Go beyond getting the technical skills to perform bumper-to-bumper diagnostics, repair and preventive maintenance on automobiles and light trucks. Prepare for advanced positions in the automotive field or pursue a four-year degree!
Automotive Technology student inspecting a car's chassis

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Automotive Technology-Comprehensive
Program Number: 106026
Your Degree: Associate Degree
Estimated Time to Complete: 69 Credits | Finish degree in 2 years
Delivery Method: 100% In Person
Area of Study: Transportation
Estimated Program Cost: $13,501.52
Use our Net Price Calculator to estimate your tuition costs.
financial aid icon Financial Aid Available
  • Program Overview

    Madison College’s Automotive Technology – Comprehensive associate degree combines the technical know-how learned in the technical diploma with general education courses that will make you more desirable to employers.

    In addition, the associate degree is an excellent option if your future goals include owning your own business, becoming an instructor or earning a 4-year degree in engineering or related field.

    Automotive Technical Training

    While you’re working towards your Automotive Technology-Comprehensive associate degree, you’ll automatically earn the Automotive Technician technical diploma as soon as you finish the technical coursework.

    Through the technical courses, you will use modern tools and equipment to develop skills in diagnosis, service, troubleshooting, testing, repair and overhaul, with a focus on electrical, mechanical and hydraulic systems. You will get hands-on experience with:

    • automatic transmission/transaxles
    • clutches
    • manual transmissions/transaxle
    • differentials
    • four-wheel drive/all-wheel drive
    • drive axles
    • engine breathing
    • ignition systems
    • computer control and sensors
    • fuel and air management
    • emission systems
    • lighting
    • windshield wipers
    • power windows
    • instruments
    • sound systems
    • complete brake systems
    • heating and air conditioning systems, including vacuum and electrical controls
    • automatic temperature control systems

    We strongly recommend that you work in the auto repair industry while in this program in order to gain additional hands-on experience.

    Associate Degree General Education Requirements

    The associate degree requires five additional courses (15 credits) in math, economics, writing, communication and human relations.

    These courses are designed to relate to the automotive workplace, helping you develop skills needed to advance to a supervisory position, including parts and labor cost estimation, customer service and shop management.

    Program Details

    Students in the Automotive Technology program can attend full or part time.

    Automotive technical courses are offered at the Madison College Truax campus. The general education classes may be offered in-person at various campuses or online.

    Earn Automotive Industry Certifications

    EPA 609 Certification

    You will be trained and test to receive the EPA 609 certification for Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning systems. This is required to service and repair automobile air conditioning systems.

    ASE Certification

    Completing the Automotive Service Technician program gives you one of the two years of technical experience required for the ASE Certification.

    ASE Education Foundation logo
    The Automotive Technology program is accredited through the ASE Education Foundation.

    Choose Automotive Technology at Madison College

    Learn more about our program options and why students choose Madison College to train for an automotive career.

    View Automotive Technology Program Options

    automotive technology student checking a car's radiator cooling fan
  • Curriculum and Experience

    Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2025-2026 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.

    Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:

    • Progress toward your specific requirements
    • Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements

    If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.

    First Semester
    10-602-100
    2 credits
    10-602-101
    3 credits
    10-602-124
    3 credits
    10-602-126
    2 credits
    10-602-166
    5 credits
    Second Semester
    10-457-100
    2 credits
    10-602-157
    5 credits
    10-602-158
    1 credit
    10-602-163
    5 credits
    10-801-195
    3 credits
    Third Semester
    10-602-154
    5 credits
    10-602-155
    5 credits
    10-602-162
    2 credits
    10-804-134
    3 credits
    10-809-195
    3 credits
    Fourth Semester
    10-602-150
    5 credits
    10-602-152
    5 credits
    10-801-196
    3 credits
    10-809-199
    3 credits
  • Admission

    Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities, so apply today!
     
    If you are an international student and want to apply to Madison College, or transfer your F-1 student visa here, check program availability and then complete the International Admission Process.

    Apply Now – Limited Seats Available!

    This program has limited capacity and may reach maximum enrollment quickly. Applying early gives you the best chance of securing a spot.

    • Program capacity: 80 students every fall semester. It shares capacity with other programs that have a similar curriculum.

