Becoming an Automotive Technician or Mechanic in Tennessee
If you’re excited to work hard and learn something new, consider becoming a mechanic in Tennessee. Although there are no formal educational requirements, most employers would rather hire entry-level mechanics who have gone through some sort of post-secondary program. By learning on the job, you’ll develop great career security and earn a good income.
Requirements for becoming an Automotive Service Technician in Tennessee
Auto mechanics do not need to apply for a professional license in this state. However, there are certain educational requirements that may be necessary depending on the type of job you’re applying for. For example, in order to work as a general automotive technician or mechanic in Tennessee, you must have completed at least one year of post-secondary training from an accredited program. This can include a certificate or degree from a community college, technical school, or automotive trade school.
An automotive technology training program may cover the following topics:
- Steering
- Brake systems
- Proper use of equipment and tools
- Manual drive train
- Current methods of service and repair
- Engine repair and maintenance
- Electrical and electronic systems
- Emissions control
- Diagnostics and troubleshooting
Employers also typically prefer to hire technicians who have some experience in a related field, such as auto repair or general mechanic work. If you’re willing to gain some on-the-job experience through an apprenticeship or internship, it could give you a competitive edge when applying for jobs.
ASE Certification
If you’re interested in becoming an auto service technician, diesel mechanic, or body repair worker in Tennessee, remember that ASE certification can help distinguish you from the competition. Through ASE certification exams covering topics like damage analysis and engine machinist maintenance, ASE will certify your expertise to potential employers.
Obtaining ASE certification is a way to validate that you have the requisite skills and knowledge for mechanic work. There are two ways you can become eligible to take the exams: by completing an educational program as well as having one year of related experience, or if you have two years’ experience in the field without any sort of diploma or degree.
Auto mechanic training in Tennessee
Tennessee has more than 16,000 working automotive service technicians and mechanics, according to BLS May 2025 OEWS data. That is a large workforce, and schools across the state have built programs to supply it. You can find ASE-accredited training (meaning the program meets the quality standard set by the ASE Education Foundation, the recognized national benchmark for automotive instruction) in cities from Memphis to Morristown, from Clarksville to Chattanooga. This page lists every accredited program in the state so you can compare your options in one place.
What ASE accreditation means for you
ASE accreditation is awarded by the ASE Education Foundation after a review of equipment, instructors, curriculum, and student outcomes. A school earns accreditation for a specific program series, such as Automobile or Collision Repair and Refinishing. It is renewed on a fixed schedule, so each listing below shows an expiration date. Programs with expiration dates in the past may be in the renewal process. Contact the school directly to confirm current status before you apply.
Accreditation matters to you because dealerships and independent shops often use it as a hiring filter. Completing an accredited program also puts you on the clearest path toward sitting for ASE certification exams, which employers across Tennessee recognize.
All 33 post-secondary programs in Tennessee
The table below lists all 33 post-secondary ASE-accredited programs at 23 schools in Tennessee, drawn from the ASE Education Foundation directory. These are programs you can enroll in as an adult. High school programs are listed separately further down this page.
Community colleges generally cost less per credit hour than private technical institutes. No tuition figures are shown here because the ASE Education Foundation directory does not include them. Contact each school directly for current tuition and fee information.
| Institution | City | Program series | Level | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Co Higher Education Center – TCAT Knoxville | Clinton | Automobile | Post-secondary | April 2030 |
| Anderson Co Higher Education Center – TCAT Knoxville | Clinton | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Post-secondary | April 2030 |
| Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | Automobile | Post-secondary | June 2026 |
| Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | Collision Repair and Refinishing | Post-secondary | August 2027 |
| Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Post-secondary | February 2029 |
| Nashville Auto Diesel College | Nashville | Automobile | Post-secondary | June 2028 |
| Nashville Auto Diesel College | Nashville | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Post-secondary | April 2028 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Athens | Athens | Automobile | Post-secondary | April 2030 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Clarksville | Clarksville | Automobile | Post-secondary | March 2027 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Clarksville | Clarksville | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Post-secondary | October 2028 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Covington | Covington | Automobile | Secondary and post-secondary | December 2028 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Dickson | Dickson | Automobile | Post-secondary | June 2028 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Dickson | Dickson | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Post-secondary | December 2024 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Elizabethton | Elizabethton | Automobile | Post-secondary | November 2028 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Harriman | Harriman | Automobile | Post-secondary | November 2028 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Harriman | Harriman | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Post-secondary | October 2024 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Hartsville | Hartsville | Automobile | Post-secondary | April 2030 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Hohenwald | Hohenwald | Automobile | Post-secondary | May 2028 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Jacksboro | Jacksboro | Automobile | Post-secondary | May 2027 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Livingston | Livingston | Automobile | Secondary and post-secondary | May 2028 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – McKenzie | McKenzie | Automobile | Post-secondary | August 2029 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – McMinnville | McMinnville | Automobile | Post-secondary | April 2027 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Memphis | Memphis | Automobile | Post-secondary | January 2030 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Morristown | Morristown | Automobile | Post-secondary | February 2028 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Morristown | Morristown | Collision Repair and Refinishing | Secondary and post-secondary | February 2028 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Oneida/Huntsville | Huntsville | Automobile | Post-secondary | April 2028 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Oneida/Huntsville | Huntsville | Collision Repair and Refinishing | Post-secondary | February 2025 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Shelbyville | Shelbyville | Automobile | Post-secondary | September 2026 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Smyrna | Smyrna | Automobile | Post-secondary | September 2029 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville | Knoxville | Automobile | Post-secondary | October 2029 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville | Knoxville | Collision Repair and Refinishing | Post-secondary | October 2028 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville | Knoxville | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Post-secondary | August 2028 |
| William R. Moore College of Technology | Memphis | Automobile | Post-secondary | April 2026 |
Note on expiration dates: programs with past expiration dates may be in renewal. Accreditation is typically reviewed and extended on a rolling basis. Always confirm current status with the school before you apply.
Manufacturer-sponsored training programs in Tennessee
Some automakers run their own training programs alongside community college and TCAT coursework. These are often called OEM programs, meaning original equipment manufacturer programs. They are partnerships between a carmaker and a school. You take your general automotive courses at the school, and the manufacturer adds training specific to its vehicles, tools, and diagnostic systems.
Tennessee has a significant automotive manufacturing presence. Nissan has a large assembly plant in Smyrna, and Volkswagen has a major plant in Chattanooga. That manufacturing base means local dealerships for these and many other brands actively hire graduates with brand-specific training. Programs tied to brands such as Toyota T-TEN, Honda PACT, Ford ASSET, and General Motors ASEP are delivered through partner schools nationwide. Check directly with the school you are considering to find out which, if any, manufacturer partnerships are active at that campus. The partnerships change from time to time, so a current call to the admissions office is the most reliable way to get accurate information.
If you want to work at a specific brand’s dealership, ask that dealership which local school it recruits from. Many Tennessee dealerships have standing relationships with nearby TCAT campuses or with Nashville Auto Diesel College.
Programs for current high school students: the AYES pipeline
This section is for you if you are currently in high school. These programs are not open to adult career-changers. They are for secondary students only.
AYES stands for Automotive Youth Educational Systems. It is not a general shop class. It is a structured pipeline that connects you, while still in high school, to a participating dealership. You learn automotive skills in a real shop environment, and you also spend time working at a dealership alongside professional technicians. When you graduate, you have both your diploma and documented hands-on experience that dealerships recognize. Many AYES graduates move directly into full-time technician roles or continue into post-secondary programs with a head start.
Both AYES programs in Tennessee shown below are at South Side High School in Jackson. There are 2 AYES-accredited programs in Tennessee, and both are listed here.
| School | City | Program series | Program | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Side High School | Jackson | Automobile | AYES | November 2029 |
| South Side High School | Jackson | Collision Repair and Refinishing | AYES | November 2030 |
If you are a high school student in the Jackson area, talk to your counselor about whether you can enroll. If you are outside Jackson, ask your school’s career and technical education (CTE) coordinator whether a similar pipeline program exists through your district, or plan to transition into a TCAT program after graduation.
Job Outlook and Earning Potential
Knowing what each role pays helps you decide which training path makes sense. The figures below come from BLS May 2025 OEWS data for Tennessee.
Automotive service technicians and mechanics
This is the most common role in the field. There are about 16,210 people working in this occupation in Tennessee. The median annual wage is $50,290, meaning half earn more and half earn less. The mean (average) is $54,590. If you are starting out, the 10th percentile figure is $34,820 and the 25th percentile is $38,300. Those are realistic early-career numbers before you build a specialty or earn ASE certifications. Experienced technicians in the top quarter earn $63,790 or more, and the top 10 percent earn $79,930 or more.
