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Study Automotive courses

Overview

The Motor Vehicle Engine and Parts Repair and Maintenance industry currently employs over 70,000 people in Australia, and is projected to grow moderately over the next five years. The number of motor vehicles on the road is forecast to continue rising, which is likely to provide stable growth for the industry. (Source: IBIS World)

The top five ranked generic skills for the Vehicle Body Repair sector are:

  • Design mindset/Thinking critically/System thinking/Solving problems
  • Communication/Collaboration including virtual collaboration/Social intelligence
  • Language, literacy and numeracy (LLN)
  • Technology use and application
  • Learning agility/Information literacy/Intellectual autonomy and self-management.

(Source: Australian Industry & Skills Committee)

Potential Careers
  • Diesel Motor Mechanic
  • Motor Mechanic (General)
  • Panel Beater

Course Requirements
Most institutions require completion of Australian Year 11 or 12 (or equivalent), as well as a minimum IELTS score of 5.5 with no band score less than 5.

Costs
A 2-year packaged trade course costs between $12,000 and $19,000 per year, depending on the institution.

Course Details

Diesel Motor Mechanic

Course Overview

Diesel motor mechanics maintain, test and repair diesel motors and the mechanical parts of trucks, buses and other heavy vehicles such as transmissions, suspension, steering and brakes. This occupation requires studies in heavy commercial vehicle mechanical technology, where you will learn how to test and repair electrical circuits and diagnose, repair, inspect and service vehicle systems.

Motor Mechanic (General)

Course Overview

Motor mechanics maintain, test and repair petrol engines and the mechanical parts of lightweight motor vehicles such as transmissions, suspension, steering and brakes. This occupation requires studies in light vehicle mechanical technology, where you will learn how to test and repair electrical circuits and diagnose, repair, inspect and service vehicle systems.

Panel Beater

Course Overview

Panel beaters repair damage to metal, fibreglass and plastic body work on vehicles and forms replacement vehicle panels. This occupation requires studies in automotive body repair technology, where you will learn how to jump start vehicles, repair vehicle body panels, repair vehicle body misalignment and carry out advanced welding on vehicle body sections.

Studying Automotive in Australia: What the Course Covers

Automotive courses train you to service and repair vehicles, with separate trade qualifications for light vehicles (cars and light commercial vehicles), heavy vehicles (trucks, buses and machinery) and vehicle body repair. Across these streams you learn engines and drivetrains, steering, suspension and brakes, electrical and electronic systems, diagnostics, welding and fabrication, body and panel repair, refinishing, and workshop safety. Newer courses also cover hybrid and electric vehicle systems.

Qualifications and AQF Levels

Qualification AQF level What it prepares you for
Certificate II in Automotive Servicing Technology AQF 2 Workshop assistant and pre apprenticeship roles
Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology AQF 3 Motor mechanic (cars and light vehicles)
Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology AQF 3 Diesel motor mechanic (trucks, buses and heavy vehicles)
Certificate III in Automotive Body Repair Technology AQF 3 Panelbeater
Certificate IV in Automotive Mechanical Diagnosis AQF 4 Advanced diagnostic technician roles

Study Pathways

Choose the Certificate III that matches the occupation you want, because skills assessments look at whether your qualification is closely related to the nominated occupation. Many students add a Certificate IV in Automotive Mechanical Diagnosis, and some move into automotive management after gaining experience. See our pages on light vehicle, heavy commercial vehicle and automotive body repair courses for more detail on each stream.

Related Occupations and Visa Pathways (as at October 2026)

Occupation ANZSCO CSOL (482 and 186) Skilled lists (189, 190, 491, 485)
Motor Mechanic (General) 321211 Yes MLTSSL
Diesel Motor Mechanic 321212 Yes MLTSSL
Panelbeater 324111 Yes MLTSSL
Automotive Electrician 321111 Yes MLTSSL
Vehicle Painter 324311 Yes ROL

Our Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) guide explains which visas use each list and what that means for automotive trades.

Career Outlook

Automotive tradespeople are employed by dealerships, independent workshops, fleet operators, transport and logistics companies, mining and agriculture businesses and smash repairers. Regional and mining areas often have strong demand, especially for diesel mechanics. The shift to electric and hybrid vehicles is changing the skills employers look for.

Comparing the Automotive Streams

Stream What you work on Typical workplaces
Light vehicle Cars, four wheel drives and vans: engines, transmissions, brakes, electronics and hybrid systems Dealerships, independent workshops, tyre and service chains
Heavy commercial vehicle Trucks, buses and trailers: diesel engines, air brakes, heavy drivelines and hydraulics Truck dealers, transport fleets, bus operators, mining and agriculture
Body repair Accident damage: panels, structural repairs, welding and alignment Smash repairers, insurance repair centres, dealerships

All three streams now include training on hybrid and electric vehicles, because technicians need to know how to make high voltage systems safe before working on them. Automotive electrician is a further specialisation for people who enjoy diagnosing electrical and electronic faults.

Applying for a Student Visa to Study Automotive

Tell the case officer which automotive trade you are aiming for, whether that is light vehicle, heavy vehicle or body repair, and how it links to any workshop experience you have. The current English, money and work conditions are on our Student visa (subclass 500) page.

Automotive Study FAQs

Yes. As at October 2026, Motor Mechanic (General), Diesel Motor Mechanic and Panelbeater are on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the MLTSSL. Automotive Electrician and Vehicle Painter are also on the CSOL.

Motor Mechanic (General), Diesel Motor Mechanic and Panelbeater are all on the MLTSSL, so the matching Certificate III in light vehicle, heavy commercial vehicle or body repair technology can support the 485 Post-Vocational Education Work stream. You also need a TRA skills assessment for the occupation that matches your qualification, and you must meet the age and English rules.

Yes, but you will normally need extra training. The streams share some units, such as safety and basic electrical work, so a mechanic who wants to move from cars to trucks can often gain credit. For a skills assessment, your qualification and work experience must match the occupation you nominate, so plan any switch carefully.

Choose based on the job you want: light vehicle for car mechanics, heavy commercial vehicle for diesel mechanics, and body repair for panelbeating. Your qualification should match the occupation you plan to have assessed later.

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