T-Ten Program, Anybody in it? Or done it? Options

[samir0189]

Hey guys. Im at a point in my young life where i dont know what i want to do with myself.

Im strongly considering the toyota technician program, i really love working on my and other people's cars when i have free time and now im thinking, well maybe i could make a career out of it!

Anyway, i was just looking for information from anybody or thoughts on the program, experiences or life as a mechanic, you know, whatever.

Any input is welcome, im so lost.


I guess, uh, well ill just include that im nearly done with 2 years of gen ed studies but absolutely 0 of the career options interest me.

This post has been edited by samir0189: Apr 17, 2009 - 8:53 PM

[soulshadow]

It takes at least 10 years to become a full fledged Master mechanic.
Before that all you get to do is touch the oil drain plug and taking off the wheels.
Well if your like me I'm getting myself a Associate in General Studies. What will I do with that? Life is called the Pursue of Happiness. Don't let a ****ty degree stop you in what your really wanting to do.

[samir0189]

Yup i do realize i'd be the oil change boy and the wheel balance guy , I know they aren't gonna trust me to replace a brake pad immediately.

Im not discouraged by those facts either, though.

I just need a few more credits to get the associates in gen studies, but at this point i feel like idk, like im just gonna be wasting money. On second thought, i think of the money i've already wasted.

This post has been edited by samir0189: Apr 17, 2009 - 9:31 PM

[azian_advanced]

my uncle has been a toyota mechanic for many years now... he has helped with all of our toyotas and is the main reason why i will only own toyotas.. lol. but he tells me that if you have a passion for working on cars, especially when it's NOT yours, then you should go for it. but he says that in the long run you will likely have muscle and joint pains even back pains. better start young while you still have the strength and motivation.

and being a certified mechanic at a dealership is generally MUCH better than being a mechanic at some private or small shops.. higher wage, better job security and work conditions, less stress, cleaner environment, etc etc etc........

[samir0189]

my uncle has been a toyota mechanic for many years now... he has helped with all of our toyotas and is the main reason why i will only own toyotas.. lol. but he tells me that if you have a passion for working on cars, especially when it's NOT yours, then you should go for it. but he says that in the long run you will likely have muscle and joint pains even back pains. better start young while you still have the strength and motivation.

and being a certified mechanic at a dealership is generally MUCH better than being a mechanic at some private or small shops.. higher wage, better job security and work conditions, less stress, cleaner environment, etc etc etc........

Thanks for your input man.

[pipes]

It takes at least 10 years to become a full fledged Master mechanic.
Before that all you get to do is touch the oil drain plug and taking off the wheels.
Well if your like me I'm getting myself a Associate in General Studies. What will I do with that? Life is called the Pursue of Happiness. Don't let a ****ty degree stop you in what your really wanting to do.

10 yrs? i dunno man im toyota expert in chassis and brake.... and have rebuilt the new 2gr already and im only 22

[Random_Stranger]

Get your certificates, get your experience, get a degree in business and own your own shop so you make BANK! If that is important to you as well. That's what I am doing. There are guys who have their own small shops and it isn't crazy for them to make $1M a year, not sure if that is gross and what they net, but I know pulling numbers like that can be very realistic.

This post has been edited by Random_Stranger: Apr 17, 2009 - 9:58 PM

[azian_advanced]

x2 on running your own shop.. but only if you have the skill and knowledge in running one. many private shops are known to be shady this and that because of how they do unprofessional work and only see their customers as dollar signs.. just don't be like those guys.
but first you need experience so work for an employer for the first 6+ years and save up..

[Stambo]

azian i know your saying this about most independent shops but not all just see customers as money. I've been working as a "trainee" if you will for just about a year now. My boss is only 26 and everyone knows him well and he does quality work.

I've pulled a couple of motors to put lower mile engines or rebuilts under the supervision of him. My advice would be to see if you can get a internship type deal for a couple years so you get to get your hands dirty with everything.

I hear from some mechanics that i've talked to love working at local small shops because you get to know the customers and everyone that works there is like family.

I agree with azian on getting the most experience you can get.

[Spider77]

I was looking at the T-Ten program as well, considering it almost time for re-enlistment and what not....with the new gi bill it would be a good idea. All I know of it is that you have to find a dealership to "sponsor" you (so to speak), and find a school that has that program, then do all that while interning at sed sponsoring shop. When you grad you'll get help with job placement (but from the sound of it, you'll wind up working for the sponsor). At least thats what I get from it. I havent heard anything back yet from them though, need to try again. Being that I work on govie equipment, I dont really see it being much different that working on someones car.

This post has been edited by Spider77: Apr 18, 2009 - 12:54 PM

[MaskedMan]

I've been through the whole T-Ten program, and personally, and have visited several school which offer it. Each school is different in terms of what you're going to actually learn from it. The school I attended was very thorough, covered pretty much everything, but there were a lot of classes and they were each about 8hrs long (a lot of which was lecture). But some schools compress classes as much as they can. You'll get to finish sooner, but you will probably not get absorb as much information.

The way the T-Ten program works here is first you'll need to apply for the program at your local school. From there you will begin your courses in Automotive and your General Ed. If you happen to work at a Toyota dealership while taking the courses, Toyota will cover the cost of your books. If you do not currently work at a dealership, they usually host seminars where managers from Toyota dealerships will come and interview you for a position as an express tech.

The thing is, you can get a job as an express tech without going through with the program. Most dealerships promote technicians by seniority anyways, so once you're in and you do a good job, you're going to move up regardless of what classes you've taken. Having ASCs will move you up faster than attending the T-Ten program. The biggest part in moving up is supplying your own tools. Tools will be the biggest cost to you when becoming a technician, and will cost at least $10,000 to get you a basic setup. You're going to need air tools, torque wrenches, multimeter, etc, and also a tool box to keep them in, but that's later on. It usually takes about 2-3 years of doing oil changes at a dealer to move up in position unless you're really good. So for the first 6 years or so, you'll be spending a lot of money building up your tool collection, but after you have all your tools set and you're getting paid flat rate, the money is good. You just gotta work your way there.

The T-Ten program is good if you plan on opening your own shop. The main purpose of a Toyota Certificate is so that you're able to open up a Toyota specialist shop and have the certificate to prove it haha. But seriously, if you want to open up your own shop, you should look more into the business aspect of it, instead of being the one doing all the work. Like someone mentioned above, it puts a lot of stress on the body and a lot of my co-workers wear back braces to help them get through the day, and these are people in their early 20's already having problems with their backs and knees.

[samir0189]

Cool. This is sounding more and more like the way I wanna go. Thanks everybody for your opinions, I really do appreciate it, honestly. It helps alot to have an opinion and ideas other than your family and friends sometimes.

I dunno if I'd wanna open my own shop, I haven't thought that far ahead yet.... baby steps. I do realize that's where the real money is though.

I'm gonna contact the local school soon and see what it takes to get in and get started. The biggest drawback of the whole thing seems to be the price of tools, .

[azian_advanced]

the tools will pay for themselves.. once you're done and working on cars

[blu94gt]

I used to be a mechanic. Went into it for the same reasons as you did: I loved working on cars, either my own or my friends'. Did it for a couple years and quit to go back to finish up my engineering degree instead. They way I look at it is to take your first two favorite things to do that you can do for a living. Make the first one your hobby and do the 2nd one for a living. When I was a mechanic for a living, the LAST thing I wanted to do was go home and work on my own cars. Now that I work with electronics instead, it keeps working on cars and bikes in my free time. Plus I am keeping up my ASE's so I can always go back to working on cars if I need a job.

T-ten is a good program, but it pretty much makes you exclusively marketable to Toyota dealers. My school offered T-ten, all it was was a notebook of extra tests you took on top of the regular classes. One of my friends did it, and the Toyota dealer he was at closed. Now he's been driving parts at Honda for 3 years and still can't get on at a Toyota dealer.

If you have one in your town, I would recommend getting on at Carmax for your first job as a mechanic. They won't just put you on an oil rack as a newbie. They start you apprenticing with a mechanic, usually reconditioning trade-ins. You apprentice for a few months then you get your own bay and start working on your own, doing everything, not just oil and brakes. It's a great place to learn about all kinds of cars. You could have a Chevy in your bay in the morning, and a Viper or Porsche in your bay in the afternoon. Plus they offer an "apprentice tool kit" from Matco that is a killer deal for a whole toolbox full of tools. I started there, and would totally go back if I was going to work on cars again.

[soulshadow]

LMAO, I just remember that my Friend owes SNAP-ON tools $5G's for tools and to this day he is still running away from the snap-on guy. But yeah it takes at least 10 years because you have to become CERTIFIED as a master mechanic unless your some super wiz who learns every nook and cranny within a short time. Were talking TOYOTA Certified by the company not just skilled at rebuilding.