Butte College Automotive Studies female student works on a car battery

Automotive Technology

Drive your future forward with Butte College’s Automotive Technology programs. Whether you’re passionate about diagnostics, repair, or hybrid and electric vehicle technology, our expert-led training puts you on the road to a dynamic career in the automotive industry.

Programs

Program Name
Goal
Length
Flexibility
AS CA

Goal

Career or Transfer

Length

1.5-2.5 years

Flexibility

  • Chico/Skyway Center
AS CA

Associate Degree or Certificate of Achievement in Automotive Technology

The Butte College Automotive Technology program is certified by the ASE Education Foundation and prepares students for employment as automotive technicians in dealerships, government agencies, fleet operations, and independent service shops. Classes are held at the Skyway Center in Chico, a modern facility equipped with all ASE-required training aids and tools to prepare students for today’s automotive industry. The program’s goal is to develop highly skilled entry-level technicians with professional work habits. With additional GE graduates can attain an Associate Degree in Automative Technology.

AS CA

Associate Degree or Certificate of Achievement in Automotive Technology - Honda, Professional Automotive Career Training (PACT)

The Certificate of Achievement in Automotive Technology - Honda, Professional Automotive Career Training (PACT) prepares students to enter the workforce as entry level Honda and Acura technicians in dealerships nationwide. The program is an ASE Education Foundation certified school and has partnered with American Honda to prepare students for employment as automotive technicians in Honda and Acura dealerships. With additional GE graduates can obtain the Associate of Science Degree in Automotive Technology - Honda, Professional Automotive Career Training (PACT).

Flexibility

The programs in this cluster require major coursework at the Skyway Center, where all core courses are reliably offered. You'll have flexibility to complete your general education requirements at any of our centers or online, so you can customize the rest of your schedule around the specialized automotive training at Skyway Center. We recommend meeting with a counselor to map out your full plan and confirm current course offerings.

How this flexibility note was generated

⚠ AI-generated content can be wrong. This note was produced by Claude (Anthropic) by synthesizing the individual program flexibility statements in this cluster. Verify against the per-program reports before relying on it.
You are synthesizing a single cluster-level flexibility statement for a community college academic cluster (a group of related programs that share a department-page accordion).

CLUSTER
  Title: Automotive Technology
  Programs in cluster: 2

PER-PROGRAM STATEMENTS
  • Automotive Technology (AS Degree):
      You'll take your required major coursework at the Skyway Center, where the Automotive Technology program is based and all core courses are reliably offered. You can complete your general education requirements at any of our centers or online, giving you flexibility for those courses. Meet with a counselor to map out your full schedule and confirm current offerings.
  • Automotive Technology (Certificate of Achievement):
      You'll need to plan on attending at the Skyway Center for your major coursework in Automotive Technology — that's where this program's required courses are reliably offered. You can complete your general education requirements at any of Butte's centers or online, so you have flexibility there, but the specialized training happens at Skyway Center.

WHAT TO WRITE
  Write 2 to 3 sentences that summarize the AVAILABILITY STORY shared by these programs. Most programs in a cluster will have similar availability — name the common pattern. Note distinct outliers ONLY if a program's availability story differs in a way that affects student decisions (e.g., one program is online-only, others are not).

  - Plain, student-facing language.
  - Refer to "the programs in this cluster" or "these programs" — don't list each program by name unless an outlier needs calling out.
  - If all programs share the same flexibility story, write one unified statement.
  - Do NOT list percentages, term codes, or jargon.
  - Lead with the most flexible/strongest availability and follow with caveats.
  - Refer to locations ONLY by official center names (Main Campus, Chico Center, Glenn Center, Skyway Center, Cosmetology Center, Online). NEVER use a city or town name — no Oroville, no Willows, and never "Chico" as a city. Write "at the Chico Center", never "in Chico" — even if a per-program statement below used a city name, do not repeat it.

