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Do you need a Degree to be a Mechanic?

Iv'e seen so many mechanics in my town that don't have a degree and just get a job as one. Is it possible to just get hired in a shop? #engineering #technology

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Ryan’s Answer

A degree certainly makes it easier to excel in the field. However going to a trade school and getting the proper certificates can work as well. It just may take longer and you would need to put in a bit more work in the field than someone that might have a degree.
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G. Mark’s Answer

Short answer - "no". Long answer, many folks enter college with the idea that they will be guaranteed a job in the field they studied. Many folks in college study useless stuff. It's entertaining, it's enlightening, it broadens their horizons... but not necessarily their usefulness to anyone else. But there are areas in college that educate you in useful areas that will be applicable to a LOT of things in life. Being a mechanic requires a lot of awareness of physics, logic, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering.... and so on. So, do you NEED a degree to be a mechanic? No. Do you WANT a degree to be a mechanic, YES. And you don't have to get this "degree" from a college. You might just study mechanical engineering concepts on your own. But those concepts are very, very valuable. I tell my students to spend the next step after "problem identification" on "research". This is because there is little to be gained from reinventing the wheel. Learn from other smart people who have spent centuries solving the problems you're facing. Newton said, "If I have seen farther than other men, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants." Never forget that. Studying what other smart people have already figured out is not more work. It is less work. It is leveraging the brilliance of others. So study first. Be a mechanic. It'll be easier. Much easier.
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Drew’s Answer

depending on where you receive a degree, higher paying jobs would potentially be a benefit from a degree. For example, many programs will teach you the skills that allow you to do the “defining” skills required to be a mechanic like fixing engines, diagnosing a problem with machinery, etc. Necessary skills like customer service, project management and the newest softwares included in a program would give you an edge over others competing for the better paying jobs.

Drew recommends the following next steps:

Consider your options including costs, time and commitments you currently have when deciding on where to get your degree. Ask questions about the local job market and if the school has partnerships with companies that would help you obtain a job or apprenticeship. Ask them what makes their program different from others and if there are any alumni you could speak with. Finally, if your considering an AA, think about the future and ask them how the program prepares you for a four-year degree so you know your options going forward.
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