Program_Automotive Service Technician

Automotive Service Technician Apprenticeship

As an Automotive Service Technician, you will maintain, diagnose and repair automotive vehicles, cars and light trucks. Automotive Service Technicians are employed by automotive repair shops, specialty repair shops, service facilities, car/truck dealerships and large organizations.
Apprenticeship and Trades
4 Years
 Full-Time On Campus Blended
How to Apply

About the Automotive Service Technician Apprenticeship

Turn your passion for automotives into a career. Train to become an Automotive Service Technician and you will problem solve and perform precise work to maintain, diagnose and repair automotive vehicles, cars and light trucks.  

In this program, you will spend a lot of your technical training in shops to support and apply the theory you learn in class. You will gain a universal skill set that can be applied to multiple trades. 

To work as an Automotive Service Technician in Alberta, you must be a Registered Apprentice or a Certified Journeyman or hold a recognized trade certificate. Automotive Service Technicians are employed by automotive repair shops, specialty repair shops, service facilities, car and truck dealerships, and by large organizations that own fleets of vehicles.  

With experience, you can advance to Service Manager or Shop Foreman. Some Automotive Service Technicians open their own repair facilities. 

Take the skills you learn and challenge yourself. This trade has the opportunity for you to compete in Provincial Skills Canada Competition, Skills Canada National Competition and WorldSkills Competitions. 

When you graduate, you’ll receive both a:   

  • Journeyperson Certificate: This certificate not only acknowledges your expertise in your chosen trade but also grants you the legal authority to work in that trade.  

  • Education Credential: This is a formal testament to your dedication and hard work. It confirms that you've successfully finished an Advanced Diploma in a post-secondary study program and highlights the time and effort you've invested in mastering your trade or profession. 

Work-integrated Learning

Apprenticeship is a unique form of post-secondary education that blends hands-on work experience with classroom learning. On average, you will spend 80 per cent of your apprenticeship on the job, practicing your trade or profession, and 20 per cent in the classroom or lab through structured learning at RDP.  

Further Study

At the end of the final year of the program, you will also be eligible to earn a Red Seal Endorsement on your Journeyperson certificate upon successful completion of the Red Seal Exam. The Red Seal Endorsement allows Journeypersons to work anywhere in Canada without additional training.  

If you have a valid Alberta Journeyman Certificate, you are eligible to receive a Blue Seal Achievement in business competencies after completing the necessary requirements.  

Program Content

During this program you will spend eight weeks on campus every year, and a minimum of 1,560 hours on-the-job training.  

View Curriculum Guide

Completion of Classroom Training

Students must achieve a weighted average of 65% with no section under 50% in both the theory and practical components of the Classroom Training as well as achieving a minimum grade of 70% on the AIT Provincial Exam for each period of Classroom Training.  

Completion of a Journeyperson Certificate

The term of apprenticeship for an Automotive Service technician is four years (four 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1560 hours of on-the-job training and four periods of classroom instruction each year. 

Program_Automotive Service Technician

Related Careers

  • Automotive Service Technician 

  • Automotive Service Writer 

  • Automotive Service Manager 

  • Automotive Fleet manager 

  • Independent Service Shop Owner 

  • Mobile Service Technician 

  • Automotive Service Educator 

  • Shop Foreman / Supervisor 

  • Red Seal endorsement available 

An electrician faculty member speaks to two students who are working with a control panel of wires and buttons.

Meet the Faculty

At Red Deer Polytechnic we are proud of our faculty members and staff who are experts in their disciplines and subject areas. 

Admission Requirements

How to become an Apprentice:  

  1. Ensure you meet Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) eligibility and entrance requirements for your desired skilled trade.  

