Kirtland Community College
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Diesel Service Specialist*
Students who choose the Diesel Service Specialist option in the Automotive Technology program at Kirtland Community College will acquire the specialized instruction and technical knowledge needed to become a successful diesel service specialist.
Students learn NATEF accredited course material from ASE Master Certified instructors, both in the classroom and in the laboratory, as they gain practical hands-on experience learning about the fundamentals of diesel technology, electrical systems, electronic systems, diesel engine performance, and diesel engine diagnostics.
Each student will learn how to properly use diagnostic instruments as well as technical manuals and hand tools to test, diagnose, and repair diesel engines and components, performing diesel engine rebuilds and tune-ups with their instructor’s guidance.
The Diesel Service Specialist Curriculum
Students who choose the Diesel Service Specialist option in the Automotive Technology program at Kirtland Community College will be enrolled in the following career-specific courses:
- Engine Fundamentals & Overhaul
- Fuel Systems & Emission Control
- Automotive Fundamentals
- Basic Electricity
- Automotive Electrical Systems
- Intro to Auto Service Management
- Gas Engine Performance /Diagnostics
- Diesel Engine Performance & Diagnostic
- Heating & Air Conditioning
Students will also be required to complete an Automotive Internship after successfully finishing two semesters in order to graduate from the program. Students also have the option of pursuing the two-year Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology. Students are required to complete each course and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a “C” grade, in order to graduate.
ASE Certification and the Diesel Industry
Students who successfully complete the Diesel Service Specialist option in the Automotive Technology program at Kirtland Community College will be ready to take the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Technician Certification tests and will be prepared for the Michigan Bureau of Automotive Regulation Mechanic Certification.
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 Michigan was $43,150 yearly and $20.75 hourly, just 4% lower than the national average.
The One-Year Undergraduate Certificate
Kirtland Community College offers a one-year Undergraduate Certificate in Automotive Technology with a Diesel Service Specialist option. This program is Pell Grant eligible.
*Program is certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and accredited by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF).