Auto Mechanic Schools in Alaska

Nowadays, automotive technicians need to know more than just how to repair cars. These machines have become so complex that they integrate technology from all walks of life, including electrical and computer science.

As an aspiring mechanic in Alaska, your ultimate objective should be to start your career on a strong path, understanding the fundamentals of the job as deeply as possible while setting yourself up for future career growth.

The guide below helps you do that by introducing you to the necessary steps as early as possible. It also explores various educational alternatives for your training before providing tangible program options and licensure requirements.

Lastly, it rounds up by providing actual figures concerning the annual average salary of an auto mechanic in Alaska based on location while revealing a few other factors that can help professionals increase their earnings on the job.

How to Become an Auto Mechanic in Alaska

The steps below are vital to starting an auto mechanic career in Alaska.

Meet the Basic Requirements

The basic requirement for an aspiring auto mechanic in Alaska is a high school diploma or GED. Candidates are also expected to be sound in fundamental mathematics and other technical subjects.

Classroom Instructions

An aspiring mechanic must receive training in foundational theoretical principles before working in real-world environments. This will make it easy for them to acclimate when they secure employment and ensure that they have a profound understanding of their duties instead of just going about them rigidly.

Luckily, candidates in Alaska have several top-quality automotive technology programs they can look to for such training. We explore notable options in an upcoming section.

Practical Training

After understanding the fundamental principles of the job in a classroom, the next step for anybody who wants to become an automotive mechanic is to start working with tools and equipment as quickly as possible.

Attending an academic program can also be a good way to achieve this. Even though the initial focus may be on classroom instructions, candidates can usually work in actual workshops or even receive on-the-job training through internships and externships.

Specialization & Career Opportunities

After receiving classroom and practical training, candidates may further boost their careers by acquiring specialty knowledge. For instance, an automotive mechanic may specialize in working with Porsche automotive systems through the Porsche Technology Apprenticeship Program.

Becoming professionally certified can also improve an automotive mechanic’s chances of career growth.

Explore other trades with similar paths

• How to become an electrician in Alaska

Licensure & Certification Requirements

No license or certification is needed to become an auto mechanic or technician in Alaska, and according to state laws, no certification is needed either. However, employers have the right to select their employees based on whether or not they are certified.

For this reason, many automotive mechanics in Alaska pursue certification anyway. The most popular options are the credentials the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) offers.

ASE credentials are recognized nationally and are well-respected within the industry. Some popular credentials to consider from the ASE include truck equipment certification, engine machines certification, light truck certification, collision repair and refinishing certification, and more.

These require their examination and subsequent renewal through continuing education every 5 years.

Top Auto Mechanic Schools in Alaska

The entries below are among the best automotive mechanic training programs for candidates in Alaska to consider.

Explore auto mechanic schools in Alaska by city:

• Auto mechanic schools in Anchorage

Salary & Career Outlook

In Alaska, most auto mechanics earn an annual salary of $79,853, which puts them among the state’s average earners and in line with the national average. After scaling their earnings to the top 10%, they can expect to earn an annual average salary of around $112,328.

Lower down, it is also possible for auto mechanics in Alaska to find themselves among the bottom 10%, taking home an annual average salary of $56,767.

Currently, Kotzebue, North Pole, and Nome are the cities with the highest salaries for auto mechanics in Alaska, with annual average salaries of $99,280, $89,802, and $81,098, respectively. They are followed by Anchorage with an annual average salary of $80,517 and Fairbanks with an annual average salary of $79,463.