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
If you add heavy-duty truck and diesel training, your earning potential goes up. Tennessee has about 5,720 people in this occupation. The median wage is $59,190 and the mean is $60,590. The 25th percentile starts at $48,680, which is already higher than the automotive technician median. The top 25 percent earn $71,610 or more, and the top 10 percent reach $80,580 or more. Several schools in the table above offer Medium/Heavy Duty Truck programs, including Nashville Auto Diesel College, Chattanooga State, TCAT Knoxville, TCAT Clarksville, and the Anderson Co Higher Education Center site in Clinton.
Automotive body and related repairers
Collision repair is a separate trade from mechanical service. Tennessee has about 3,970 people working in this role. The median wage is $47,460 and the mean is $51,200. Entry-level pay starts around $34,950 at the 10th percentile. The top 25 percent earn $56,130 or more, and the top 10 percent earn $70,310 or more. Schools with ASE-accredited Collision Repair and Refinishing programs include Chattanooga State, TCAT Morristown, TCAT Oneida/Huntsville, and TCAT Knoxville.
Automotive glass installers and repairers
This is a smaller specialty, with about 270 people employed in Tennessee. The median wage is $38,420 and the mean is $45,570. The wide gap between median and mean suggests some workers earn significantly above the middle. The top 25 percent earn $62,050 or more, and the top 10 percent earn $67,140 or more.
How pay progresses over a career
The pattern across all four roles is the same: early-career wages are modest, and pay grows as you add skills and certifications. The biggest jumps come when you earn ASE certifications in multiple areas, when you specialize in diesel or heavy trucks, or when you move into a lead technician or service advisor role. Diesel and truck mechanics consistently out-earn general automotive technicians at every percentile shown in the BLS data. If you are deciding between an Automobile program and a Medium/Heavy Duty Truck program, the wage data gives you a concrete reason to consider the truck side if that type of work appeals to you.
Auto Mechanic Salaries in Tennessee by Region
| Region | Total Employed | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 1,350 | $21.96 | $45,670 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 530 | $19.52 | $40,590 |
| Cleveland, TN | 260 | $20.72 | $43,110 |
| Jackson, TN | 370 | $20.82 | $43,310 |
| Johnson City, TN | 400 | $20.30 | $42,210 |
| Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA | 630 | $20.04 | $41,680 |
| Knoxville, TN | 2,190 | $21.82 | $45,390 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 3,250 | $22.88 | $47,590 |
| Morristown, TN | 210 | $19.49 | $40,540 |
| Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | 4,900 | $22.61 | $47,030 |
How to choose a program
Start with location. Tennessee is a large state, and commuting an hour each way to school adds up. Most TCAT campuses offer programs that run on a full-time schedule and complete in under two years. If you need flexibility, ask each school whether evening or part-time schedules exist.
Next, look at the program series. If you want to work on passenger cars, an Automobile program is the direct path. If you want to work on semis, buses, or construction equipment, a Medium/Heavy Duty Truck program gets you there faster. Collision Repair and Refinishing is a separate trade with its own certification track.
Check the accreditation expiration date for any program you are considering. A program whose accreditation has lapsed recently may still be operating and in renewal, but it is worth asking the school directly before you commit.
Finally, if a specific brand’s dealership is your target employer, call that dealership first. Ask which school it partners with and whether it participates in an OEM training program. That one conversation can save you time and point you directly to the right campus.
Working as an Auto Mechanic in Tennessee
Tennessee is an exciting state to pursue a career as a mechanic, diesel mechanic or body repair worker. With the right education and certifications, you can find yourself in high demand for these skilled positions. In addition to the opportunity of earning competitive wages, there are many other benefits associated with pursuing a career in mechanics in Tennessee.
Start exploring Tennessee auto mechanic programs
Use the table above to find every ASE-accredited post-secondary program in Tennessee. Click the school name to go directly to its automotive program page. Then contact the admissions office to ask about schedules, current accreditation status, and any manufacturer partnerships. The BLS May 2025 OEWS wage data shows a clear earning range for each role in this state, so you can set a realistic income target before you enroll.
Sources:
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, 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
- BLS May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- ASE Education Foundation program directory, https://www.aseeducationfoundation.org/