  2. Find a sponsor/employer to begin earning on-the-job hours towards your apprenticeship.   

  3. Apply for an Apprenticeship Education Program.   

  4. Register for classroom instruction.  

Academic Requirements  

Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) entrance recommended path requirements:  

  • ELA 30-2  

  • Math 30-3  

  • Physics 30 or Chem 30 or Science 30  

  • Related CTS courses 

 Minimum Requirements:  

  • ELA 20-2  

  • Math 20-3  

  • Science 10  

OR 

A pass on all five Canadian GED tests  

OR 

Successful completion of AIT’s entrance exam  

Intake Detail

Registration opens May 14, 2024

1st Period
September 3, 2024 - October 25, 2024
  • On campus delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm 
October 28, 2024 – December 20, 2024
  • On campus delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
January 6, 2025 - February 28, 2025 
  • On campus delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
March 3, 2025 - April 25, 2025 
  • On campus delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
May 5, 2025 - June 27, 2025 
  • On campus delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
2nd Period
September 3, 2024 - October 25, 2024
  • On campus delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm 
October 28, 2024 – December 20, 2024
  • On campus delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
January 6, 2025 - February 28, 2025 
  • On campus delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
March 3, 2025 - April 25, 2025 
  • On campus delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
April 22, 2025 - June 27, 2025 
  • Blended delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • April 30 - May 1 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • May 7 - 8 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • May 14 - 15 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • May 21 - 22 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • May 28 - 29 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • June 4 - 5 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • June 11 - 12 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • June 18 - 19 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • June 25 - June 27 | 8:30am-3:30pm
3rd Period
September 3, 2024 - October 25, 2024
  • On campus delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm 
October 28, 2024 – December 20, 2024
  • On campus delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
January 6, 2025 - February 28, 2025 
  • On campus delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
March 3, 2025 - April 25, 2025 
  • On campus delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
April 22, 2025 - June 27, 2025 
  • Blended delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • April 28 - April 29 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • May 5 - 6 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • May 12 - 13 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • May 20 - 21 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • May 26 - 27 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • June 2 - 3 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • June 9 - 10 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • June 16 - 17 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • June 27 | 7:30am-3:30pm
4th Period
October 28, 2024 – December 20, 2024
  • On campus delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
January 6, 2025 - February 28, 2025 
  • On campus delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • Monday-Friday | 8:30am-3:30pm
February 24, 2025 - May 2, 2025 
  • Blended delivery
  • On campus time requirements
    • March 6 - 7 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • March 13 - 14 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • March 20 - 21 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • March 27 - 28 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • April 3 - 4 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • April 10 - 11 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • April 16 - 17 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • April 24 - 25 | 8:30am-3:30pm
    • May 1 - 2 | 8:30am-3:30pm

Program Cost

Estimated Tuition & Fees
1st Period
$1,480.80
2nd Period
$1,480.80
3rd Period
$1,480.80
4th Period
$1,480.80

These costs are an estimate of tuition and fees based on the recommended course load per training period.     

NOTE: Additional fees may apply. Red Deer Polytechnic reserves the right to cancel, postpone, combine classes, limit registration, and alter course content, instructors, dates, or times.
Fees are subject to change. The above fees do not include textbooks or modules.

For full fee information, view our Program Cost Estimates.

Full payment is required at the time of registration. Registration is processed on a first come, first eligible basis.

Required Texts & Materials

  • Year 1:  AST 100 AIT ILM Package
  • Year 2: AST 200 AIT ILM PACKAGE
  • Year 3: AST 300 AIT ILM PACKAGE
  • Year 4: AST 400 AIT ILM PACKAGE

All Apprenticeship AST students MUST supply;

  • Cotton clothing/coveralls
  • Safety glasses
  • CSA-approved safety footwear
  • Access to a tablet or laptop for all four periods. Note: Cell phones may not be fully supported.
Cancellation Policies

In all cases, a minimum fee of $150 will be withheld should you cancel your enrolment before the first day of class. To  cancel call 403.342.3100 or 1.888.475.1101 

  • For training delivered face-to-face (on-campus) or hyflex, you will not receive a refund if you cancel your registration on or after the first day of class.
  • For training delivered in our blended format (some online, some face-to-face) you can cancel up until 11:00 a.m. on the first day of your second week of class and receive a refund less the $150.00 cancellation fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after 11:00 a.m.
  • If the Polytechnic cancels a scheduled Apprenticeship training period, all tuition and related fees will be refunded.
Waitlist Notification 

If you are waitlisted for a course, we will email the personal email address on file at RDP when a seat becomes available