Becoming an Automotive Technician or Mechanic in Ohio
If you’re seeking a career that is people-oriented, hands-on and captivating, then being an auto or diesel mechanic might be right up your alley. Furthering your education in Ohio or gaining experience/training through apprenticeships are all avenues to take if you want to become a successful mechanic.
Requirements for becoming an Automotive Service Technician in Ohio
Ohio does not require professional licenses for auto mechanics. However, to be competitive in the field, individuals should consider enrolling in an automotive technology program. Those who complete such programs can become certified and achieve higher salaries than those without proper training.
Automotive technology programs may cover the following topics:
- Automatic transmissions
- Suspension systems
- Steering systems
- Fuel systems
- Brakes
- Auto repair and maintenance
- Vehicle computer systems
Auto Mechanic Training in Ohio
Ohio has 22,640 working automotive service technicians and mechanics, making it one of the larger employer states for this trade in the country (BLS May 2025 OEWS data). If you want to work on cars, trucks, or collision repair, you have a wide range of training paths here. This page lists every ASE-accredited program in Ohio, pulled directly from the ASE Education Foundation directory, so you can compare your options in one place.
ASE accreditation means the ASE Education Foundation, the recognized quality body for automotive training in the US, has reviewed the school’s equipment, instructors, and curriculum and found them up to standard. An accredited program is not a guarantee of a job, but it tells you the training meets a defined national benchmark.
ASE Certification
Earning a certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is an invaluable asset to automotive repair experts. With one simple exam, applicants can prove their capability and expertise in this field. Gaining ASE recognition means people have gone above and beyond to demonstrate that they are qualified professionals within the trade. Through passing grades on exams or participation in recertification programs, individuals receive proof of excellence with ASE accreditation.
With over 40 ASE certification exams to choose from, such as:
- Parts specialist certification tests
- 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
- School bus certification tests
- Transit bus certification tests
- Alternate fuels certification test
Job Outlook and Salary Expectations
Pay varies by the type of work you do. Here is what BLS May 2025 OEWS data shows for Ohio, broken down by role.
Automotive service technicians and mechanics
This is the core role: diagnosing and repairing cars and light trucks. In Ohio, the median pay is $48,710 a year. The bottom 10 percent earn around $34,110. The top 25 percent earn $63,840, and the top 10 percent reach $79,690. There are 22,640 people in this role across the state.
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
Diesel and heavy-duty work pays more. The median in Ohio is $60,470. The 10th percentile starts at $44,860, and the 90th percentile reaches $78,120. Ohio employs 14,240 people in this specialty. If you plan to focus on medium and heavy-duty trucks, your earning potential is meaningfully higher than in general auto repair.
Automotive body and related repairers
Collision repair sits between the two. The Ohio median is $49,080. Pay ranges from $36,770 at the 10th percentile to $78,370 at the 90th. There are 5,950 employed in Ohio. Experienced body technicians can close in on diesel-level pay at the top end of the scale.
Automotive glass installers and repairers
This is a smaller specialty with 860 employed in Ohio. The median is $50,090, with a range of $35,360 at the 10th percentile to $71,810 at the 90th.
How pay progresses over a career
Across all four roles, pay roughly doubles from entry level to the top 10 percent. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile for general auto techs is about $45,000 a year. Diesel mechanics show a higher floor: the 25th percentile for diesel ($50,700) is already above the Ohio median for general auto tech ($48,710). That means even mid-level diesel work pays better than the midpoint of general auto repair. Specialization and experience are the two clearest drivers of higher pay in this trade.
Community colleges generally cost less per credit hour than private technical institutes, though tuition figures vary and you should check directly with each school.
Working as an Auto Mechanic in Ohio
Automotive service technicians and mechanics in Ohio are in high demand. Car dealerships, independent garages and automotive parts, accessories, and tire stores are the three primary employers of auto mechanics in Ohio. Job opportunities are particularly strong in Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati.
