Auto Tech: General Technician Tune Up Emission Control Specialist (Certificate of Achievement)
Allan Hancock College · Santa Maria, CA
- Cost
- $2,110
- Length
- 72 weeks
- Working 6 months later
- 86%
Program names, program descriptions and occupation titles appear here in English, because that is the only language the federal and state records publish them in. Everything else on this page is translated.
What happened to people who took this
- People enrolled
- 47
Small group — treat with caution
- Finished the program
- 68%Based on 22 peopleTypical California program: 85% of 1,951 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
- Working 6 months later
- 86%Typical California program: 69% of 1,690 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $13,974A single quarter of earnings, roughly three months, not a yearly salary. Do not compare it directly with the yearly pay shown for the occupation.Typical California program: $10,900 of 1,339 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
The jobs this trains for
This describes the jobs people do, not the classes this program teaches. It comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, which asks people already doing the work. The Department publishes it in English only, so the job names and the sentences below stay in English on this page.
Shrinking -20%
California projects this job will shrink over the next ten years. Fewer openings may mean a harder search.
Trains for more than one job. The outlook shown is the weakest of them.
Related work California expects more of
The U.S. Department of Labor lists these as related to the job above, and California projects growth in them rather than decline. Related is not the same as interchangeable: the training, the licences and the pay can all differ, and this program does not train for these. It is a place to start asking, not a recommendation.
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$89,542 · +5.1% · 7 programs here
- Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers$64,617 · +9.1% · 4 programs here
- Avionics Technicians$95,095 · +8.3% · 1 program here
- Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers$64,154 · +3.4% · No programs here train for it
Where California publishes a separate figure for Santa Maria-Santa Barbara MSA (Santa Barbara County), it appears beneath the statewide one. Statewide stays the headline: people who train here do not necessarily work here.
Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles
Job ads may call this: Installer · Car Audio Installer · Car Stereo Installer · Automotive Technician
Some of what people in this job do. The Department rates how important each one is, and they appear in that order.
- Install equipment and accessories, such as stereos, navigation equipment, communication equipment, and security systems.
- Inspect and test electrical or electronic systems to locate and diagnose malfunctions, using visual inspections and testing instruments, such as oscilloscopes and voltmeters.
- Cut openings and drill holes for fixtures and equipment, using electric drills and routers.
- Splice wires with knives or cutting pliers, and solder connections to fixtures and equipment.
Show 2 more things this job involves
- Diagnose or repair problems with electronic equipment, such as sound, navigation, communication, and security equipment, in motor vehicles.
- Run new speaker and electrical cables.
- Typical pay in California
- $49,871per year
- Projected openings
- 490
- Projected change
- -20%
- Usually needs
- High school diploma or equivalent
California publishes no separate figure for this job in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara MSA. The statewide figures above are the only ones there are.
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- None
- Training after you are hired
- 1 to 12 months
These are the federal government's answers for the occupation, not rules this provider sets. California publishes the same two answers for every one of these jobs.
What people in this job actually studied
Most common: Started college, no degree — 32% of the people doing this work.
California says this job usually needs: High school diploma or equivalent. 2% of the people doing it went less far than that.
- No high school diploma
- 2%
- High school diploma
- 30%
- Started college, no degree
- 32%
- Two-year degree
- 22%
- Four-year degree
- 13%
- Master's degree
- 0.8%
- Doctorate or professional degree
- 0%
This counts people already doing this job, across the whole United States. Every other figure on this page is California's, and the federal government publishes no state version of this one. It is what people happen to have, not a rule about who gets hired. A small row does not mean you would be turned away, and a large one is not a promise of a job.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Pay, hiring, and what people studied
Job ads may call this: Mechanic · Automotive Technician (Auto Tech) · Service Technician (Service Tech) · Lube Tech (Lubrication Technician)
- Inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made.
- Test drive vehicles and test components and systems, using equipment such as infrared engine analyzers, compression gauges, and computerized diagnostic devices.
- Test and adjust repaired systems to meet manufacturers' performance specifications.
- Repair, reline, replace, and adjust brakes.
What this pays in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara MSA (Santa Barbara County)
Each bar runs from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth. The darker middle is where half the people are, and the line is the median.
| Area | The lowest-paid tenth earn under | Half earn under | The highest-paid tenth earn over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara MSA (Santa Barbara County) | $37,799 | $62,838 | $92,740 |
| Across California | $39,260 | $66,817 | $97,974 |
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2026 figures for Santa Maria-Santa Barbara MSA (Santa Barbara County) beside the same figures for the whole state. A region can sit well below or above the statewide spread, and the statewide number is the one most often quoted — so where they differ, the local row is the one that describes the work near this program.
