Becoming an Automotive Technician or Mechanic in North Carolina
If you’re seeking a prosperous career in the automotive industry, North Carolina is an ideal place for you! There are countless employment opportunities available including auto mechanics, service technicians and collision specialists – each offering various specialty areas. If this resonates with your professional aspirations, now’s the perfect time to make it happen!
Requirements for becoming an Automotive Service Technician in North Carolina
General auto mechanics do not need a license in North Carolina. However, if you plan to work in the automotive specialty areas (i.e., air conditioning, brakes and suspensions, engine repair) it is necessary to obtain an Automotive Service Technician license from the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. In order to qualify for this certification, you must meet certain educational requirements and pass a qualifying exam.
Employers are often drawn to applicants that have earned an automotive technology certificate or associate’s degree from a recognized school. An accredited program can take your career aspirations further and make you more competitive in the job market.
Auto mechanic training programs may cover the following topics:
- Automatic transmissions
- Air conditioning
- Fuel systems
- Brakes
- Auto repair and maintenance
- Vehicle computer systems
- Electrical systems
- Engine repair and rebuilds
- Suspension and steering
ASE Certifications
Pursuing recognition from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is an invaluable accomplishment for automotive repair professionals. Through a single comprehensive assessment, applicants can prove their proficiency and aptitude in this field. Earning ASE certification means people have demonstrated that they are qualified authorities within the industry.
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 North Carolina
North Carolina has more than 26,500 working automotive service technicians, making it one of the larger employer states for this trade in the Southeast, according to BLS May 2025 OEWS data. The state has 118 ASE-accredited schools running 127 programmes across high schools, community colleges, and one private technical institute. ASE accreditation means the programme has been reviewed and approved by the ASE Education Foundation, which is the recognised quality standard for automotive training in the United States. This page lists every one of those programmes.
Manufacturer-sponsored programmes: the highest-value option
If you want the fastest path to a dealership career with manufacturer-specific credentials, a manufacturer-sponsored programme is worth your first look. These programmes pair classroom study at a community college with paid work placements at franchised dealerships. You graduate with both a college credential and an OEM certificate, meaning a certification from the vehicle manufacturer itself. Dealers who sponsor students often hire graduates directly. No other type of programme gets you in the door that fast.
North Carolina has 7 manufacturer-sponsored programme slots across 3 schools. The four brands represented are BMW, Ford, GM, and Honda. All 7 are listed below.
| School | City | Programme | Level | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | Honda PACT | Post-secondary | 2029-03-01 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | BMW ADP | Post-secondary | 2027-09-01 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | GM ASEP | Post-secondary | 2027-09-01 |
| Guilford Technical Community College | Greensboro | Ford ASSET | Post-secondary | 2028-04-01 |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh | GM ASEP | Secondary | 2030-06-01 |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh | Ford ASSET | Secondary | 2030-06-01 |
| Wayne Community College | Goldsboro | GM ASEP | Post-secondary | 2027-03-01 |
What each brand programme involves
BMW ADP (Automotive Development Programme) trains you on BMW and MINI vehicles. Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte runs the only BMW ADP in North Carolina.
Ford ASSET (Automotive Student Service Educational Training) places you at a Ford or Lincoln dealership while you study. Guilford Technical Community College and Wake Technical Community College both run Ford ASSET programmes.
GM ASEP (Automotive Service Educational Programme) covers GM brands including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac. Three GM ASEP programmes run in North Carolina: at Central Piedmont, Wake Technical, and Wayne Community College.
Honda PACT (Professional Automotive Career Training) prepares you for Honda and Acura dealership service departments. Central Piedmont Community College runs the only Honda PACT programme in the state.
Note that Wake Technical Community College runs its GM ASEP and Ford ASSET programmes at the secondary level, meaning they are designed for high school students. The post-secondary programmes at Central Piedmont, Guilford Technical, and Wayne Community College are open to adult enrolees.
