Automotive Technology Teachers

Start learning about this occupation by talking to your high school automotive technology teachers about their careers. Work on cars to gain valuable firsthand experience. An after-school job in a repair shop or dealership can give you an introduction to the world of automotives. You can develop your own teaching experience by volunteering at a community center, or working at a summer camp, or teaching a friend how to do a basic car repair. Also, spend some time on a college campus to get a sense of the environment. Write to colleges for their admissions brochures and course catalogs (or check them out online); read about the faculty members and the courses they teach. Before visiting college campuses, make arrangements to speak to automotive instructors who teach courses that interest you. These educators may allow you to sit in on their classes and observe.

Visit the Teach.org Web site (https://www.teach.org) for information on teaching careers, educational training, certification, and financial aid. Go to the Web site of the North American Council of Automotive Teachers (http://www.nacat.org) to learn about employment opportunities and relevant career developments for automotive teachers.

Read NACAT News, which the North American Council of Automotive Teachers describes as a "publication from automotive instructors for automotive instructors." NACAT News features articles about industry trends and profiles of educators. Sample issues can be read on the council's Web site, https://www.nacat.org.