    If the program reaches capacity, a waiting list will be used to manage additional qualified applicants. However, we’d anticipate only a brief wait for most applicants.

    • Students are added to the waiting list based on the date they complete all application requirements
    • Being on the waiting list gives you priority for future openings
    • Priority does not guarantee a spot in the program
    • You may remain on the waiting list if you continue to follow the steps to notify Madison College of your continued interest

    Application Dates

    Fall 2026

    • Application open
    • Application completion deadline is August 31, 2026

    Admission Requirements

    All materials must be submitted by the application deadline.

    1. Admission Application

    The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.

    2. Education Completion

    Submit official transcripts from the institutions you attended that indicate one of the following:

    • High school completion (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
    • GED/HSED completion
    • College transcript or Madison College experience showing:
      • Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
      • At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale
        • The credits must be completed at a single college and cannot be combined with other transcripts
        • Any transfer credit listed on a transcript does not count toward the 30-credit minimum
        • Credits completed at Madison College are evaluated and do not require a transcript

    All high school and/or college transcripts are recommended to be submitted for Credit for Prior Learning evaluation.

    3. Residency Requirement

    Per Wisconsin Statute TCS-10 because this program has a waitlist:

    • Out-of-state residents (except Minnesota residents*) are not eligible for admission consideration to this program
    • Non-district state residents
      • May only be considered after January 1 for the upcoming fall term
      • *Minnesota residents are considered non-district state residents for admission purposes

    Additional Notes

    Individual courses may have prerequisites to enroll. Admission into a program or waiting list does not guarantee eligibility to enroll in courses. See the Curriculum section for the list of courses for the program.

    After Acceptance

    Once you are admitted into your program, review the Start of Semester Checklist to prepare for your first day of classes at Madison College.

    Questions?

    Contact the Enrollment Center at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.

    apply for admission

    Get Started!

    Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Automotive Technology-Comprehensive career.

    It's Free to Apply

  • Transfer Opportunities

    UW System Schools

    The terms of the B.S in Leadership & Org Studies agreement are limited to students who complete selective A.A.S or A.A.A. degrees and are admitted to the Organizational Studies emphasis at UW-Oshkosh. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
    Students with an AAS transfer in with articulated general education transfer credit, 12 credits of 1000T Industrial Studies credits, and 15 credits of 3000T Industrial Studies credits. 27 credits of Industrial Studies electives can apply to the ITM.

    Wisconsin Private Schools

    Qualified students who meet the admission criteria of Concordia University Inc. and are admitted under the Advanced Transfer Core are guaranteed transferability of academic courses of up to 84 credits of D or above earned at a Wisconsin Technical College System institution. Qualified students are those who have completed the Associate Degrees, Associate of Arts (AA) or Sciences (AS), Associate Degree of Applied Arts (AAA) or Applied Sciences (AAS)
    Student who earn an Associate Degree from Madison College can transfer a minimum of 60 credits and a maximum of 72 credits to Lakeland College to be applied to the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree.
    Completion of an A.A.S. Degree at Madison College after 2018, and meeting admission requirements for the Rader School of Business (RSOB) at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) can earn a B.B.A degree in Technical Sales at MSOE.
    Mount Mary University will recognize an earned AA, AS, and AAS degree and guarantee those students junior standing. Outlines main transfer equivalancies.

    Out-of-State Schools

    Students who complete any associate degree at Madison Area Technical College will have no additional general education core curriculum requirements to meet but must satisfy the Kirkpatrick Signature Series requirement.
    Per the agreement, students must complete the associates of arts, associates of science or associates of applied science with an overall GPA of a 2.0 prior to transferring.
    Students graduating with an associate degree from MATC with a 2.0 GPA or higher are guaranteed admissions into CSU-Global and can transfer up to 64 semester credits from MATC to be applied toward earning a Bachelor’s Degree at CSU-Global.
    Franklin University will guarantee acceptance of Madison College graduates with an AA, AS, or AAS. Madison College graduates will have junior standing at Franklin University and may transfer up to 94 additional credits toward their baccalaureate degree.
  • Career Outcomes

    Earning your two-year Technical Diploma in the Automotive Technician program at Madison College prepares you for valuable work as:

    • Automotive Service Technician
    • Auto Electronics Specialist
    • Transmission and Drive Train Specialist
    • Alignment Specialist
    • Automotive Machine Specialist
    • Service Manager or Assistant Service Manager
    • Service Writer
    • Parts and Sales Specialists

    The skills you’ll gain in this program are versatile and can be applied to careers beyond automotive technician. You’ll also be prepared for employment in other industries such as:

    • Forklift Service
    • Small Engine
    • Industrial Equipment Repair
    • Manufacturing
    • Engineering
    • Automotive Tools and Equipment Sales
    • Graduate Summary

      Graduate Report Summary Overview

      202220232024
      Number of Program Graduates91116
      Number of Surveys Sent91116
      Number of Surveys Returned5107
      Percent of Surveys Returned
      Available for Employment595
      Percent Available for Employment100.0%90.0%71.4%
      Not in Labor Market
      Percent Not in Labor Market0.0%10.0%14.3%
      Available for Employment

      202220232024
      Graduates Employed594
      Percent of Graduates Employed100.0%100.0%80.0%
      Employed in Related Occupation494
      Percent Employed in Related Occupation80.0%100.0%100.0%
      Employed in Unrelated Occupation100
      Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation20.0%0.0%0.0%
      Employed - No Response000
      Percent Employed - No Response0.0%0.0%0.0%
      Seeking Employment001
      Percent Seeking Employment0.0%0.0%20.0%
      Reaction To Training at Madison College

      202220232024
      Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4)3.83.93.8
      Number of Satisfaction Responses5106
      Very Satisfied (4)495
      Percent Very Satisfied80.0%90.0%83.3%
      Satisfied (3)111
      Percent Satisfied20.0%10.0%16.7%
      Unsatisfied (2)000
      Percent Unsatisfied0.0%0.0%0.0%
      Very Unsatisfied (1)
      Percent Very Unsatisfied0.0%0.0%0.0%
      Primary Reason for Attending Madison College

      202220232024
      Number of Primary Reason Responses5106
      Preparation for Getting a Job
      Percent Preparation for Getting a Job
      Career Change
      Percent Career Change
      Improvement of Existing Skills
      Percent Improvement of Existing Skills
      Preparation for Further Education
      Percent Preparation for Further Education
      Personal Interest
      Percent Personal Interest
      Other
      Percent Other0.0%0.0%0.0%
      When Employment was Obtained

      202220232024
      Number of When Employment Obtained Responses594
      Before Enrollment102
      Percent Before Enrollment20.0%0.0%50.0%
      While Attending the College141
      Percent While Attending the College20.0%44.4%25.0%
      After Training at the College351
      Percent After Training at the College60.0%55.6%25.0%
      Location of Employment (related and unrelated)

      202220232024
      Number of Employment Location Responses595
      In College District184
      Percent In College District20.0%88.9%80.0%
      In Wisconsin, Not in District210
      Percent of In Wisconsin40.0%11.1%0.0%
      Outside of Wisconsin200
      Percent Outside Wisconsin40.0%0.0%0.0%
      Employer Location Unknown001
      Percent Location Unknown0.0%0.0%20.0%
      Salary Trend
      Salary Trend202220232024
      Full Time Employment (Related Job)Full Time Salary Count494
      Average Monthly Wage$2,979$4,183$3,920
      Average Hourly Wage$17.32$24.32$22.79
      Average Work Hours per Week43.841.641.3
      Part Time Employment (Related Job)Part Time Salary Count
      Average Hourly Wage
      Average Work Hours per Week
    • Graduate Employers

      Graduate Employers for academic year: 2024
      Employer(s)Job TitleCity*State**Positions
      Bergstrom Chevrolet-Cadillac-OldsmobileService Technician
      Crown Lift TrucksForklift Service Technician
      Don MillerAutomotive Technician2

      * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.

      ** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.

      *** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu

Ready to get started?
Your first step is to apply to Madison College. It's easy and free to apply, so get started today!
Contact the School of Technologies and Trades

Madison Truax Campus
Main Building, A2105

1701 Wright Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53704

tandt@madisoncollege.edu
608.246.6800

Hours

Monday - Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (phone or email only)