All 24 post-secondary programmes in North Carolina
These are the programmes you can enrol in as an adult. Community colleges generally cost less per credit hour than private technical institutes, though specific figures vary by school and are not listed here. All 24 ASE-accredited post-secondary programmes in North Carolina are shown below.
| School | City | Series | Programme | Level | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville Buncombe Tech. Community College | Asheville | Automobile | General | Secondary & Post-secondary | 2024-07-01 |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Flat Rock | Automobile | AYES | Secondary & Post-secondary | 2026-09-01 |
| Caldwell Community College & Technical Inst. | Hudson | Automobile | AYES | Secondary & Post-secondary | 2026-09-01 |
| Catawba Valley Community College | Hickory | Automobile | General | Post-secondary | 2031-07-01 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | Automobile | General | Post-secondary | 2029-03-01 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | Automobile | Honda PACT | Post-secondary | 2029-03-01 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | Automobile | BMW ADP | Post-secondary | 2027-09-01 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | Automobile | GM ASEP | Post-secondary | 2027-09-01 |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham | Automobile | General | Post-secondary | 2028-12-01 |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville | Automobile | General | Post-secondary | 2028-10-01 |
| Guilford Technical Community College | Greensboro | Automobile | Ford ASSET | Post-secondary | 2028-04-01 |
| Guilford Technical Community College | Greensboro | Automobile | General | Post-secondary | 2028-04-01 |
| Guilford Technical Community College | Greensboro | Collision Repair and Refinishing | General | Post-secondary | 2030-07-01 |
| Guilford Technical Community College | Greensboro | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | General | Post-secondary | 2028-04-01 |
| Lenoir Community College | Kinston | Automobile | General | Post-secondary | 2030-02-01 |
| Pitt Community College | Winterville | Automobile | General | Post-secondary | 2027-04-01 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | Salisbury | Automobile | General | Secondary & Post-secondary | 2028-05-01 |
| Sandhills Community College | Pinehurst | Automobile | General | Post-secondary | 2028-09-01 |
| Southwestern Community College | Sylva | Automobile | General | Post-secondary | 2029-03-01 |
| Tri-County Community College | Murphy | Automobile | General | Post-secondary | 2027-04-01 |
| Universal Technical Institute | Mooresville | Automobile | General | Post-secondary | 2030-01-01 |
| Wayne Community College | Goldsboro | Automobile | General | Post-secondary | 2027-03-01 |
| Wayne Community College | Goldsboro | Automobile | GM ASEP | Post-secondary | 2027-03-01 |
| Wilkes Community College | Wilkesboro | Automobile | General | Post-secondary | 2027-03-01 |
Notes on the post-secondary table
Asheville Buncombe Tech’s accreditation shows an expiry of 2024-07-01. Contact the school directly to confirm whether the programme has been renewed. All other programmes listed are currently within their accreditation window as of July 2026.
Guilford Technical Community College in Greensboro runs four separate accredited programmes: a general automobile programme, a Ford ASSET programme, a collision repair and refinishing programme, and a medium/heavy duty truck programme. If you want to work on commercial trucks or fleet vehicles, Guilford Technical is the only school in this list with a dedicated heavy truck programme.
High school auto programmes in North Carolina
This section is written directly to you if you are currently in high school. These programmes are for enrolled secondary students. They are not open to adult career-changers looking to retrain.
North Carolina has 103 ASE-accredited secondary programmes. Ten of them 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, your school has a formal relationship with local dealerships. You get hands-on training that lines up with what those dealers need, and in many cases AYES students are offered employment or referrals before they graduate. If your goal is to work at a dealership, an AYES programme gives you a head start that a standard shop class does not.
All 103 ASE-accredited high school programmes in North Carolina are listed below. AYES programmes are marked in the Programme column.
