| By Chilton Staff |
“A lot of my family worked on cars and seeing them do that—it is something I just grew to love. I feel like it’s not work anymore and it’s not school, it’s just something that I love to do.” —Samuel Villaseñor, Cuyamaca College1
Many students are drawn to working in the automotive realm, and there are a variety of career options. Along with repairing cars, students interested in automotive technology can pursue careers in design, racing, service writing, painting, engineering, management, and owning an automotive business.
Transportation education in fields such as automotive, auto body, and diesel technology can equip students with valuable and in-demand skills. In the field of auto repair alone, the most recent Bureau of Labor statistics estimate the U.S. needs 67,800 new technicians annually to meet demand.2,3
To bolster student outcomes and deliver the most value, schools provide students with real-world, hands-on experience, but it comes at a cost. Automotive technology can be the most expensive program a school offers, considering the cost of operating a shop with equipment like lifts, tools, parts, materials, and service data. In addition, students often must purchase their own tools, including a laptop. Many schools repair vehicles for the community in part to help cover program costs.
Libraries can augment auto shop programs with ChiltonLibrary original equipment manufacturer (OEM) information. The ChiltonLibrary depth and breadth of coverage over eight decades gives students, teachers, and staff reference material on a wide variety of vehicles, supplementing typical service information which is often limited to one vehicle manufacturer, or which covers fewer older vehicles. And ChiltonLibrary is available online 24/7, so it’s accessible outside of the school lab for homework and car projects, even after graduation.
Excerpt from ChiltonLibrary labor estimating on painting the hood of a 2026 GMC Acadia.
When it comes to auto manufacturer data for repairs and maintenance, ChiltonLibrary is a rich resource. In addition, the ChiltonLibrary knowledgebase includes auto body procedures and specifications, ASE preparation quizzes, automaker bulletins and recalls, and labor estimating data.
The ChiltonLibrary Video Library also includes short video clips and animations illustrating automotive concepts and basic repairs.
Excerpt from the ChiltonLibrary Video Library: a video on checking electrical circuits.
ChiltonLibrary can benefit automotive high school, university, community college, trade school, and regional occupational programs. If you don’t currently subscribe, contact your Gale consultant or take ChiltonLibrary for a test drive.
1 Samuel Villaseñor video interview, Cuyamaca College, Automotive Technology Department. https://www.cuyamaca.edu/academics/academic-and-career-pathways/environmental-and-applied-technology/automotive-technology/index.php
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm
3 Bureau of Automotive Repair, California Department of Consumer Affairs, “Automotive Repair and Smog Check News,” Spring 2025. https://www.bar.ca.gov/arsc/newsletters/newsletter/spring-2025/community-colleges-drive-career-growth-with-affordable-auto-tech-training
Cover art: ThisIsEngineering