Automotive Service Technician
Automotive Service Technician
Contact Us
Katelyn Vallee
Trades Enrolment Specialist
780 871 5451
780 808 5766
Ask me your questions
Combine your interest in mechanics, electronics and computers as an automotive service technician. Do you like solving problems on cars and pickup trucks? Are you good at performing precise mechanical tasks? Is keeping up with technology important to you? This might be the trade for you.
To work in Alberta, an automotive service technician must be one of the following:
- a registered apprentice
- an alberta-certified journeyperson
- someone who holds a recognized related trade certificate
Each year of Alberta’s Apprenticeship and Industry Training 4-year automotive service program includes:
- 9-weeks of classroom instruction with a provincial exam at the end of each period
- a minimum of 1,520 hours of on-the-job training
Apprentices may attempt the Interprovincial Exam in the final period of their apprenticeship training and, if successful, be granted a Red Seal.
Your time at Lakeland isn't just hitting the books. You’ll work on cars and light trucks, spending about half your time in our Trades Centre lab performing vehicle repair activities.
Requirements
More program details
To see what day registration opens in May, check the 2025-2026 schedule on MyTradeSecrets.
See intake schedules for all apprenticeship intakes at Lakeland College.
To see other important dates such as when the college is closed, visit the academic year and term date page.
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Refund/withdrawal policy
Full refund of fees less $100 if you withdraw up to 5 business days prior to the first day of class. No exceptions.
Enhance your journeyperson status with 2 other standards.
- The Red Seal is a national designation. You earn it by passing an interprovincial exam. That means you can work anywhere in Canada with your Red Seal Endorsement (RSE). Currently not all trades have a red seal standard.
- The Blue Seal is an Alberta program. It’s earned by taking approved business studies. Now a separate certificate, the program also has a new name: Achievement in Business Competencies (Blue Seal).
This means you will be able to work anywhere in Canada without having to write another province’s trade exam.
The Red Seal Program was created in 1952. It encourages the standardization of apprenticeship training and certification programs across Canada. A national occupational analysis of each of the 56 Red Seal trade is used as a base document for inter provincial exams and is encouraged for use in curriculum development. The Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) administers the program.
Check the Red Seal trades in Alberta.
For more information, check the Red Seal Website. Exams, samples questions, and individual trade standards are included.
Lakeland also offers prep courses for red seal exams for anyone who hasn’t achieved their red seal status. Check trades continuing education for those courses.
If you have a valid Alberta Journeyperson Certificate, you are eligible to receive a Blue Seal after completing 150 hours of study in an approved business program. You can choose courses at Lakeland College.
The Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board established the Achievement
in Business Competencies Program. It both encourages and recognizes business studies
by anyone who is already certified in an Alberta designated trade or occupation.
Complete details are available on the Blue Seal website.
Lakeland offers you the ability to take both online and face-to-face business courses in Lloydminster.
You can earn while you learn as you can fit the courses into your work schedule.
Take courses in our 1-year general business certificate. You'll need at least 4 courses to reach the minimum 150 hours to earn a blue seal.
If you have the academic requirements, you could earn the certificate.
Please contact our business enrolment specialist for more information about how to apply for courses and how to reach your goal.
Classes start immediately after orientation, so be prepared to start your studies on orientation day. Bring binders, pens and pencils with you, or purchase them on registration day at the Bookstore.
Required supplies
- CSA (Green-Triangle) work boots
- safety glasses
- three three-ring binders
- coveralls recommended
- laptop or tablet is recommended
- textbooks (ILMs) are included tuition cost
- notebook, pens, pencils highlighters
- lock for locker
If you have any questions, please contact:
- apprenticeship@lakelandcollege.ca
- 780 853 8500
New credential
Alberta's new Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act is adding another credential for successful journeypersons. Certificates through advanced diplomas will be granted based on the number of credits in the particular trade. One apprenticeship credit is equal to 300 on-the-jobs hours or 15 classroom hours.
Your credential helps employers recognize your level of education as well as help you if you pursue further education.
Automotive service technicians receive an advanced diploma.
Continue your learning
- You may take specific professional development courses offered by the dealership or business where you work.
- Take a second or third trade. For example, you might want to also do heavy equipment.
- You also have the option of earning Red and Blue Seals. The automotive Red Seal has been around since 1959.
Red Seal
Your Red Seal indicates you’ve passed an interprovincial exam and can work in any part of Canada.
Blue Seal
This Alberta certification encourages journeypersons to study business. Earning your seal requires 150 hours of study at an approved institution (Lakeland qualifies). See the Blue and Red Seal page (link above) for more information.
