Introduction to Automotive Industry, Safety, and Tools

Course Description

AER0001 — Introduction to Automotive Industry, Safety, and Tools is a Postsecondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) clock-hour course that introduces students to the fundamental safety practices, hand and power tools, measurement instruments, and industry standards of the automotive service industry. The course is typically delivered as a 60-clock-hour intensive course (commonly two-week, full-time format) at Palm Beach State College and other Florida technical institutions. As a PSAV course, it carries 0 college credits — clock hours are the unit of measurement, and successful completion is documented on the student's official PSAV transcript.

The course is aligned to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Automotive Service Technology 1 framework (Program T400700, CIP 0647060411), which establishes the Occupational Completion Point (OCP-A) "Automobile Services Assistor" as the entry-level competency package for the automotive service career pathway. AER0001 covers the safety, tools-and-equipment, and industry-orientation core of OCP-A in a condensed format suitable for students seeking foundational knowledge before committing to the full automotive PSAV program, or for entry-level employees needing an industry-recognized safety and tools credential.

Topics covered include shop safety, OSHA standards (29 CFR 1910), EPA hazardous-waste handling rules, identification and proper use of shop tools and equipment, automotive component identification, ASE certification requirements and pathways, use of electronic service information systems, proper use of measuring tools (micrometer, dial caliper, torque wrench), and customer service fundamentals. Instruction consists of classroom and laboratory activities designed to meet industry and safety standards. The course incorporates the S/P2 Automotive Service safety and pollution-prevention training credentials commonly required by Florida employers and ASE Education Foundation accreditation.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Identify and apply general shop safety rules and procedures, including compliance with OSHA standards (29 CFR 1910), EPA hazardous-waste handling rules, and the Federal Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).
• Demonstrate proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, ear protection, gloves, appropriate footwear, and proper clothing/hair/jewelry control for shop activities.
• Locate and demonstrate knowledge of Safety Data Sheets (SDS), eye-wash stations, fire extinguishers, posted evacuation routes, and other emergency safety equipment.
• Demonstrate safe use of floor jacks, jack stands, and vehicle lifts, including proper placement points and weight-rating verification.
• Demonstrate awareness of safety considerations for supplemental restraint systems (SRS), high-voltage circuits (HID lamps, ignition systems, hybrid vehicle high-voltage circuits), and electronic brake control systems.
• Identify and use standard and metric measurement tools, including micrometers, digital and dial indicators, digital and dial calipers, and torque wrenches; perform measurements with appropriate precision.
• Identify shop tools and equipment by name and demonstrate their appropriate usage in automotive applications, including hand tools (wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, pliers), power tools, and specialty tools.
• Demonstrate proper handling of automotive lubricants, fluids, and consumables, including identification of typical automotive lubricants and their properties; describe typical automotive seals and gaskets.
• Demonstrate cleaning, storage, and maintenance of tools and equipment to industry standards.
• Identify career opportunities and certification pathways in the automotive service industry, including knowledge of ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification structure and the ASE Education Foundation Master Automotive Service Technology (MAST) accreditation.
• Demonstrate basic workplace and customer service skills, including the use of the "Three C's" (Concern, Cause, Correction) for service documentation.

Optional Outcomes

Depending on institutional emphasis and the time available within the course, students may also:

• Complete the S/P2 Automotive Service online training and earn the industry-recognized credential.
• Complete the OSHA 10-Hour General Industry (Automotive) card recognized by Florida employers.
• Identify automobiles by engine location, cylinder configuration, drive system, and intended purpose; locate and use Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs), placards, decals, and tags.
• Demonstrate use of electronic service information systems (such as Mitchell, AllData, Identifix, or manufacturer flat-rate manuals) for service procedures, technical service bulletins, and replacement-part identification.
• Conduct a basic vehicle pre-service inspection, including checking fluid levels and condition, identifying the presence of TPMS, wheel locks, and air-suspension systems.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Shop and Personal Safety — general shop rules, EPA and OSHA standards (29 CFR 1910), Federal Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), emergency first aid, fire safety equipment and procedures, eye-wash and emergency station locations, posted evacuation routes.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — required use of safety glasses, ear protection, gloves, appropriate footwear; secure clothing, hair, and jewelry standards.
• Vehicle Lifting and Support Equipment — proper placement and use of floor jacks, jack stands, and shop lifts; safe pit usage and ventilation procedures.
• Hazardous Materials and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) — identification, storage, handling, and disposal of hazardous chemicals and materials in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Special Hazards: SRS, High-Voltage Systems, and Hybrid Vehicles — safety awareness for supplemental restraint systems (airbags), HID lamps, ignition systems, fuel injection systems, and hybrid/electric vehicle high-voltage circuits.
• Hand Tools and Power Tools — identification, selection, proper use, and storage of common automotive hand tools (wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, pliers, hammers), specialty tools, and power tools (drills, impact wrenches, grinders).
• Precision Measurement Tools — proper use of micrometers, digital and dial indicators, digital and dial calipers, torque wrenches; standard and metric measurement systems and unit conversion.
• Automotive Lubricants, Fluids, and Sealants — typical automotive lubricants and properties; engine oils, transmission fluids, coolants, brake fluids, power-steering fluids; typical seals and gaskets.
• Tool and Equipment Maintenance — proper cleaning, storage, and maintenance of tools and shop equipment to industry standards.
• Automotive Industry Overview and Certifications — career opportunities in automotive service; ASE certification structure (A1-A9 series); ASE Education Foundation Master Automotive Service Technology (MAST) accreditation; F.S. 1004.925 (Florida Statute requiring industry certification of automotive education programs).
• Customer Service and Work Order Fundamentals — the "Three C's" (Concern, Cause, Correction); documentation of customer information, vehicle identifying information, and service history; vehicle protection equipment (fender covers, floor mats, steering-wheel covers).

