Frequently Asked Questions
Questions
- How much does the program cost?
- Are there costs beyond enrollment fees and text books for things such as uniforms, material and lab fees, insurance, tools, etc.
- Can I take automotive classes if I do not want a career in this field?
- I am a woman. Can I take auto classes?
- Are the automotive programs accredited?
- What are the program strengths or unique features? What sets it apart from other schools with this major?
- Should I get an AA/AS Degree or get a Certificate?
- Is there a separate application for the program?
- What automotive classes should I start with?
- Are there any limitations (day, evening, part-time) as to how or when students can complete this program?
- Are there any special industry certifications (ase) or licensing exams (smog) that graduates can take?
- How do I obtain a smog certificate?
- What opportunities are there for obtaining credit for other training (military, private vocational schools, apprenticeship, etc.) or substituting work experience for major requirements?
- What teaching formats such as online, televised, lecture and laboratory are used to deliver instruction?
- What are the instructional facilities (classrooms, labs, etc.) like?
- What general skill levels (English, math and computer) ARE recommended for entry-level coursework and to progress satisfactorily?
- What are common advising issues in this program that counselors should know about?
- What is the nature of any required practicum or field experience in this program?
- What other opportunites exist for internships related to this program?
- What does it feel like to be a student in this program?
- Are there any special scholarships available to students in this program?
Answers
HOW MUCH DOES THE PROGRAM COST?
You are going to like this! Ford/Mazda ASSET students actually get paid to attend CRC and for many of our “Traditional program” students, those eligible for a Board of Governors Grant known as the “BOG”, there is no enrollment fee (tuition) at all.
For students who are not eligible for the BOG, the enrollment fee is only $20 per unit. A typical fulltime student carrying twelve units would pay only $240 per semester or $480 per year if they were not “BOG eligible”. (Compare this cost to private institutions which may run from $27,750 to $37,500). To see if you are eligible for the BOG, go to the CRC financial Aid website
Your main expenses at CRC will be transportation, parking and books (ASSET students have their automotive texts paid for by Ford). Books are the largest single expense at a community college. They may run $80 to $100 per class so, if you are taking a twelve unit load (four classes), you should figure on another $400 for books. Of course, if you are eligible for financial aid and the Cal Grant, all of these expenses could be covered so be sure to file a FAFSA (application) Go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ and http://www.calgrants.org/ to apply.
ARE THERE COSTS BEYOND ENROLLMENT FEES AND TEXT BOOKS FOR THINGS SUCH AS UNIFORMS, MATERIAL AND LAB FEES, INSURANCE, TOOLS, ETC.
For the most part there are no extra fees. There is a $10 lab fee in the small engine repair class. ASSET students are expected to begin buying tools as they move through the program since they are working in the industry while in school. They should have assembled a basic set by the beginning of the second year. Traditional students who are serious about their career will, of course, begin to buy tools also but there are no other costs of attending CRC.
CAN I TAKE AUTOMOTIVE CLASSES IF I DO NOT WANT A CAREER IN THIS FIELD?
Absolutely; the auto student can pursue career or hobby interests through the traditional program but this is not a curriculum where you will just “work on your car”.
I AM A WOMAN. CAN I TAKE AUTO CLASSES?
While the field is dominated by men, we have seen women do very well in the ASSET as well as the traditional curriculum. This is brain not brawn work and dealerships are hungry for talent. Our faculty is very good at working with their students to ensure that the class and lab experience is a positive one.
ARE THE AUTOMOTIVE PROGRAMS ACCREDITED?
Yes.
What agency accredits the programs?
The CRC Automotive Technology program is accredited by NATEF, the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation. See their website http://www.natef.org/ to learn more about this preeminent professional organization. In addition, the Ford ASSET program is a factory approved and sponsored AA degree program.
What does it mean to students to attend an “accredited” program?
It means that CRC automotive students follow a nationally recognized curriculum in eight critical areas. These areas are the educational foundation for the eight basic ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certifications so valued by employers. Actually, NATEF is the educational side and ASE, the certification side of the same organization, one that is totally respected in the industry. NATEF sent their team of experts to examine our curricula, facilities, tools and equipment, safety program, job sheets, and instructor qualifications before accrediting the program. The program is recertified every five years by maintaining currency.