- Typical pay in California
- $66,817per yearSanta Maria-Santa Barbara MSA: $65,787
- Projected openings
- 66,070Santa Maria-Santa Barbara MSA: 580
- Projected change
- +4.1%
- Usually needs
- Postsecondary non-degree award
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- None
- Training after you are hired
- Under a month
No earlier job experience is expected, and new hires are not put through a long training period. For work like this, a program is usually the way in.
What people in this job actually studied
Most common: High school diploma — 43% of the people doing this work.
California says this job usually needs: Postsecondary non-degree award. That is not one of the steps below, so there is no way to count how many people meet it.
- No high school diploma
- 16%
- High school diploma
- 43%
- Started college, no degree
- 23%
- Two-year degree
- 13%
- Four-year degree
- 4%
- Master's degree
- 0.5%
- Doctorate or professional degree
- 0.3%
It is also measured on a different scale from “Usually needs” above, so the two cannot be subtracted from one another.
Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians
Pay, hiring, and what people studied
Job ads may call this: Hitch Technician (Hitch Tech) · Service Technician (Service Tech) · ATV Tech (All-Terrain Vehicle Technician) · RV Tech (Recreational Vehicle Technician)
- Diagnose and repair furnace or air conditioning systems.
- Connect electrical systems to outside power sources, and activate switches to test the operation of appliances or light fixtures.
- Examine or test operation of parts or systems to ensure completeness of repairs.
- Repair plumbing or propane gas lines, using caulking compounds and plastic or copper pipe.
Show 2 more things this job involves
- Inspect recreational vehicles to diagnose problems and perform necessary adjustment, repair, or overhaul.
- Locate and repair frayed wiring, broken connections, or incorrect wiring, using ohmmeters, soldering irons, tape, or hand tools.
- Typical pay in California
- $70,169per year
- Projected openings
- 1,660
- Projected change
- +8.3%
- Usually needs
- High school diploma or equivalent
California publishes no separate figure for this job in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara MSA. The statewide figures above are the only ones there are.
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- None
- Training after you are hired
- More than a year
New hires are trained on the job for more than a year after they start. The classroom part is the beginning of this work, not the whole of it.
What people in this job actually studied
Most common: High school diploma — 44% of the people doing this work.
California says this job usually needs: High school diploma or equivalent. 20% of the people doing it went less far than that.
- No high school diploma
- 20%
- High school diploma
- 44%
- Started college, no degree
- 20%
- Two-year degree
- 8%
- Four-year degree
- 7%
- Master's degree
- 0.9%
- Doctorate or professional degree
- 0.3%
Program details
This program provides in-person instruction only.
Designed to prepare the student to enter the automotive service profession as a general repair technician with an emphasis on tune-up and emissions repair. The graduate of the Certificate of Achievement in Automotive Technology: General Technician Tune Up Emission Control Specialist will: Demonstrate an understanding of the evolving technology in the automotive control systems.Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with customers, co-workers and the employer. Demonstrate the ability to diagnose problems with the various systems of the automobile using systematic procedures and logical methods. Demonstrate the ability to identify what technical specifications are needed, where to find them and how to use them in the course of performing their duties. Demonstrate the required mechanical skills and the ability to use the trade tools at a level of proficiency that is expected in the profession. Demonstrate the use of the proper procedure for dealing with hazards encountered in the automotive repair work place. Demonstrate the ability to perform the all of the NATEF tasks in each of the core courses in the option or certificate.
Someone else may be able to pay for this
This program was on California's Eligible Training Provider List when the state last reported it to the U.S. Department of Labor (2026-08-04). Programs on that list can be paid for through an Individual Training Account. Listings are renewed periodically and can lapse, so a program listed when the state last reported may not be listed today. Ask before you rely on it.
The place to ask is an America's Job Center of California
America`s Job Center of California Workforce Resource CenterComprehensive center
Phone: 805-614-1550
1410 South BroadwaySuite ESanta Maria, CA 93454about 11.8 miles away
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Has a veterans' representative
Distances are straight-line, so the drive is longer. Call before you travel: opening hours here are as the federal directory published them, and the state notes its own staff are not present at every location.
Find a center anywhere in California, and check what is on the list today:
CareerOneStop — American Job Center Finder (U.S. DOL) · California EDD — Office Locator · California EDD — Eligible Training Provider List
How this gets paid for, and what to ask →
Whether a person can have a program paid for is decided by their local workforce development board and the America's Job Center staff who interview them — not by this site, and not by the training provider. California has 45 local workforce development areas and each sets its own policies, so the answer can differ between two people in neighboring counties. Nothing here is a promise of funding or a determination of eligibility.
The rules cited here, and the state and federal sites linked to, are published in English.
How this site gets its figures, and what they do not tell you →