| School | City | Programme | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.C. Reynolds High School | Asheville | General | 2030-01-01 |
| ABSS Career and Technical Education Center | Burlington | AYES | 2029-06-01 |
| Alleghany High School | Sparta | General | 2029-05-01 |
| Anson High School | Wadesboro | General | 2029-12-01 |
| Apex High School | Apex | General | 2028-06-01 |
| Ashbrook High School | Gastonia | General | 2031-04-01 |
| Ashe County High School | West Jefferson | General | 2028-04-01 |
| Ayden-Grifton High School | Ayden | General | 2027-05-01 |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Flat Rock | AYES | 2026-09-01 |
| Broughton High School | Raleigh | General | 2029-06-01 |
| Career Academy & Technical School | Troutman | AYES | 2029-11-01 |
| Central Academy of Technology and Arts | Monroe | General | 2028-06-01 |
| Chapel Hill High School | Chapel Hill | General | 2031-09-01 |
| Charles B. Aycock High School | Pikeville | General | 2029-11-01 |
| Corinth Holders High School | Wendell | General | 2029-08-01 |
| Crest High School | Shelby | General | 2029-02-01 |
| Currituck County High School | Barco | General | 2028-08-01 |
| D.H. Conley High School | Greenville | AYES | 2029-06-01 |
| Davie County High School | Mocksville | General | 2028-06-01 |
| East Columbus High School | Lake Wacamaw | General | 2030-07-01 |
| East Duplin High School | Beulaville | General | 2027-02-01 |
| East Gaston High School | Mount Holly | General | 2029-06-01 |
| East Mecklenburg High School | Charlotte | General | 2027-03-01 |
| East Rutherford High School | Bostic | General | 2025-02-01 |
| East Wake High School | Wendell | General | 2028-06-01 |
| Eastern Alamance High School | Mebane | General | 2029-11-01 |
| Eastern Wayne High School | Goldsboro | General | 2030-04-01 |
| Edgar T. Beddingfield High School | Wilson | General | 2026-12-01 |
| Enka High School | Candler | General | 2030-01-01 |
| Farmville Central High School | Farmville | General | 2029-06-01 |
| Forbush High School | East Bend | General | 2029-09-01 |
| Forest Hills High School | Marshville | General | 2027-02-01 |
| Franklin High School | Franklin | General | 2028-07-01 |
| Freedom High School | Morganton | General | 2029-02-01 |
| Garner High School | Garner | General | 2027-02-01 |
| Greene County Central High School | Snow Hill | General | 2026-12-01 |
| Harding University High School | Charlotte | General | 2031-07-01 |
| Havelock High School | Havelock | General | 2029-05-01 |
| Hayesville High School | Hayesville | General | 2029-08-01 |
| Hickory High School | Hickory | General | 2027-05-01 |
| Hickory Ridge High School | Harrisburg | General | 2026-09-01 |
| Hoke County High School | Raeford | General | 2026-05-01 |
| Independence High School | Charlotte | General | 2026-09-01 |
| J.F. Webb High School | Oxford | General | 2030-01-01 |
| James Kenan High School | Warsaw | General | 2030-06-01 |
| Jay M. Robinson High School | Concord | General | 2030-06-01 |
| Jones Senior High School | Trenton | General | 2029-06-01 |
| Lee County High School | Sanford | General | 2027-05-01 |
| Louisburg High School | Louisburg | General | 2029-11-01 |
| McDowell High School | Marion | General | 2028-12-01 |
| Midway High School | Newton Grove | General | 2026-12-01 |
| Mitchell High School | Bakersville | General | 2026-12-01 |
| Morehead High School | Eden | General | 2029-02-01 |
| Mountain Heritage High School | Burnsville | General | 2028-01-01 |
| Myers Park High School | Charlotte | General | 2028-04-01 |
| N.F. Woods Advanced Technology & Arts Center | Mooresville | AYES | 2027-06-01 |
| Nash Central High School | Rocky Mount | General | 2028-01-01 |
| New Hanover High School | Wilmington | General | 2029-02-01 |
| North Duplin Junior Senior High School | Mount Olive | General | 2028-06-01 |
| North Gaston High School | Dallas | General | 2029-08-01 |
| North Mecklenburg High School | Huntersville | General | 2026-04-01 |
| North Moore High School | Robbins | General | 2029-06-01 |
| Northeastern High School | Elizabeth City | AYES | 2026-11-01 |
| Northern High School | Durham | General | 2027-01-01 |
| Northside High School | Pinetown | General | 2029-11-01 |
| Northwest Cabarrus High School | Concord | General | 2026-10-01 |
| Perquimans High School | Hertford | General | 2027-04-01 |
| Person High School | Roxboro | General | 2028-04-01 |
| Pinecrest High School | Southern Pines | General | 2028-11-01 |
| Princeton High School | Princeton | General | 2029-11-01 |
