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Automotive Technician Program

Automotive Technician Frequently Asked Questions

In both programs you’ll learn the same auto mechanics skill content. Graduates of both programs typically start out as technicians.
The Auto Technology associate degree program has more general studies course in the curriculum (21 credits total), such as Written Communications, Psychology, Sociology, Physics, etc. These general courses may help prepare you for mid-management positions or completing a four year degree.
The technical diploma program (Automotive Technician) has fewer general studies in the curriculum. Because of this, you do spend some additional time in the lab working on automotive skills.

You can only start the Automotive programs in the fall semester.
A waitlist can form for these two program, so the year you start depends on when you applied and the status of the waitlist. (See “Do the Automotive programs have a waitlist?”)

The Automotive Technician and Automotive Technology programs accept students for fall semesters only. You can apply as early as August 1 for the next year’s fall admittance.
Given that a waitlist forms for these two programs, we recommend
Click here to apply

What are the admission requirements?

Both programs require at least a 2.0 high school GPA (if you have a GED or HSED, you are waived from this requirement.), or at least 12 credits of college coursework with a GPA of a 2.0.
If you do not have the 2.0 high school or college GPA, you will be admitted on probation into the 3-year Auto Technician program. In the 3-year program you will take only general studies courses and metals courses for the first year. If you complete the required classes with a 2.0 or higher, you will be admitted to take the core Automotive courses.
If you have special circumstances, you may appeal this decision to the lead automotive instructor.

Go to MATC’s tuition webpage to see approximate cost per semester for every program.

The Auto Technology program awards an associate degree, and the Auto Technician program awards a two year technical diploma.
Both programs will take two years to complete if you take all the classes each semester and in sequence.

Students typically go full-time during the day. We currently do not offer evening sections.
All classes are held at the Madison Truax campus.

A waitlist always forms for both programs, so the earlier you apply the better.
Even if you are initially placed on a waitlist, you may be later able to take the spot of someone who decides not to attend.
Last year, all students who started the program had application complete dates of June or earlier. Many of these students had initially been placed on the waitlist, but were admitted when someone before them decided not to attend.
Students with application complete dates of July or later had one full year on the waitlist before they could start Automotive classes (they could, however, take required general studies classes).
If you have already completed an application and want to know what number you are on the waitlist, call advisor Kimbrin Cornelius at 243-2483 or email kcornelius@matcmadison.edu

Yes. You may take general studies classes before you enter into the program. To find these classes, look at the Automotive Technician curriculum sheet or the Automotive Technology curriculum sheet, which lists all required classes. General studies courses are identified by an 800 course number (for example, Intro to College Math is 10-804-106).

No. Because this program has a waitlist, Automotive classes are full to capacity with program students. As a result, you cannot register for our program classes before being admitted into the program.

For additional questions about admissions or about the Automotive programs, call advisor Kimbrin Cornelius at (608) 243-4283 or email her at kcornelius@matcmadison.edu


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