Automotive Technology

The Automotive Technology program prepares students for careers in the automotive service and repair industry through a combination of classroom instruction, laboratory experiences, and hands-on training. Students develop the technical knowledge and practical skills needed to inspect, diagnose, service, repair, and maintain modern automotive systems while applying industry safety standards and manufacturer-recommended service procedures.

The curriculum covers engine systems, brakes, steering and suspension, driveline and transmission systems, electrical and electronic systems, HVAC, vehicle emissions, and advanced diagnostics. Students develop the skills to inspect, diagnose, service, and repair modern vehicles using industry-standard equipment, service information, and systematic troubleshooting procedures while emphasizing safety and professionalism. The program also includes training for Pennsylvania State Inspection and Pennsylvania Enhanced Emissions Inspection certifications. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates earn an Associate in Specialized Technology (AST) Degree. Many students that attend Rosedale Tech have no technical experience when they start, but leave with the foundational knowledge needed to confidently enter the workforce as an automotive technician.

Rosedale Tech’s automotive training takes place at the #1 Cochran Technological Excellence Center, with live, in-person training led by instructors with years of industry experience.

• Experienced instructors with ASE certifications and experience working in the field, who apply real-world experience to their lessons in the classroom and labs.
• Certification preparation for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), PA State inspection, enhanced emissions inspection, and the opportunity to test for the Snap-on Multimeter Certification through the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3).
• Actual equipment — hands-on experience in an automotive shop equipped with lifts, Snap-on diagnostic and repair equipment, and other equipment that may be found in a future place of employment.
• Employer connections — many employers visit the school throughout the year for classroom presentations, mock interviews, and bi-annual career fairs.

Rosedale Tech has been evaluated by the ASE Education Foundation and judged to meet the Automotive Service Excellence standards for all eight mechanical areas in both the Automotive and Diesel Technology programs. Rosedale Technical College is a private, non-profit technical college founded in 1949 and in continuous operation since, accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. In 2018 Forbes ranked Rosedale Tech 11th on its list of Top 25 Two-Year Trade Schools, and in 2021 it ranked 3rd on The Chronicle of Higher Education’s non-profit list of 2-Year Colleges with Best Graduation Rates for 2019.

To be accepted for admission, an applicant must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalent certificate. Applications are accepted from high school students who are expected to graduate; however, their graduation must be confirmed before entering the college. Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check.

Entrance exam. Applicants must successfully complete a recognized entrance exam, administered by a member of the staff, or present an acceptable SAT/ACT score. For Automotive, Diesel and Welding applicants the passing score is 15 on the Wonderlic, or an SAT of 900 or ACT of 17.

For final acceptance, each applicant must submit an official final high school transcript or an official equivalent certificate/documentation and possess a valid driver’s license.

Transfer credits are accepted: students transferring from another post-secondary institution or the military should speak with the Director of Education, and official transcripts are required for review. Rosedale Tech also has articulation agreements with a number of high school career training centers (CTCs).

Class hours. Monday through Thursday, 7:30am – 3:00pm — a four-day school week that helps students balance school with work and other obligations.

Program length. The courses are taught in four 16-week semesters, and the program can be completed in 16 months. The complete program consists of 77.5 semester credit hours, and progress reports are distributed at the end of each grading period.

Start dates. Classes for day programs start approximately every 8 – 16 weeks. Contact an admissions representative for the exact start date; some programs may not be available for every start date.

Holidays and breaks. In 2026 the college observes M.L. King Day, Presidents Day, Easter Monday, Memorial Day, a summer break from 07/14/26 through 08/02/26, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving and a Christmas break from 12/24/26 through 01/03/27. In 2027 there is a spring break from 03/20/27 through 03/28/27 and a summer break from 07/20/27 through 08/08/27. Due to how holidays fall, some semesters may have an additional week. The maximum time allowed to complete a program is 150% of its published length, measured in semester credit hours attempted.

Rosedale Tech’s automotive page notes that daytime and evening programs are available in its automotive programs; the evening option is the Automotive Technician diploma.

Tuition and fees. Tuition is $9,750 per semester for four 16-week semesters, a total of $39,000 ($503.23 per credit). Students are full-time when enrolled in 12 to 22 credits per semester, and semester tuition may be adjusted for transfer credits and advanced standing. All programs carry a $40.00 application fee, paid with the application, and a $110.00 registration fee, paid on acceptance. Tuition and fees may be paid by cash, check or credit card.

