Trade Schools
If you love cars and you’re passionate about mechanical puzzles and seeing how things work, a career as an auto mechanic may be the right fit for you.
On average, auto service technicians and mechanics in South Carolina earned $46,320 per year as of May 2024, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
An Auto Mechanic works on engines, brakes, transmissions, electrical components, and a variety of other car systems.
Before being ready to apply for your first job as an auto mechanic, you have to learn a few skills, such as:
- Identifying mechanical and electrical problems in vehicles
- Conducting routine maintenance
- Diagnostics and repair of car systems
- Replacing worn and damaged parts
- Explaining vehicle problems to customers
- Following safety procedures
- And more
All these skills can be learned through a post-secondary program at a trade school or community college.
To help you choose the program and the format that best meet your needs and career aspirations, on this page, we have compiled information about the best auto mechanic schools in South Carolina.
1Greenville Technical College
About the School
Greenville Technical College offers a wide variety of automotive programs at McKinney Regional Technology Center.
The following core programs are available at the center:
- Auto Body Repair
- Automotive Technology
- Diesel Equipment Technology
- General Motors
- Honda/Acura
The Auto Body Repair program has a diploma, certificate, and an associate degree path that gives students knowledge of unibody, structural repair, sheet metal repair, welding, painting, estimating, and refinishing.
The Automotive Technology program teaches general theory and basic information in:
- Engine fundamentals
- Automotive electricity
- Manual drive train/axle
- Brakes
- Engine reconditioning
- Ignition systems
- Suspension & steering
- Automatic transmission
- And more
Graduates are encouraged to take the Automotive Service Excellence test to gain certification as an Automotive Service Excellence Technician.
Contact Information
- Address: P.O. Box 5616, Greenville, SC 29606
- Phone: 864-250-8000
- Website: https://www.gvltec.edu
2Advanced Diagnostic Institute
About the School
Advanced Diagnostic Institute offers Automotive Training courses that include hands-on training and convenient schedules.
ADI is a school consisting of real-world scenarios and experiences.
Students learn all aspects of diagnosis, repair, and replacement of automotive engines, cylinder heads, valve trains, blocks, electrical, and cooling systems repair in accordance with industry standards.
The school offers classroom training as well as shop classes in its state-of-the-art campus located in Conway.
Graduates are ready to work in the automotive repair industry, dealerships, general repair, or specialty shops.
Courses Offered
The hands-on in-person training provides:
- State-of-the-Art Facility
- Expert Hands-On Training
- Automotive Engine Repair
- Automatic Transmissions & Transaxles
- Electrical/Electronic Systems
- Automotive Engine Performance
- Automotive Brake Systems
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 826 West Cox Ferry Road, Conway SC 29526
- Website: https://advanceddiagnosticinstitute.com
3South Carolina Auto Tech Development Program
About the School
The South Carolina Auto Tech Development Program is designed to connect students, graduates, and prospective auto techs with the resources they need to begin their careers in the automotive service world.
SCADA & Apprenticeship Carolina, a division of the SC Technical College Systems, has formed a partnership in which the SCATD program was registered with the U.S. Department of Labor in order to offer more apprenticeship opportunities for both auto technicians and New Franchised Car Dealerships.
Aspiring Automotive Technology students who want to apply for the SCADA scholarship for Auto Excellence have to meet the following requirements:
Be a resident of South Carolina with plans to attend a college or technical school in the fall of the application year.
Be seeking enrollment in the Automotive Technology degree program.
Complete the electronic application no later than the May 31st deadline for the upcoming application year.
Contact Information
- Website: https://scautotech.org
4Midlands Technical College
About the School
Midlands Technical College offers an Automotive Technology program for students who plan to enter the field as automotive technicians and for those who would like to advance their career with certifications in specialty areas.
The automotive curriculum provides students with an up-to-date training program that helps them develop their knowledge of automotive theory and operational skills.
The hands-on training emphasizes:
- Electrical service
- Engine overhaul
- Heating and air conditioning repair
- Brakes, steering, suspension, and four-wheel alignment
- Engine performance and diagnosis
- Automatic and manual transmissions drive train/axle repair
Courses Offered
The curriculum covers:
- Electrical systems
- Electrical fundamentals
- Automotive electricity
- Braking systems
- Four-wheel alignment
- Automotive air conditioning
- Introduction to computers
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: P.O. Box 2408, Columbia, SC 29202
- Phone: 803.738.8324
- Website: https://www.midlandstech.edu
5Horry Georgetown Technical College
About the School
Horry Georgetown Technical College offers an Automotive Technology program designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to enter the automotive field and become entry-level automotive technicians.
Graduates develop the basic skills required for diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of passenger cars and light trucks through theory and lab instruction.
The estimated tuition for one year of training at Horry Georgetown Technical College is $7,056.
Courses Offered
The Certificate Requirements in Automotive Technology include:
- Engine Repair
- Braking Systems
- Manual Drive Train/Axle
- Electrical Systems
- Heating and Air Conditioning
- Emission Systems
- Ignition and Fuel Systems
- Automatic Transmission
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2050 Highway 501 East, Conway, South Carolina 29526
- Phone: (843) 347-3186
- Website: https://www.hgtc.edu
6Spartanburg Community College
About the School
Spartanburg Community College offers Automotive Programs that teach students how to diagnose, service, and maintain automotive products and components, use recommended procedures, service equipment, and service publications.
The following programs are available:
- Automotive Service Technology Associate Degree
- Automotive Technology For ASSET Associate Degree
Courses Offered
The Associate Degree program can be completed in 84 academic weeks and includes 78 credits.
The following courses are included in the program:
- Advanced Engine Repair
- Introduction to Automotive Hazardous Materials
- Advanced Engine Repair
- Engine Performance
- Advanced Engine Performance
- Automatic Transmission Overhaul
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 107 Community College Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303
- Phone: 864-592-4600
- Website: https://www.sccsc.edu
7Trident Technical College
About the School
Trident Technical College is a community college with a mission to change people’s lives and improve the community.
The college has programs at five convenient locations as well as online.
More than 150 academic and workforce training programs are available.
Trident Technical College offers an Automotive Technology program that offers the following credentialing options:
- Associate Degree in Automotive Technology
- Certificate in Automotive Servicing
- Certificate in Technology Core
Courses Offered
The Certificate in Automotive Servicing includes the following requirements:
- Engine Reconditioning
- Brakes
- Manual Transmission and Axle
- Electrical Systems
- Electrical Fundamentals
- Ignition and Fuel Systems
- Automatic Transmission
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 118067, Charleston, SC 29423
- Phone: 843-574-6111
- Website: https://www.tridenttech.edu
8Florence-Darlington Technical College
About the School
Florence-Darlington Technical College offers an Automotive Technology program that leads to an Associate in Applied Science.
The program is 26 months long and includes 79 credit requirements.
Courses Offered
The courses required include:
- Braking Systems- a course that covers hydro-boost power brakes and vacuum power brakes, as well as master cylinders and caliper rebuilding
- Electrical Systems- a course that studies the individual systems and components that form the entire automobile electrical system
- Ignition and Fuel Systems- a course that studies ignition system operation and how it relates to fuel systems for proper engine operation
- Intro to Heating & Air Conditioning- a course that is a basic study of the principles of heat transfer and refrigeration
- Electronic Fuel Systems- a course that includes the study of fuel injection systems, other fuel system components, and how computers control fuel delivery
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2715 W. Lucas Street, Florence, SC 29502-0548 P.O. Box 100548
- Phone: 843.661.8324
- Website: https://www.fdtc.edu
9Clemson University
Clemson University has a Department of Automotive Engineering that offers Bachelor of Science, Master’s, Ph.D, and Certification programs.
Courses Offered
The Bachelor of Science program offers students the opportunity to experience the latest trends in the area, including:
- AI Computing & Connectivity
- Autonomous Vehicle Sensing
- Batteries
- Cybersecurity
- E-Hailing
- Electric Vehicles & Charging
- HMI & Voice Recognition
- And more
The Automotive Engineering, first semester curriculum consists of:
- General Chemistry
- Composition and Rhetoric
- Engineering Disciplines and Skills
- Calculus of One Variable
- General Education Requirement
Contact Information
- Address: 4 Research Drive, Greenville, S.C. 29607
- Phone: 864-283-7220
- Website: https://www.clemson.edu
10Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College offers the most flexible schedules and a wide range of career-focused programs designed to get students where they want to be.
Courses Offered
Among many other academic paths, the college provides an Automotive Technology program that leads to an Associate Degree.
The program covers engine repair, transmissions, suspensions and steering, electrical systems, brakes, heating and air conditioning systems, engine performance, and more.
Students learn how to quickly diagnose automotive problems and become ready to earn industry-standard Automotive Service Excellence certifications.
The following certificate programs are also offered:
- Basic Diesel Maintenance
- Undercar Specialist
The Basic Diesel Maintenance Certificate includes the following required courses:
- Diesel Engines I
- Diesel Engine Tune-Up
- Introduction to Diagnostic Testing
- Diesel Fuel Systems
- Electrical Systems I
- Contemporary Mathematics
In total, the program includes 16 credits.
Contact Information
- Address: 3250 St. Matthews Road, Orangeburg, SC 29118
- Phone: 803.536.0311
- Website: https://www.octech.edu
Schools Summary Table
Regional Salary in South Carolina
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 2,730 | $50,460 | $24.26 | $78,470 | $30,160 |
| Columbia, SC | 2,690 | $49,780 | $23.93 | $79,110 | $28,970 |
| Florence, SC | 640 | $46,390 | $22.30 | $77,730 | $23,200 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 2,340 | $49,090 | $23.60 | $77,570 | $27,320 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | 530 | $51,730 | $24.87 | $79,690 | $29,500 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | 1,140 | $46,490 | $22.35 | $74,270 | $27,460 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 940 | $49,110 | $23.61 | $77,140 | $24,210 |
| Sumter, SC | 210 | $49,460 | $23.78 | $79,280 | $28,880 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our selection of the best auto mechanic schools in South Carolina, the next step is to continue the research and decide if this is the path you want to pursue.
Once you have decided that an auto mechanic profession is the right fit for you, it’s time to choose the school that will prepare you for your new career.