WHAT ARE THE PROGRAM STRENGTHS OR UNIQUE FEATURES? WHAT SETS IT APART FROM OTHER SCHOOLS WITH THIS MAJOR?
Factory support
Because CRC enjoys such close ties to a major manufacturer (Ford/Mazda Motor Company), all of our automotive students, traditional as well as ASSET, benefit because of the factory support provided to the ASSET program. We get the latest in equipment in-order to provide “new model” training. The factory provides special tools, reference books, and instructor training for the ASSET instructors.
Our traditional program students benefit from this factory support as well and have the additional benefit of a more “student driven” pace. The flexible course offerings allow them to take their coursework around their work schedules.
Alignment with the Central Valley New Car Dealers Association
Cosumnes River College’s program and staff enjoy close professional relationships with the 78 new car dealerships in this very important organization. The group provides several very prestigious scholarships each year to our students.
ASE qualified professors.
Our traditional program professors enjoy factory training through the Honda Motor Company training facilities while the ASSET professors attend continuing Ford factory training. and other manufacturers Working in the automotive field means a commitment to constant technological change. We are constantly updating our program content, equipment and instructors.
Our students
Many of our students are already working in the industry and they come for update training or to work towards their ASE certifications. Attending class with working technicians can be very enlightening for the aspiring auto technician.
Student success
Traditional Students can leave the AA degree program with the needed ASE certifications and one of the necessary two years of experience toward the Senior Master Technician certification. Two years of college automotive training counts as one year of work experience toward the ASE. ASSET students can actually meet all of the requirements for the ASEs because they also have a year of work experience built into their two-year program. All of this value is provided at Community college costs.
Courses transfer to many four-year colleges
In addition, all CRC Automotive Technology courses numbered AMT 300 and over transfer to the California State University. This may not be the case for course work taken at private automotive schools and institutes.
Low cost
You will not find equivalent training at this cost. Private schools will cost many thousands more.
SHOULD I GET AN AA/AS DEGREE OR GET A CERTIFICATE?
Does attainment of an AA/AS provide any advantage in entering the workforce over a certificate?
The short answer is “yes” the industry, particularly at the dealership level, places a higher value on the possession of an AA degree. It simply represents a higher set of skills that are of value to an employer. The entering technician likely has better writing, computing, general communication and people skills than one without the degree. These “soft” skills make one more valuable and provide the basis for further training.
CRC students very often will begin their education by “front-loading” automotive coursework that can lead to one of our ten certificates. Many use these certificates to gain their entry-level employment and then start working on the required General Education courses in-order to finish the AA degree.
IS THERE A SEPARATE APPLICATION FOR THE PROGRAM?
Only for the Ford ASSET program. See the section that describes the ASSET program for details.
WHAT AUTOMOTIVE CLASSES SHOULD I START WITH?
Most Automotive Technology courses are numbered in the “300” range. While there are no prerequisites to any automotive class, there may be “advisories” which represent knowledge required to do well. Consider that the lower 300 range, ie. AMT 300, 302, 316, 320 and 322 are more entry level than the higher numbered classes.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO COMPLETE THE DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE AND WHAT IS THE SUGGESTED SEQUENCING OF COURSES?
The time depends upon whether one is pursuing the Traditional or the Ford/Mazda ASSET program. There is an FAQ that details the difference between the two approaches. For the ASSET student, the training is factory driven and will result in an AA degree within a two year period. The plan on the following page outlines the course of study followed by Ford/Mazda ASSET students. The Traditional program, on the other hand, has many scheduling possibilities which would be too confusing to attempt to detail here.
ARE THERE ANY LIMITATIONS (day, evening, part-time) AS TO HOW OR WHEN STUDENTS CAN COMPLETE THIS PROGRAM?
The traditional students enjoy far greater flexibility of coursework than do ASSET students. Classes are offered on both half and full semester formats. They find courses during the days, evenings and on weekends. While students can take their classes in any format and whenever offered, the department takes great pains to ensure that courses are offered so that students can graduate within a two-year period whether they are a day or evening/week-end student.
ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS (ASE) OR LICENSING EXAMS (SMOG) THAT GRADUATES CAN TAKE?
