Automotive technician foundation certificate
Automotive Service Technician Foundation Certificate
Facts checked 7 September 2026
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Part of the route toAutomotive Service Technician·Certificate
A 30-week college trades foundation program providing introductory training and Level 1 credit for automotive repair careers.
Ways to get this paid for
Government money that can cover this course. Check who qualifies before you pay.
Free adult upgrading
FreeGrade 11 and 12 courses and English classes are free at public colleges and school districts. This covers the Grade 11 and 12 prerequisite courses, not the program itself.
WorkBC training funding
Up to $7,500 tuitionIf you are out of work or underemployed, a WorkBC case manager can approve and pay for this training. Get approval before you pay.
Canada Training Credit
Half your tuition back, up to $5,000 in your lifeFederal tax credit. $250 a year builds up from age 26. Claim it on your tax return.
BC Access Grant
Up to $4,000 a yearFor low and middle income students in full-time programs under two years at public schools. Assessed when you apply through StudentAid BC.
Money for apprentices
EI, a $4,000 loan per level and a tax creditWhile you are at school for each level. The old federal grants ended in 2025.
THE ROUTE
How this program works, step by step
Grade 11 to the job. Open any step to see what is inside.
The route (8 steps)
For the best view, open the map full screen.
STEP BY STEP
Step by step
The same route as the map, as a list.
Step 1 of 8
Grade 11
⏱ 1 school year- Mathematics 11. Requirement varies by school (Vancouver Community College, Vancouver Island University). Strictest requirement: C.
Step 2 of 8
Grade 12
⏱ 1 school year- BC High School Graduation (Dogwood Diploma). Requirement varies by school (Vancouver Community College, Camosun College, Vancouver Island University). Strictest requirement: standard completion.
- English 12 (min C) or English 10 and Workplace Math 10 (min C), or college assessment
Step 3 of 8
What you need to get in
- Registered apprentice with SkilledTradesBC or AST Foundation certificate
- Active employer sponsorship
- SkilledTradesBC apprentice registration
Step 4 of 8
How to apply
- Apply online through EducationPlannerBC to Vancouver Community College or directly to BCIT
- Cohorts start in September, January, and spring terms
- Provide secondary school transcripts and attend a departmental information session
Step 5 of 8
Automotive technician foundation certificate
⏱ 30 weeks- Automotive shop safety, lift operation, and hazardous fluid handling
- Brake systems: disc brakes, drum brakes, ABS hydraulic circuits, and rotor machining
- Electrical fundamentals: Ohm’s law, multi-meter diagnostics, battery service, and starting/charging circuits
- Steering, suspension, wheel alignment, and engine mechanical service
Step 6 of 8
Where to take it
⏱ 5 schools in BC- British Columbia Institute of Technology — 4 years (About $1,200 per level)
- Camosun College — 30 weeks (About $3,500 for the whole program)
- Thompson Rivers University — 7 weeks per level, 4 levels (About $960 per level)
- Vancouver Community College — 30 weeks (About $4,200 for the whole program)
- Vancouver Island University — 1 year (About $4,200 for the whole program)
Step 7 of 8
Exams and registration after
- SkilledTradesBC Standardized Level 1 Automotive Service Technician Exam
Step 8 of 8
Leads to: Automotive Service Technician
- Explore Automotive Service Technician wages, job outlook, and career pathways
SCHOOLS
Where you can take this(5 schools)
Compare tuitions, campus locations, and delivery formats across approved institutions in British Columbia.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.
Tuition changes every year. Confirm on the school's page. Last checked 8 September 2026.