Regardless of the location, auto mechanics enjoy a promising career path full of opportunities to learn, grow and develop their skills in an exciting field. With the right combination of education and experience, aspiring auto mechanics in Ohio should have no problem finding employment in this dynamic industry.
Manufacturer-sponsored programs in Ohio
Ten programs in Ohio combine college study with a paid placement at a brand dealership and manufacturer-specific certification. These are called OEM programs, meaning they are run in partnership with an original equipment manufacturer. They are the highest-value path on this page if you can get a spot, because you earn while you learn and graduate with both a college credential and factory training recognized by that brand’s dealer network.
The five brands represented in Ohio are Ford (ASSET), General Motors (ASEP), Honda (PACT), Mopar (CAP), and Toyota (T-TEN). Each program has a different application process run through the dealer network, so contact the college directly to find out how to get a dealer sponsor.
All 10 manufacturer-sponsored programs in Ohio:
| School | City | Program | Series | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus State Comm. College | Columbus | Ford ASSET | Automobile | 2030-04-01 |
| Cuyahoga Community College | Parma | Ford ASSET | Automobile | 2027-05-01 |
| Cuyahoga Community College | Parma | GM ASEP | Automobile | 2027-05-01 |
| Owens Community College | Perrysburg | GM ASEP | Automobile | 2029-10-01 |
| Sinclair Community College | Dayton | Mopar CAP | Automobile | 2028-05-01 |
| Sinclair Community College | Dayton | GM ASEP | Automobile | 2028-05-01 |
| Sinclair Community College | Dayton | Honda PACT | Automobile | 2028-05-01 |
| Stark State College of Technology | North Canton | GM ASEP | Automobile | 2029-12-01 |
| Stark State College of Technology | North Canton | Toyota T-TEN | Automobile | 2029-12-01 |
| Stark State College of Technology | North Canton | Honda PACT | Automobile | 2029-12-01 |
All post-secondary programs in Ohio
All 25 post-secondary programs in Ohio (from the ASE Education Foundation directory, current as of publication):
These are programs you can enroll in as an adult. High school programs are listed separately below. Programs that appear in both this table and the manufacturer-sponsored table above are included here for completeness.
| School | City | Series | Program | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus | Jefferson | Automobile | 2024-08-01 | |
| C-TEC of Licking County | Newark | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | 2027-06-01 | |
| Columbus State Comm. College | Columbus | Automobile | 2030-04-01 | |
| Columbus State Comm. College | Columbus | Automobile | Ford ASSET | 2030-04-01 |
| Cuyahoga Community College | Parma | Automobile | Ford ASSET | 2027-05-01 |
| Cuyahoga Community College | Parma | Automobile | 2027-05-01 | |
| Cuyahoga Community College | Parma | Automobile | GM ASEP | 2027-05-01 |
| Matrix Trade Institute | Beachwood | Automobile | 2028-08-01 | |
| Ohio Technical College | Cleveland | Automobile | 2029-05-01 | |
| Ohio Technical College | Cleveland | Collision Repair and Refinishing | 2024-12-01 | |
| Ohio Technical College | Cleveland | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | 2030-03-01 | |
| Owens Community College | Perrysburg | Automobile | 2029-10-01 | |
| Owens Community College | Perrysburg | Automobile | GM ASEP | 2029-10-01 |
| Owens Community College | Perrysburg | Collision Repair and Refinishing | 2025-04-01 | |
| Owens Community College | Perrysburg | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | 2029-10-01 | |
| Sinclair Community College | Dayton | Automobile | 2028-05-01 | |
| Sinclair Community College | Dayton | Automobile | Mopar CAP | 2028-05-01 |
| Sinclair Community College | Dayton | Automobile | GM ASEP | 2028-05-01 |
| Sinclair Community College | Dayton | Automobile | Honda PACT | 2028-05-01 |
| Stark State College of Technology | North Canton | Automobile | 2029-12-01 | |
| Stark State College of Technology | North Canton | Automobile | GM ASEP | 2029-12-01 |
| Stark State College of Technology | North Canton | Automobile | Toyota T-TEN | 2029-12-01 |
| Stark State College of Technology | North Canton | Automobile | Honda PACT | 2029-12-01 |
| University of Northwestern Ohio | Lima | Automobile | 2029-11-01 | |
| University of Northwestern Ohio | Lima | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | 2028-04-01 |
A note on accreditation expiry dates: a past expiry date does not always mean a program has closed. Schools renew on rolling cycles and the directory is updated periodically. If a school you are interested in shows a past expiry date, contact the school directly to confirm current status before applying.