Other costs. Lab fees, charged each semester, total $1,900. Textbooks and supplies are estimated at $100. A professional tool set through the college is estimated at $2,000, or students may elect to join a Snap-On voucher program instead. The uniform package is $375. Students must also provide a Windows laptop.

Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Many Rosedale Tech students qualify for some type of financial assistance. The college pairs accepted students with a financial aid coordinator to help customize a personalized financial aid plan that may include eligible grants, loans, and other awards, and will also assist with the application for federal financial aid. Rosedale Tech is proud to support members of the military community as they transition back to civilian life; its financial aid team includes members who are VA certified and can help military students navigate their military benefits for education.

Aid programs. The college is an eligible institution for these programs, and its Financial Aid Officer supplies information on how to apply:

• PA State Grant — for Pennsylvania residents; grants do not have to be repaid, and certain deadline dates apply.
• Pennsylvania Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP) — a needs-based state program for PA residents training in short-term programs for a targeted (growth) industry.
• Federal Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) — grants that do not have to be repaid. Title IV eligibility starts with the FAFSA®.
• Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal PLUS Loans for parents of dependent undergraduates — funds borrowed must be repaid.
• Federal Work Study — a limited number of campus jobs, with information in the Student Success Center.
• Veterans’ educational benefits, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation funding, the Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship, and TRA/TAA retraining for displaced workers.

Institutional grants. Students must be conditionally accepted, complete the FAFSA and complete the Grant Application. Grants include an Early Application Grant ($500, apply before December 31st of the senior year of high school), SkillsUSA competition awards (a $250 tool credit for all competitors, and grants for top-3 regional, state and national finishers), a Scouting Achievement Grant ($2,000), a Firefighter/EMS Grant ($1,000), a Gear Grant (up to $3,000 for students with unmet need), a Displaced Worker Grant (up to $4,000), a Pathway Grant and a Changing Lanes Pathway Grant (up to $2,000 for transfer students).

Graduates are prepared for entry-level employment in positions such as Automotive Service Technician, Diagnostic Technician, Brake and Suspension Technician, Maintenance Technician, Inspection Technician, Quick Service Technician, and other positions involving the inspection, diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of passenger vehicles and light trucks. Some graduates use their knowledge in service writer positions, sales, technical training, and management positions, and many Rosedale Tech graduates have opened their own automotive repair shops in the area.

Rosedale Tech cites the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figure of about 69,000 job openings every year for qualified automotive technicians.

Outcomes. In the 2024–2025 rates reported to the PA State Board of Private Licensed Schools in September 2025, Auto Technology recorded an 81% graduation rate (46 of 57 starts), and 94% of 2023–24 graduates were placed in jobs.

Career services. Advice and instruction in resume preparation, job applications and interviews, and assistance in securing full-time and temporary employment, are provided through Rosedale Technical College’s career placement services. All current students and graduates are eligible for placement assistance throughout their careers. The Student Success Team connects students with employers through career fairs, mock interviews, employer presentations and company field trips, and Rosedale Tech works with over 1,800 regional employers. No guarantee of employment is made, nor are any promises implied regarding minimum starting salaries.

The automotive lab contains service lifts, brake and tire machines, and alignment racks, and each building has a tool room giving access to hand tools, power tools, diagnostic tools and equipment. Training takes place in the Chosky building, home of the #1 Cochran TechEx center, on Rosedale’s 10.7-acre campus in Kennedy Township.

Grading and graduation. Grades are based on classroom participation, laboratory and project work, and written assessments, on a scale from A (91–100) to F (64 and below). To graduate, a student must pass all program courses, reach a minimum cumulative QPA of 2.0, maintain any program attendance requirements and complete any program-specific requirements. A student may face disciplinary action, up to termination, after 10 absences, 10 lates/early departures or 10 partial absences in a semester. Students also receive a soft skills transcript each semester that evaluates communication, eye contact, team participation, timeliness, safety adherence and dress code.

Class size. The average class size is less than 25 students per class; the maximum during lab is 30 students per instructor.

Bring your own technology. Students must have a reliable Windows laptop or netbook (Apple products cannot be used) with a keyboard, Wi-Fi, a camera, at least 4 GB RAM and a 10” screen. Most textbooks are supplied in electronic format, and the college uses Moodle as its learning management system. Programs marked hybrid are intended to be taught fully in person; only in extenuating circumstances may courses be taught in a hybrid format through Moodle.