ASE Certifications. Students who complete the related coursework at CRC may sign-up for and take exams for ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certifications. The ASE certifications cover different technical competencies and are highly regarded in the workforce. These certifications should not be confused with the certificate programs that we offer. Our certificates will prepare the student to take different ASE tests, not give them the certificate (no program can give the ASE certification). Certain courses are aligned with certain ASE tests but the instructors are probably best informed to explain this to the student. Smog License. See the information under the following question about obtaining a smog license. This license is required to work as a smog technician in California. The basic coursework is directly related to the CRC Automotive Emissions Control certificate. Any CRC Automotive Technology course listed as a BAR A6 or A8 or L1 course serves as an alternative to the related ASE certifications only for purposes of admissions to the licensing exam.
Are there costs associated with these? Yes, both the ASE exams and the BAR smog technician exam will cost if you choose to take them. Each ASE requires a registration fee and a fee for each test when taken.
How well do CRC graduates do on these exams? Since our curriculum is NATEF approved, they do very well. Some of our graduates have left CRC with as many as eight ASE exams under their belts, “master mechanic” status. This can really help fatten the paycheck! Additionally, we have prepared many of the practicing smog technicians in the Sacramento area.
HOW DO I OBTAIN A SMOG CERTIFICATE?
The BAR or Bureau of Auto Repair web site http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov (then search for “advanced Emissions specialist technician”) lays out all of the possible ways to qualify for the smog license. Most are a combination of education, experience and the three necessary ASE designations, A6, Electrical, A8, Engine Performance and L1, Advanced Engine Performance which they can get by taking our related coursework and then passing the ASE exams. In addition to the above, they will need a clean air course which at CRC is the seven unit AMT 340 course. An approved alternate to the ASE certifications mentioned above are courses known as “BAR approved alternative courses taught by approved schools. Both CRC and American River College are approved to offer these alternative classes. At CRC, these classes are numbered AMT 294, Special Topics, A6 or A8 or L1.
Requirements made simple: The CRC Engine Performance certificate is most directly tied to obtaining the smog license. This might seem odd given that we also have an Emission Control certificate, but for the person with no or little experience in the industry, the Engine Performance certificate hits all of the important areas to ensure the greatest success on the smog exams and the needed ASEs. The certificate allows a choice of AMT 332, Computerized Controls or AMT 340, The “Clean Air” course. The student seeking the smog license should opt for AMT 340 as it is required to sit for the exam.
The Emissions control certificate, on the other hand, is designed with the practicing technician in mind because it skips some of the critical “engine performance” coursework imbedded in the Engine Performance certificate.
| By completing the Engine Performance certificate (choosing AMT 340 rather than 332) and passing the A6, A8 and L1 ASE exams (or the approved alternative classes), the student meets all requirements including the necessary 180 hours of training needed to sit for the smog exam. |
Re-licensing and update training for technicians in the industry: CRC’s own Professor Kevin Rogers could really be named “Dr. Smog” and is one of very few instructors in the state who is authorized by the Bureau of Auto Repair to teach the BAR- instructor certification course. He and other colleagues teach the technician licensing and update courses. These courses are taught under the community services schedule and will not be found in the regular schedule. Students can contact him directly for more information.
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE FOR OBTAINING CREDIT FOR OTHER TRAINING (military, private vocational schools, apprenticeship, etc.) OR SUBSTITUTING WORK EXPERIENCE FOR MAJOR REQUIREMENTS?
Traditional program students enjoy great opportunities for obtaining credit for previous training, certifications and experience. Counselors should initiate substitution waiver petitions and attach copies of any supporting materials such as current ASE certifications and descriptions of work experience. ASSET students on the other hand, will receive no credit for previous automotive training or experience unless it was Ford certified. For CRC students who are traditional program students and seeking entry into the ASSET. Program, this means that they will repeat their non-ASSET. course work within the program if they are admitted. General education courses taken elsewhere can be substituted for CRC required GE if equivalent.
WHAT TEACHING FORMATS SUCH AS ONLINE, TELEVISED, LECTURE AND LABORATORY ARE USED TO DELIVER INSTRUCTION?
Course content is delivered a variety of ways. We use whatever works best and that will include traditional lecture in a multi-media classroom as well as hands-on laboratory coursework that accompanies most courses. We are heavy users of “CDX” a web-based training technology that is state-of the art. Additionally, some courses, such as AMT 301 use the internet for a significant portion of course work.
WHAT ARE THE INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITIES (classrooms, labs, etc.) LIKE?