High school programs in Ohio
This section is written directly to you if you are currently in high school. These 51 programs are open to secondary students only. They are not available to adult career-changers, so they do not appear in the main comparison table above.
If you are still in school, you have a head start that most people do not get. Ohio has 51 ASE-accredited secondary automotive programs, 13 of which carry AYES designation. AYES stands for Automotive Youth Educational Systems. It is a structured pipeline that connects your high school program directly to a dealership job. AYES is not a shop class. It is a formal partnership between your school, the ASE Education Foundation, and participating dealers. Students in AYES programs get dealer placements while still in school and graduate with documented work experience that non-AYES graduates do not have. No other automotive training resource covers Ohio’s AYES programs at this level of detail.
In the table below, AYES programs are marked in the Program column. All other programs are standard ASE-accredited secondary programs.
All 51 secondary programs in Ohio (from the ASE Education Foundation directory, current as of publication). Of these, 13 carry AYES designation:
| School | City | Series | Program | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance High School | Alliance | Automobile | 2030-12-01 | |
| Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus | Jefferson | Automobile | 2029-03-01 | |
| Auburn Career Center | Concord | Automobile | 2024-04-01 | |
| Bedford High School | Bedford | Automobile | AYES | 2029-07-01 |
| C-TEC of Licking County | Newark | Automobile | AYES | 2030-05-01 |
| C-TEC of Licking County | Newark | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | 2027-06-01 | |
| Canton South High School | Canton | Automobile | AYES | 2029-02-01 |
| Cleveland Heights High School | Cleveland Heights | Automobile | 2028-06-01 | |
| Cuyahoga Falls High School | Cuyahoga Falls | Automobile | 2029-07-01 | |
| Cuyahoga Valley Career Center | Brecksville | Automobile | 2027-06-01 | |
| Delaware Area Career Center | Delaware | Automobile | AYES | 2027-02-01 |
| Ehove Career Center | Milan | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | 2026-03-01 | |
| Ellet High School | Akron | Automobile | 2030-11-01 | |
| Fairfield Career Center | Carroll | Automobile | AYES | 2026-02-01 |
| Four County Career Center | Archbold | Automobile | 2028-06-01 | |
| GlenOak High School | Canton | Automobile | 2028-06-01 | |
| Hudson High School | Hudson | Automobile | 2028-06-01 | |
| Kettering-Fairmont High School | Kettering | Automobile | AYES | 2030-03-01 |
| Laurel Oaks Career Campus | Wilmington | Automobile | 2031-07-01 | |
| Lima Senior High School | Lima | Automobile | 2029-02-01 | |
| Lorain County JVS | Oberlin | Automobile | AYES | 2027-12-01 |
| Lorain County JVS | Oberlin | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | 2027-02-01 | |
| Lorain High School | Lorain | Automobile | AYES | 2025-03-01 |
| Mahoning County Career & Tech Center | Canfield | Automobile | AYES | 2029-02-01 |
| Maplewood Career Center | Ravenna | Automobile | 2031-01-01 | |
| Medina County Career Center | Medina | Automobile | AYES | 2027-06-01 |
| Medina County Career Center | Medina | Collision Repair and Refinishing | 2031-12-01 | |
| Medina County Career Center | Medina | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | 2028-04-01 | |
| Miami Valley Career Technology Center | Clayton | Automobile | AYES | 2026-05-01 |
| Ohio Hi-Point Career Center | Bellefontaine | Automobile | 2028-01-01 | |
| Ohio Valley Career & Tech Center | West Union | Automobile | 2028-02-01 | |
| Penta Career Center | Perrysburg | Automobile | 2028-02-01 | |
| Pickaway-Ross CTC | Chillicothe | Automobile | 2031-04-01 | |
| Pickaway-Ross CTC | Chillicothe | Collision Repair and Refinishing | 2026-04-01 | |
| Pickaway-Ross CTC | Chillicothe | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | 2026-05-01 | |
