 2030-06-01 | |
| Union County Vocational-Technical HS | Scotch Plains | Automobile | AYES | 2029-07-01 |
| Vineland Senior High School | Vineland | Automobile | 2030-04-01 | |
| Warren County Technical High School | Washington | Automobile | AYES | 2026-12-01 |
| Wayne Valley High School | Wayne | Automobile | 2029-01-01 |
Note: Monmouth County Vocational School (Freehold) and Monmouth County Vocational School – Hazlet Campus both show accreditation expiration dates in 2024. Confirm current accreditation status directly with those schools before applying.
ASE Certification
Although not required, holding an automotive service excellence certification will give you a leg up when applying for mechanic positions. You can become certified by passing specific tests from the ASE Certification Program and either having two years of experience or a mix of education and experience. The credential expires after five years but can be renewed quickly and easily.
There are a variety of ASE certification exams, with over 40 options to choose from. Some of the more popular choices are:
- Parts specialist certification tests
- Collision repair and refinish certification tests
- Auto maintenance and light repair certification test
- Alternate fuels certification test
- Truck equipment certification tests
- Damage analysis and estimating certification test
- Light truck certification tests
- School bus certification tests
- Engine Machinist certification tests
- Transit bus certification tests
What you can earn in New Jersey
Wages in this trade vary a lot by what you work on. The figures below come from BLS May 2025 OEWS data for New Jersey.
Automotive service technicians and mechanics
This is the largest group, with 17,640 people employed in New Jersey. The median wage is $56,610 per year. Half of all technicians in the state earn between $40,030 and $75,410. The top 10 percent earn $91,210 or more. Entry-level workers at the 10th percentile earn $33,500.
That spread shows what career progression looks like in this trade. You start near the bottom, add certifications and experience, and your pay moves up steadily. Technicians who earn multiple ASE certifications typically move into the upper half of that range faster than those who do not.
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
This group has 8,160 people employed in New Jersey. The median wage is $72,340. That is $15,730 more per year than the median for general automotive technicians. The 25th percentile is $59,740 and the 75th percentile is $79,850. The top 10 percent earn $94,150.
If you are considering a medium or heavy truck programme, the wage premium over general automotive work is real and consistent across the full earnings distribution. Lincoln Technical Institute in South Plainfield and both Ocean County Vo-Tech and Sussex County Technical School carry accredited medium/heavy truck programmes.
Automotive body and related repairers
There are 3,720 people in this role in New Jersey. The median wage is $62,400. The 25th percentile is $52,450 and the 75th percentile is $77,940. The top 10 percent earn $83,210. Entry-level workers at the 10th percentile earn $45,760, which is notably higher than the entry point for general automotive technicians.
Collision repair programmes in New Jersey include Bergen County Technical Schools, Camden County Technical School in Sicklerville, Ocean County Vo-Tech in Jackson, Passaic County Technical Institute, Salem County Vo-Tech, Thomas Edison Career and Technical Academy, and Mercer County Technical School at the Sypek Center.
Automotive glass installers and repairers
Employment figures for this role are not available at the state level, but BLS May 2025 OEWS data shows a median wage of $61,040 in New Jersey. The 25th percentile is $55,650 and the 75th percentile is $69,540. The top 10 percent earn $86,980. The entry-level 10th percentile is $49,600, the highest entry point of any of the four occupations shown here.
How earnings change as your career progresses
Every occupation in this trade shows a wide gap between the 10th and 90th percentile. For general automotive technicians, that gap is $57,710. For diesel and truck mechanics, it is $45,010. The gap reflects years of experience, the number of certifications held, and the type of employer.
A realistic career path looks like this. You complete a post-secondary programme and start near the 10th or 25th percentile. You earn your first ASE certifications in your first two years. You move toward the median by year three to five. Technicians who specialise in a high-demand area, such as diesel, advanced driver assistance systems, or hybrid and electric vehicles, typically reach the 75th percentile range within ten years.
The median wage for diesel and truck mechanics in New Jersey ($72,340) is already higher than the 75th percentile for general automotive technicians ($75,410 is close, but the diesel median sits above the auto median). Choosing your specialisation early has a direct effect on lifetime earnings.
How to choose the right programme
Start with level. If you are still in high school, look at the secondary programmes above. If you have graduated, focus on the post-secondary table. If you want the fastest path to a dealership job with the strongest employer connection, apply to a manufacturer-sponsored programme.
Then look at series. If you want to work on passenger cars, choose an Automobile series programme. If you want to work on trucks, buses, or fleet vehicles, choose a Medium/Heavy Duty Truck programme. If you want to work in a body shop, choose a Collision Repair and Refinishing programme.
Check the accreditation expiration date for any programme you consider. A date that has already passed is a reason to call the school and ask about renewal status before you apply. Most schools renew on time, but confirming takes one phone call and can save you a wasted application.
Finally, if you are a current high school student in Morris, Somerset, Atlantic, or Burlington counties, check your local AYES school first. Those programmes give you a dealership connection that no other high school track provides.
Next steps
Use the tables above to identify two or three programmes that match your level, location, and series. Visit each school’s website to check current enrolment dates, application requirements, and financial aid options. Contact the admissions office directly for any question the website does not answer. The sooner you apply, the better your chances of getting into a manufacturer-sponsored programme, since those seats fill quickly due to limited dealer placements.
Sources:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes493023.htm
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OOH, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES New Jersey, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nj.htm
- ASE Education Foundation, Programme Directory, https://www.aseeducationfoundation.org
- State of New Jersey, Motor Vehicle Commission, http://www.state.nj.us/mvcbiz/BusinessServices/AutoBodyRepair.htm