Florida State College at Jacksonville

Medium and Heavy Duty Truck and Bus Technician

The selective access Medium and Heavy Duty Truck and Bus Technician program at Florida State College at Jacksonville is designed to give students the training they need to become professional diesel technicians. The Medium and Heavy Duty Truck and Bus Technician program at Florida State College at Jacksonville is NATEF certified in areas T2 through T8 for Automotive Service Excellence, preparing each student for the ASE certification exams.

During the 1800 hour program, students will receive classroom instruction in diesel theory and specialized hands-on training using the latest technology to locate, diagnose, and repair problems with the electrical, mechanical, and computerized systems found in diesel engines and equipment.

Students who successfully complete the Medium and Heavy Duty Truck and Bus Technician program at Florida State College at Jacksonville will be specially equipped to secure and hold an entry-level position as a qualified diesel service technician since local employers often contact Florida State College at Jacksonville seeking qualified graduates. Certain students may also qualify for part-time work or internship as a diesel technician while they finish out their schooling.

The Medium and Heavy Duty Truck and Bus Technician Curriculum

The Medium and Heavy Duty Truck and Bus Technician program consists of the following professional core courses:

• Diesel Engine Mechanic/Technician Helper (150 clock hours)
• Diesel Electrical and Electronics Technician (300 clock hours)
• Diesel Engine Preventative Maintenance Technician (150 clock hours)
• Diesel Engine Technician (300 clock hours)
• Diesel Brakes Systems (300 clock hours)
• Diesel Heating and Air Conditioning Systems (150 clock hours)
• Diesel Steering and Suspension Technician (150 clock hours)
• Diesel Transmissions and Drivetrains (150 clock hours)
• Medium and Heavy Truck Hydraulic Systems (150 clock hours)

Students are also required to take various general education classes in order to fulfill the 60 credit requirements of the Associate of Applied Science Degree program. Students must complete the number of clock hours designated for each course (1800 total clock hours) and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, the equivalent of a “C” grade, in order to graduate.

How to Apply for the Medium and Heavy Duty Truck and Bus Technician Program

All applicants must complete and submit their normal college application plus an additional application to the Program Manager’s office. The following information must be included:

• A three-year driving record transcript.
• A report showing your Bennett Mechanical Aptitude Assessment score.
• Results of appropriate placement test (PERT for AAS or TABE for PSAV) or proof of exemption claimed on SB1720 student questionaire.
• A 200 to 300 word essay explaining how the program will help the applicant achieve his or her career goals.

All four items listed above will be taken into consideration during the evaluation process. A poor driving record, Bennett Mechanical Aptitude Assessment score that is below 32, TABE/PERT scores that reveal that further remediation may be required, or a poorly written essay, will affect the applicant’s chances of entering the program.

Job Outlook

As the diesel industry continues to grow rapidly, job opportunities for qualified diesel mechanics is expected to increase 11% by the year 2020, as fast as average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The mean annual wage for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists working in the United States in 2014 was $45,160, while the mean salary for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists employed in the state of Florida was $43,720 yearly and $21.02 hourly, just 3% lower than the national average.

Students who successfully complete the Medium and Heavy Duty Truck and Bus Technician program at Florida State College at Jacksonville will be specially equipped to secure and hold an entry-level position as a qualified diesel service technician since local employers often contact Florida State College at Jacksonville seeking qualified graduates.

The Associate of Applied Science Degree

Florida State College at Jacksonville offers a 60-week Associate of Applied Science Degree in Diesel Technology with a Medium and Heavy Duty Truck and Bus Technician concentration. This program is Pell Grant eligible.