| Pioneer Career & Technology Center | Shelby | Automobile | AYES | 2029-02-01 |
| Pioneer Career & Technology Center | Shelby | Collision Repair and Refinishing | 2025-01-01 | |
| Pioneer Career & Technology Center | Shelby | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | 2029-06-01 | |
| Polaris Career Center | Middleburg Heights | Automobile | AYES | 2030-07-01 |
| Portage Lakes Career Center | Uniontown | Automobile | 2028-02-01 | |
| R.G. Drage Career Center | Massillon | Automobile | 2027-08-01 | |
| Sentinel Career Center | Tiffin | Automobile | 2030-08-01 | |
| Sentinel Career Center | Tiffin | Collision Repair and Refinishing | 2027-12-01 | |
| South-Western Career Academy | Grove City | Automobile | 2027-07-01 | |
| Springfield-Clark CTC | Springfield | Automobile | 2028-06-01 | |
| Trumbull Career and Technical Center | Warren | Automobile | 2025-11-01 | |
| Valley Forge High School | Parma Heights | Automobile | 2030-07-01 | |
| Vanguard Technical Center | Fremont | Collision Repair and Refinishing | 2028-11-01 | |
| Wadsworth High School | Wadsworth | Automobile | 2030-06-01 | |
| Waite High School | Toledo | Collision Repair and Refinishing | 2029-07-01 | |
| Whitmer Career & Technology Center | Toledo | Automobile | 2028-08-01 |
The same note on accreditation expiry applies here: contact any school with a past expiry date to confirm current status before you make plans around it.
How to choose the right path
The right starting point depends on where you are now and what kind of work you want to do.
If you are still in high school
Look first at whether your district feeds into one of the 13 AYES-designated programs. If it does, that pipeline gives you dealer contacts and documented experience before you graduate. That matters when you apply for your first full-time job. If you are near an AYES school but not enrolled, talk to your guidance office about transferring to a career center for your junior or senior year. Many students do this in Ohio.
If you want the fastest path to a manufacturer certification
One of the 10 OEM programs is your target. Sinclair Community College in Dayton has the most variety, with GM ASEP, Honda PACT, and Mopar CAP all running from the same campus. Stark State College of Technology in North Canton runs GM ASEP, Honda PACT, and Toyota T-TEN. Each program requires a dealer sponsor before you can start, so begin the process by contacting the school, not the dealer. The school’s automotive department will walk you through how sponsorship works for that brand.
If you want diesel or heavy-duty truck work
Four post-secondary programs cover Medium/Heavy Duty Truck in Ohio: C-TEC of Licking County in Newark, Ohio Technical College in Cleveland, Owens Community College in Perrysburg, and University of Northwestern Ohio in Lima. Diesel median pay in Ohio is $60,470, compared to $48,710 for general auto tech, so if heavy equipment interests you, the pay difference is real and worth factoring in from the start.
If you want collision repair
Ohio Technical College (Cleveland) and Owens Community College (Perrysburg) both have post-secondary collision repair programs. The Ohio median for body repairers is $49,080, with top earners at $78,370. Several secondary programs also cover collision, which can give you a foundation before you decide whether to continue at the post-secondary level.
Next steps
Pick two or three schools from the tables above that match your location, series, and whether you want an OEM placement. Visit each school’s program page using the links above. Ask each school specifically about current accreditation status if the expiry date shown is close or past, about how the dealer sponsorship process works if you are interested in an OEM program, and about application deadlines. BLS May 2025 OEWS data shows Ohio employs over 43,000 people across the four automotive occupations listed on this page. The work is here. The training programs are listed above. Your next step is to contact the schools that fit your situation.
Source:
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm