Students considering a career as a BMW technician should earn an associate's degree or diploma in auto technology from a community college or technical school. They should also obtain special training from one of BMW's specialist schools.
Schools with BMW STEP programs
The following schools offer BMW STEP programs:
| School | Location | School Type | Degrees Offered* | Tuition (2015-2016)** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio Technical College | Cleveland, OH | 2-year private, for-profit | Associate's | $27,300 |
| Universal Technical Institute | Avondale, AZ | 2-year private, for-profit | Associate's | $42,950 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte, NC | 2-year public | Associate's | $2,664 In-state $8,808 Out-of-state |
| Chabot College | Hayward, CA | 2-year public | Certificate | $1,138 In-state $6,970 Out-of-state |
| Universal Technical Institute | Orlando, FL | 2-year private, for-profit | Associate's | $33,750 |
| MassBay Community College | Wellesley Hills, MA | 2-year public | Associate's | $4,496 In-state $9,440 Out-of-state |
| Lincoln College of Technology | Grand Prairie, TX | 2-year private, for-profit | Diploma Certificate Associate's | $20,208 |
| Atlanta Technical College | Atlanta, GA | 2-year public | Diploma Certificate | $2,746 In-state $4,882 Out-of-state |
Sources: *School websites, **National Center for Education Statistics
School Selection Criteria
Some BMW dealers and repair shops hire and train applicants without BMW specialist training, but most prefer candidates with such a background. The following are considerations when choosing a BMW technician or specialist school:
- A prospective student needs to evaluate whether they meet the attendance record to be admitted to the program.
- Students should also determine if the program they desire will accept their GPA for admittance.
- The student should consider how much time they are willing or able to invest into a training program.
- Every prospective BMW technician should verify that a program is a BMW Service Technician Education Program (STEP), available in Ohio, Arizona, North Carolina, California, Florida, Massachusetts and New Jersey.
BMW Technical and Specialist Schools Degree and Program Overviews
The BMW STEP Level 1 program is the primary BMW technician training program. It accepts 200 to 300 students per year and is available at six of the eight STEP training locations. The BMW Paint and Body STEP accepts 24 students per year for training at three STEP training locations.
Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C. and Massachusetts Bay Community College in Ashland, Massachusetts offer the BMW Associate degree program. This program accepts 30 students per year and combines a broad associate's degree education with automotive classes as well as lectures and labs revolving around the latest BMW autos, systems and repair equipment and techniques. Students receive hands-on training through required cooperative work experience at BMW dealerships.
The 12-week BMW FastTrack program, offered by five STEP training programs, is designed for students who hold an automotive degree or certificate from a community college or technical school. The 10-week MINI STEP program, available from two STEP training partners, prepares students for entry-level BMW repair specialist positions.
BMW STEP programs are available to eligible students who complete a diploma or associate's degree program in auto technology. These programs focus on BMW specific automotive technology through use of lectures and hands-on labs.