Automotive Dealership Fundamentals

The certificate totals 15 credit hours across 9 courses and can be completed in about five months or less. Coursework follows Keiser University's signature one-class-at-a-time model in four-week terms, with new classes starting every month.

Instruction is delivered primarily online, allowing students to study on their own schedule, and is paired with a required 2-3 day residency at the Flagship campus in West Palm Beach, FL, where students apply their learning in person and network with peers and faculty. Students complete a shared core plus two track-specific courses in their chosen specialization (Fixed Operations, Variable Operations, or General Management).

Every student completes a common core in management, operations, and an automotive-retail leadership capstone, then adds courses specific to their chosen track. The full course sequence is listed below.

Required Courses

Keiser University charges tuition per 16-week semester based on scheduled credit hours. At the full-time rate (12-17.99 credits), tuition is approximately $12,408 per semester per the university's Undergraduate Tuition & Fee Disclosure (subject to annual review). Because this certificate is 15 credit hours, a student completing it at a full-time load can expect roughly one full-time semester of tuition (about $12,408); the actual charge depends on how credits are scheduled across terms. A one-time $55 application fee and one-time $145 registration fee apply at enrollment. Prospective students should confirm exact costs with an admissions counselor, as certificate programs may be billed by scheduled credits.

Financial aid is available to those who qualify, including federal Pell Grants, FSEOG, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, and Federal Work-Study; Florida student aid (FSAG and EASE); institutional scholarships; and veterans and military education benefits. Complete the FAFSA annually (Keiser FAFSA School Code 015159). An estimate is available through Keiser's Net Price Calculator at https://www.keiseruniversity.edu/NPC-index.html.

Estimated total program tuition of about $12,408 (full-time semesters at ~$12,408/semester); actual cost varies with pace and transfer credit.

Graduates are prepared to pursue management and leadership roles across automotive dealerships and vehicle distribution systems. Depending on the track chosen, roles include:

• Service manager and fixed operations director
• Parts manager and inventory control specialist
• Sales manager and finance & insurance (F&I) roles
• General manager and dealership owner/operator
• Customer relations manager, fleet manager, and dealership training and development coordinator

This is an academic certificate rather than a licensure program; there is no state license or national board exam tied to completion. It develops job-ready competencies in customer retention, team leadership, financial analysis and KPIs, sales processes, and regulatory compliance (including dealer laws and DMV requirements), and can also serve as a stepping stone toward further business or automotive dealership management study.

Expect an accelerated, applied program built around working professionals. You will take one class at a time in four-week terms, mostly online, then travel to the Flagship campus in West Palm Beach for a 2-3 day residency that puts theory into practice and connects you with faculty and peers. Coursework uses business and accounting software, including Microsoft Office, so you will need a Windows PC, reliable internet, and the ability to download software and data files; a headset is recommended for presentations.

You will read industry-informed material, complete written and analytical assignments, deliver presentations, and finish with a capstone on exercising leadership in automotive retail distribution. Because the program is track-based, your final courses focus on the operations area — fixed, variable, or general management — most relevant to your career goals.