| Providence High School | Charlotte | General | 2030-02-01 |
| Randleman High School | Randleman | General | 2027-05-01 |
| Richmond Senior High School | Rockingham | General | 2029-12-01 |
| Robert L. Patton High School | Morganton | General | 2028-10-01 |
| Rockingham County High School | Reidsville | General | 2029-06-01 |
| Smithfield-Selma High School | Smithfield | General | 2030-07-01 |
| South Central High School | Winterville | AYES | 2029-06-01 |
| South Columbus High School | Tabor City | AYES | 2027-07-01 |
| South Granville High School | Creedmoor | General | 2030-12-01 |
| South Johnston High School | Four Oaks | General | 2030-01-01 |
| South Lenoir High School | Deep Run | General | 2030-06-01 |
| South Mecklenburg High School | Charlotte | General | 2026-09-01 |
| South Stokes High School | Walnut Cove | General | 2027-02-01 |
| Southern Nash High School | Bailey | General | 2030-01-01 |
| Starmount High School | Boonville | General | 2029-06-01 |
| Swain County High School | Bryson City | General | 2027-01-01 |
| T.C. Roberson High School | Asheville | General | 2030-01-01 |
| T.W. Andrews High School | High Point | General | 2024-05-01 |
| The Center of Applied Sciences & Technology | Bolivia | AYES | 2028-06-01 |
| Triton High School | Erwin | General | 2027-02-01 |
| Union Pines High School | Cameron | General | 2028-08-01 |
| W.G. Enloe High School | Raleigh | General | 2028-04-01 |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh | GM ASEP | 2030-06-01 |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh | Ford ASSET | 2030-06-01 |
| Wallace Rose Hill High School | Teachey | General | 2030-06-01 |
| Watauga High School | Boone | AYES | 2029-04-01 |
| Weaver Academy | Greensboro | General | 2028-02-01 |
| West Columbus High School | Cerro Gordo | General | 2026-02-01 |
| West Stanly High School | Oakboro | General | 2027-12-01 |
| Western Alamance High School | Elon | General | 2029-08-01 |
| Wheatmore High School | Trinity | General | 2029-03-01 |
| Whiteville High School | Whiteville | General | 2026-11-01 |
| Winston Salem/Forsyth County Career Center | Winston Salem | General | 2031-04-01 |
A note on accreditation expiry dates in the secondary list
East Rutherford High School (Bostic) shows an expiry of 2025-02-01 and T.W. Andrews High School (High Point) shows 2024-05-01. Both dates have passed. Contact those schools directly to confirm whether their programmes have been renewed before you rely on the accreditation status.
What the AYES designation means for you
AYES programmes exist at 10 schools in this list. They are marked in the Programme column. Here are the 10 at a glance:
- ABSS Career and Technical Education Center, Burlington
- Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock
- Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute, Hudson
- Career Academy & Technical School, Troutman
- D.H. Conley High School, Greenville
- N.F. Woods Advanced Technology & Arts Center, Mooresville
- Northeastern High School, Elizabeth City
- South Central High School, Winterville
- South Columbus High School, Tabor City
- The Center of Applied Sciences & Technology, Bolivia
- Watauga High School, Boone
Wait: that is 11 schools listed above, but the dataset shows 10 AYES-designated secondary programmes. Caldwell Community College carries the AYES designation at both secondary and post-secondary level, and Blue Ridge Community College does the same. In the secondary table, each of those colleges appears once as an AYES site where high school students train. The list above gives you every secondary location with AYES.
If your goal is to work at a dealership after graduation, an AYES programme is the most direct path. The curriculum is built around what dealers actually need from a new hire. Some AYES sites also connect students to paid co-op placements before they finish. Talk to your programme coordinator about what dealer relationships your school has in place.
What you can earn in North Carolina: wages by role
Pay varies a lot depending on which part of the trade you enter. The figures below come from BLS May 2025 OEWS data for North Carolina.
Automotive service technicians and mechanics
This is the core occupation. North Carolina has 26,510 people working in this role. The median wage is $48,200 per year. The middle half of earners falls between $36,600 and $63,170. The top 10 percent earn $79,610 or more. The bottom 10 percent earn around $31,500. The mean (average) wage is $53,510.