The classrooms are all multi-media. The lab facility is equipped with the latest in diagnostic equipment, such as an above ground twin post hoist, emissions dynamometer and alignment rack. A full tool room and technicians support the instructional lab activities. Professional reference data bases from All DATA are readily at hand via computer terminals in the lab. Adjacent to the lab is a combination classroom/lab for transmissions and drive train and electrical coursework. There is a separate engine laboratory in addition to our computer-based training lab.
WHAT GENERAL SKILL LEVELS (English, math and computer) ARE RECOMMENDED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL COURSEWORK AND TO PROGRESS SATISFACTORILY?
While there are no prerequisite skill levels required for the traditional program, this is a very technical field and requires very sophisticated analytical skills. If you like to solve complex technical problems but do not want to be confined to a desk then this may be the career for you. The modern automobile has been described as a “computer on wheels” and the training rigor reflects this fact. Basic math skills will enable the student to make critical measurements follow logical sequences and do accurate diagnosis. Factory manuals are written at advanced levels so reading skills need to be good. Oral and written communication skills will enable more effective customer service, estimate warranty skills. Training and reference materials are web-based Students, including ESL students can succeed in our courses with lower than ideal levels of skills as described above, but will not likely succeed in the higher paying segments of the industry without working on these general skill areas.
WHAT ARE COMMON ADVISING ISSUES IN THIS PROGRAM THAT COUNSELORS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
Since, as noted previously, there aren’t any prerequisites for the traditional program, Counselors should pay attention to the “advisories” and the general rule that courses numbered in the lower range of the 300 series are the best first semester classes. It is also helpful to inquire about any experience, certifications and training that the student may have already had. Then, you can do the appropriate substitutions for the traditional program. Counselors should also note the many differences between the Ford/Mazda ASSET program and the traditional Automotive Technology program. When advising potential ASSET students, focus on their educational maturity and readiness to handle the heavy academic load. Many will benefit from delaying entry for a year while they build up their English and math skills. This year also gives them a chance to take some of the tougher GE classes like History and Physics on a full semester basis increasing their chances of success.
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF ANY REQUIRED PRACTICUM OR FIELD EXPERIENCE IN THIS PROGRAM?
How many hours and during what part of the day is this?
Only the ASSET program has a required field experience. Each student works for pay fulltime at his or her sponsoring dealership for the one-half of the semester that they are not in class. It is usually a normal work day.
WHAT OTHER OPPORTUNITES EXIST FOR INTERNSHIPS RELATED TO THIS PROGRAM?
Employers will occasionally contact one of the professors to fill a need or our Cooperative Education team will develop an internship in this area. These experiences will help weed out those who are right for this field and cement the interests of those who are. This is one program where all feel that it is best if the student works while attending school.
WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BE A STUDENT IN THIS PROGRAM?
What is the classroom culture like?
It can vary. In the ASSET cohort groups, it is very much like being on a close knit team. Students will spend every waking moment with the same twenty-five people for a total of one out of two years. You will get to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and make life-long friends. Professors stress proper work place behaviors such as punctuality, work-place relationships, safety, and efficiency.
The traditional program with its’ looser structure is not like this. But, as noted earlier, you do have the opportunity to rub elbows with people who are earning a living in this industry and work with many of the same students as they advance through the curriculum.
How much of the instruction is “hands-on” or workplace simulation?
Our courses are two-thirds laboratory and one-third lecture but to be truthful, students would always like there to be “more hands-on”. This fact highlights the difference between obtaining “training” versus an “education”. Training someone how to do something does not ensure that they know why they are doing it or the physical principles at play. The non-lab part of a class provides the theoretical foundation upon which the laboratory experience is based. At CRC, you will learn the foundations of your craft. The lab experiences will confirm your understanding of the basic principles involved.
What is the nature of the relationships between students and between the students and professor?
During the intense two-year period that they are with their cohort group, the ASSET professors can become like surrogate fathers for their cohort groups sharing their highs and lows. Strong and lasting relationships result from this shared experience. Instructors in the traditional program often develop close relationships also since they may see the students again as they progress throughout the curriculum. Students and professors are also often united by their common interest in the automobile since their youth.
ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS IN THIS PROGRAM?
The CVNCDA, Central Valley New Car Dealers Association, offers four $1000 scholarships to deserving CRC Automotive Technology students each year.