OUTPUT
  Return ONLY the statement text. No preamble, no quotation marks, no markdown.
AS CA

Goal

Career or Transfer

Length

2-3 years

Flexibility

AS CA

Associate Degree or Certificate of Achievement in Diesel Technology

The Certificate of Achievement in Diesel Technology prepares students for employment in a wide range of occupations within the diesel car, truck, and equipment industry. The program combines technical theory with practical hands-on instruction to build the knowledge and skills needed for entry-level employment in this high-wage field. With additional GE students can obtain the Associate of Science Degree in Diesel Technology, which has been developed to provide the light and medium-duty diesel industry with well-prepared entry-level technicians. Our rural location and its strong agricultural influence create a demand for technicians trained in diesel-powered trucks and equipment. This program prepares students to diagnose and repair the mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems found on over-the-road diesel-powered vehicles and equipment. Graduates earn Section 609 Compliance Certification, allowing them to service refrigeration units, as well as Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) brake inspection certification. This variety of employment provides flexibility in both rural farming communities and urban areas. Tools, safety glasses, and uniforms are provided as students progress through the program, and partnerships with tool companies allow students to purchase discounted entry-level tool sets before graduation.

Flexibility

The programs in this cluster require most of your major coursework at Skyway Center, where the specialized Diesel Technology courses are reliably taught. You'll have flexibility with your general education requirements, which you can complete at any of Butte's centers or online to fit your schedule around your field-specific training.

How this flexibility note was generated

⚠ AI-generated content can be wrong. This note was produced by Claude (Anthropic) by synthesizing the individual program flexibility statements in this cluster. Verify against the per-program reports before relying on it.
You are synthesizing a single cluster-level flexibility statement for a community college academic cluster (a group of related programs that share a department-page accordion).

CLUSTER
  Title: Diesel Technology
  Programs in cluster: 2

PER-PROGRAM STATEMENTS
  • Diesel Technology (AS Degree):
      You'll need to plan on attending at the Skyway Center for most of your major coursework—that's where the Diesel Technology program's required courses are reliably taught. You can complete your general education requirements at any of Butte's centers or online, which gives you flexibility around the edges of your schedule.
  • Diesel Technology (Certificate of Achievement):
      You'll need to plan on attending Skyway Center for the bulk of your major coursework—that's where the Diesel Technology program's required courses are reliably taught. You can complete your general education requirements at any of our centers or online, so you have some flexibility there, but for the specialized training in your field, Skyway Center is where you'll spend most of your time.

WHAT TO WRITE
  Write 2 to 3 sentences that summarize the AVAILABILITY STORY shared by these programs. Most programs in a cluster will have similar availability — name the common pattern. Note distinct outliers ONLY if a program's availability story differs in a way that affects student decisions (e.g., one program is online-only, others are not).

  - Plain, student-facing language.
  - Refer to "the programs in this cluster" or "these programs" — don't list each program by name unless an outlier needs calling out.
  - If all programs share the same flexibility story, write one unified statement.
  - Do NOT list percentages, term codes, or jargon.
  - Lead with the most flexible/strongest availability and follow with caveats.
  - Refer to locations ONLY by official center names (Main Campus, Chico Center, Glenn Center, Skyway Center, Cosmetology Center, Online). NEVER use a city or town name — no Oroville, no Willows, and never "Chico" as a city. Write "at the Chico Center", never "in Chico" — even if a per-program statement below used a city name, do not repeat it.

OUTPUT
  Return ONLY the statement text. No preamble, no quotation marks, no markdown.
Department Automotive Technology

Full Time Faculty

Daniel Mullen

Automotive Technology Instructor

Gary Harris

Automotive Technology Instructor

Douglas Conrad

Automotive Technology Instructor

Bradley Jenks

Automotive Technology Instructor

Craig Kielb

Automotive Technology Instructor

Andrew Peterson

Automotive Technology Instructor

Associate Faculty

Jon Luther

Automotive Technology Instructor

Cameron Pettersen

Automotive Technology Instructor

Looking For Something Else?

Other Departments in Industrial Technologies & Agriculture

Careers in Automotive Technology

Students find career support through the auto program, while earning a certificate or degree.

Butte College Automotive studies COI instructor_Craig
I found my way to automotive through high school, and my shop teacher pushed me to go to the Butte College auto program. The instructors cared so much about my success. They pushed me when I needed it, saw something in me that I didn’t see, and prepared me for a fantastic career!
Craig Keilb
Automotive Technology Alum and Current Department Chair
Career Services

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Associate Faculty

Jon Luther

Automotive Technology Instructor

Cameron Pettersen

Automotive Technology Instructor

Not sure where to start?

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Department Automotive Technology