Essential Information
Candidates for entry into a marine repair technician diploma program will benefit from high school courses that emphasize mechanics. Once you graduate from high school, a marine technician diploma program will take 2 to 4 semesters to complete, depending on whether the community college or technical school you attend requires general education coursework, such as communications or math. When applying, an aptitude for mechanics is a plus. Hands-on training is often a large part of a marine technician diploma program.
Marine Repair Technician Diploma Program
Applicants to the diploma program for marine repair technicians should be able to show an affinity for mathematics. In addition to completing classroom work, students work on real boats. This training covers topics such as the following:
- Drive, electrical and fuel systems
- Engine diagnostics and rebuilding
- Fiberglass boat hulls
Meanwhile, classroom work might cover these topics:
- Customer service
- Reading service manuals
- Relevant computer software
Employment Outlook and Salary Information
Graduates of marine technician programs may work for marine dealerships' repair departments as boat rigging technicians, marine service technicians or marine sales representatives. Eventually, they may advance to supervisor positions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 24,900 jobs were held by motorboat mechanics and service technicians in 2018. From 2018-2028, the BLS projected job growth of 6% for this field. As of May 2018, motorboat mechanics and service technicians earned a mean annual wage of $42,330 (www.bls.gov).
A marine repair technician diploma program takes just 2-4 semesters to complete, but graduates will enter a job field with less than 25,000 jobs nationwide. These programs include hands-on training on real boats in order to prepare students for a competitive job market.
