Students eligible for ASE certification, could earn $200,000+ annually

James Pasey gets excited when he talks about his work in his automotive class. The Copperas Cove High School senior stood up in the classroom at Central Texas College and smiled, using his hands to explain that what he was learning at CTC would propel him to his dream job: working on Black Hawk helicopters. “Even though we are dealing with engines in cars, it is still good experience,” Pasey said. “This is an extension of what I want to do in the military which is working on UH 60s.” The small class of about 20 students allows close oneon-one attention from instructor Harry Byrd who has been teaching the course to CCHS students for eight years. The difference is that this year, CCISD has enabled students to achieve their Automotive Service Excellence certification readying them for the workforce straight out of high school. “Once they finish here with two years in this course which is seven semesters or about 15 college hours for a combined total, they can become ASE certified,” Byrd said. Byrd said that locally, automotive mechanics who are ASE certified earn $85 - $120 per hour and an even higher rate if working for a dealership that sells foreign vehicles. “That is doctor’s money, making upward to $200,000 per year,” Byrd said. He told the students to do the math. The figure tallied was $297,440 a year. “And, that’s not all the money. There is a mark-up on parts and not a set limit on how much they can be marked up,” Byrd said. “So, there’s additional income there as well.” Byrd explained that while many people used to work on their own cars, today they are computerized and without training, the average person can no longer make repairs to their own vehicles. “Cars are computerized now. If you understand electricity and electronics, you’ll do well in this class,” Byrd said. Two females are enrolled in the automotive class, one being Melinda Balades, 16. “I think having to deal with engines is the big issue. I don’t think it is harder for women. Women are just not enrolling,” the high school junior said. “I am also enrolled in Introduction to Manufacturing and women don’t seem to have the interest.” Byrd said female students actually lead academically in the class. “The two females here have the highest average in the class,” Byrd said. “From my experience, females seem to retain more. I can see it on their test scores. They may not be as strong. But with book knowledge, they are right there.” Byrd said when applying for loans with the Small Business Association, females are approved 2-1 over males. “I have had some very good female (technicians) who went into their own businesses and one even helped rebuild race engines,” he said. “They are just more gogetters and consistently pay the money back. And, they work harder because they are always trying to break the class ceiling. They just keep fighting.”