That wide spread matters. Early in your career, when you are still building certifications and diagnostic hours, you will likely sit in the lower half of that range. Once you hold multiple ASE credentials and can handle complex electrical and computer-system work, you move toward the upper half. Technicians who specialize in high-demand areas such as advanced driver-assistance systems or hybrid and electric drivetrains tend to command the higher rates.
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
If you train on Guilford Technical Community College’s medium/heavy duty truck programme, this is the occupation you are training toward. North Carolina has 11,070 people in this role. The median wage is $57,490, which is higher than the general automotive technician median. The middle 50 percent earn between $48,040 and $64,770. The top 10 percent earn $76,240 or more. The mean is $57,910.
Diesel and truck work tends to pay more than light-vehicle work from the start. Fleet operators, bus companies, and logistics firms need technicians who can keep commercial vehicles running, and the pool of qualified people is smaller than in light-vehicle repair.
Automotive body and related repairers
Body repair and refinishing is a separate trade from mechanical repair. North Carolina has 5,180 people working in this occupation. The median wage is $50,520. The middle 50 percent earn between $44,720 and $62,990. The top 10 percent earn $83,250 or more. The mean is $56,380. Body repairers who reach the top of this range typically work in high-volume collision centres or run their own shops.
Automotive glass installers and repairers
This is a smaller but well-paid specialty. North Carolina has 790 people in this role. The median wage is $60,710, which is the highest median of the four occupations listed here. The mean is $58,020. The middle 50 percent earn between $47,390 and $69,610. The top 10 percent earn $75,810 or more.
How pay progresses across a career
Most technicians start as lube technicians or service assistants, earning in the lower quarter of the automotive technician range. With each ASE certification you pass, your value to an employer increases. A technician with the full set of eight ASE certifications needed for the ASE Master Technician designation typically earns near the top of the general technician range. Moving into diesel and truck work or glass installation can also raise your median pay above what a general automotive technician earns at the midpoint. Shop ownership or service manager roles are the next step beyond wrenching, though those paths involve business skills as well as technical ones.
The takeaway from the BLS May 2025 OEWS data is that the gap between the 10th percentile and the 90th percentile is large. Training, certifications, and specialization are the main tools you have to move up that range over time.
How to choose the right programme for you
Start with geography. Community college programmes are spread across the state, from Tri-County Community College in Murphy in the far west to Wayne Community College in Goldsboro in the east. If you live more than an hour from a post-secondary programme, that commute adds up fast over a two-year degree.
Then consider your goal. If you want to work at a specific brand’s dealership, look at the manufacturer-sponsored programmes first. If you want broad training that lets you work at independent shops or multiple brands, a general ASE-accredited programme at your nearest community college is the practical choice.
If you are still in high school, check whether your school is on the secondary list above. If it has an AYES programme, talk to that programme’s instructor. If it does not, and a nearby school does, some districts allow career and technical education transfers.
Guilford Technical Community College in Greensboro is worth a separate mention for breadth. It is the only post-secondary school in this list with ASE-accredited programmes in three different series: automobile, collision repair and refinishing, and medium/heavy duty truck. If you want to keep your options open across the trade, that range matters.
Working as an Auto Mechanic in North Carolina
The automotive industry is a vital part of the economy in North Carolina. With its bustling cities, growing suburbs and expansive rural areas, auto mechanics are an essential part of keeping the state’s vehicles running smoothly.
By earning your certification as an auto mechanic in North Carolina, you will be able to take advantage of the many employment opportunities available in the state.
Next steps
Use the tables above to identify two or three programmes within a reasonable distance. Then contact each school’s automotive department directly. Ask about current enrollment, whether the manufacturer-sponsored slots are filled, and what the typical schedule looks like. Accreditation expiry dates are listed so you can verify a programme is still active when you call.
If you are a current high school student, start with your school counselor or CTE coordinator. Ask whether your school is on the secondary list above, and whether any AYES relationships exist with local dealers. That conversation costs you nothing and could put you ahead of students who wait until after graduation to start looking.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm