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California Auto Mechanic License Requirements
Thankfully throughout the State of California, a good auto technician is not required to have a license to repair vehicles!
However, just because there is no structured or national criteria does not mean virtually all technicians are equally skilled for a job in an automobile repair shop.
Operating in California, mechanics who satisfy the following prerequisites are much more likely to obtain a job in an automobile mechanic shop when compared with candidates who do not fulfill these minimal qualifications:
- Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certification (Master Mechanic certification preferred)
- California work experience in one of the following areas:
- Parts Specialist – 2 years
- Service Consultant – 2 years
- On-the-job training from local automotive dealers
- Plus: Any car manufacturer certifications (e.g. General Motors, Chrysler, Mercedes, BMW, etc.)
- Automotive Repair Classroom Training:
- Collision repair training
- Repair Technology training courses (including diagnostic software)
Salaries and Incomes for Motor Vehicle Repair Specialists in California
| Total Number of Auto Mechanics | 56,000 |
|---|---|
| Average Annual Salary | $43,220 |
| Average Hourly Wage | $20.78 |
| Employment (per 1,000 jobs) | 3.806 |
| Annual Job Growth Rate | 4.0% |
| Estimated Job Openings per Year | 2,800 |
Supplemental Qualifications
To make oneself a great deal more valuable to potential automotive shops, many mechanics will quickly realize that his or her job opportunities improve if they’re able to achieve additional certifications and education:
Automobile Service Excellence (ASE) Certification in California
A 
large number of auto technicians choose to get extra qualification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) (www.ase.com). ASE is an self-governing, non-profit organization that works to improve quality of motor vehicle maintenance and services by certifying and assessing repair and service specialists. ASE Certification is often a significant component of an auto technician’s occupation and resume, and can help show off knowledge and help to make mechanics far more marketable to future hiring managers. Simply be sure you devote some time to review for the assessments by using our free of charge testing tools and quiz questions. Automobile mechanics together with other auto service industry experts that want to get ASE certification can take any one of ASE’s 40+ tests. Upon successfully passing these job-related competency exams, the mechanic will become ASE certified in several of the following areas: Automobile, truck, collision repair, and many more. (Register here)
Refrigerant Certification in California
The American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all auto service technicians that work with or buy refrigerants to achieve licensing in appropriate handling of refrigerants. Currently there is not a formalised test preparation mandated, but a number of labor unions, trade schools, and employer associations offer courses and college classes for assessment preparation. Additional information about this certification can be read at the official EPA page.
ASE Student Certification in California
ASE Student Certification can help you move on the ideal track for establishing a career as an effective service skilled professional in the car industry. Compared to the full ASE official certifications, there are not any mechanic experience prerequisites for student certification. Any candidate simply just would need to complete one or more of the student certification tests. The moment the student has skillfully finished one of these tests, the faculty prints the official document and has it approved by the school principal and it is presented to the trainee. The student qualification is valid for two years after the evaluation day.
Desirable Characteristics for California Certified Auto Mechanics
Eagle Eyes: Vehicular difficulties will often times be caused by forgotten about details or things which can be caught by a extremely experienced technician. The nature of an motor vehicle technician is to examine every possible issue with very good detail when producing a diagnosis or repair.
Service Excellence: Vehicle service professionals help potential customers day after day, and the most successful specialists develop close personalised connections with their clients that keep them returning for possible future Assistance. A large number of professionals take too lightly this part of the California auto repair service business.
Ability
to Diagnose: A fundamental capability of automobile technicians is the ability to diagnose engine, mechanical, and wear-related complications with vehicles and other complicated systems. The competency to discover and correct complications often comes with on-the-job training and experience in a maintenance shop.
Typical Incomes in California by City:
| City / Region | Typical Salary | Salary Range | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield - Delano | $35,890 | $21K - $55K | 1100 |
| Chico | $40,260 | $24K - $61K | 340 |
| El Centro | $49,540 | $26K - $72K | 230 |
| Fresno | $37,220 | $20K - $57K | 1490 |
| Hanford - Corcoran | $33,540 | $20K - $53K | 120 |
| Los Angeles - Long Beach - Glendale (Metro Area) | $36,390 | $21K - $60K | 13160 |
| Madera - Chowchilla | $40,530 | $22K - $53K | 140 |
| Merced | $33,590 | $19K - $54K | 340 |
| Modesto | $36,520 | $26K - $58K | 730 |
| Napa | $44,890 | $27K - $60K | 200 |
| Oakland - Fremont - Hayward (Metro Area) | $49,170 | $26K - $73K | 4130 |
| Oxnard - Thousand Oaks - Ventura | $37,450 | $22K - $68K | 1490 |
| Redding | $42,500 | $21K - $72K | 330 |
| Riverside - San Bernardino - Ontario | $38,080 | $21K - $61K | 5810 |
| Sacramento - Arden - Arcade - Roseville | $48,130 | $28K - $68K | 3520 |
| Salinas | $43,730 | $29K - $66K | 460 |
| San Diego - Carlsbad - San Marcos | $42,850 | $28K - $65K | 4850 |
| San Francisco - San Mateo - Redwood City (Metro Area) | $48,110 | $29K - $85K | 3240 |
| San Jose - Sunnyvale - Santa Clara | $48,530 | $27K - $72K | 2680 |
| San Luis Obispo - Paso Robles | $38,060 | $23K - $62K | 460 |
| Santa Ana - Anaheim - Irvine (Metro Area) | $46,370 | $28K - $82K | 5000 |
| Santa Barbara - Santa Maria - Goleta | $43,030 | $24K - $69K | 590 |
| Santa Cruz - Watsonville | $49,510 | $28K - $73K | 310 |
| Santa Rosa - Petaluma | $49,450 | $26K - $71K | 720 |
| Stockton | $35,350 | $20K - $59K | 870 |
| Vallejo - Fairfield | $39,620 | $23K - $69K | 690 |
| Visalia - Porterville | $34,700 | $18K - $54K | 450 |
| Yuba City | $39,650 | $24K - $58K | 260 |
Next Steps towards ASE Certification
Now that you’re familiar with all of the ASE Certification requirements in [state], try out our free Automotive Service Excellence Tests to see how much you know!