Optional Topics

• S/P2 Automotive Service Training — the standardized industry safety and pollution-prevention training adopted by ASE Education Foundation accredited programs and many Florida employers.
• OSHA 10-Hour General Industry (Automotive) — the foundational industry safety credential recognized by Florida automotive employers.
• Vehicle Identification — engine configurations, drive systems, vehicle types, VIN decoding, and use of certification labels.
• Electronic Service Information Systems — Mitchell, AllData, Identifix, manufacturer-specific systems; flat-rate manuals; technical service bulletins.
• Basic Pre-Service Inspection — fluid level and condition checks, TPMS recognition, wheel-lock detection, air-suspension recognition.

Resources & Tools

• FLDOE Automotive Service Technology 1 Framework (T400700) — the official curriculum framework establishing the OCP-A "Automotive Services Assistor" content area; available at fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu.
• ASE Education Foundation (aseeducationfoundation.org) — accreditation standards, MAST (Master Automotive Service Technology) program-accreditation requirements, and student certification information.
• Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) (ase.com) — industry certification structure, A1-A9 test categories, study guides, and entry-level certifications.
• S/P2 Safety and Pollution Prevention Training (sp2.org) — industry-standard online safety and environmental training adopted by Florida technical colleges and ASE-accredited programs.
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910 General Industry Standards — federal occupational safety and health standards governing shop operations.
• Hand Tool Sets, Power Tools, and Precision Measurement Equipment — students typically purchase a starter tool set for the program; the institution maintains shared specialty tools, lifts, and diagnostic equipment.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — safety glasses, ear protection, gloves, mechanic's uniform or shop clothing, closed-toe leather work boots; long pants and shirts that cover the chest and shoulders are required at all times in the shop.
• Vehicle Identification References — VIN decoding charts, manufacturer placard guides, and Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles vehicle-identification reference materials.
• Vehicle Service Information Systems — institutional subscriptions to Mitchell-on-Demand, AllData Repair, or Identifix, providing access to service procedures, wiring diagrams, technical service bulletins, and parts catalogs.

Career Pathways

AER0001 is the entry course for Florida's automotive service career pathway. Successful completion supports progression into:

• Continued Automotive Service Technology PSAV Program — students who complete AER0001 typically continue into the full FLDOE T400700 framework, advancing through OCP-A (Automobile Services Assistor — AER0014, 300 hours), OCP-B (Brake System Technician — AER0418, 150 hours), OCP-C (Suspension and Steering Technician — AER0453, 150 hours), OCP-D (Electrical/Electronic System Technician — AER0360, 300 hours), and OCP-E (Engine Repair Technician — AER0110, 150 hours), totaling 1,050 to 1,800 clock hours depending on the institutional program structure.
• Automotive Service Technician / Mechanic (SOC 49-3023) — entry-level positions at independent repair shops, dealership service departments, fleet maintenance facilities (UPS, FedEx, Amazon, USPS, municipal and state government fleets), and tire/brake/oil-change service chains. Florida starting wages typically range from $26,000 to $45,000, advancing with ASE certification and experience.
• Automotive Lubrication Technician / Quick-Service Technician — entry positions at quick-lube and tire-service chains (Jiffy Lube, Valvoline Instant Oil Change, Tires Plus, Discount Tire) where the safety, tool-use, and basic-service competencies of AER0001 directly apply.
• Parts Counter Technician — automotive parts sales and counter positions at NAPA, AutoZone, O'Reilly, Advance Auto Parts, and dealership parts departments.
• Manufacturer-Specific Training Pathways — Florida hosts manufacturer-specific advanced training programs including Honda PACT, Toyota T-TEN, the Nissan Technician Training Academy (NTTA at Hillsborough Community College), and Mercedes-Benz / BMW programs at South Florida technical colleges. Foundational completion of AER0001 supports application to these programs.
• Articulation to A.S./A.A.S. Degrees — clock hours from PSAV automotive programs may articulate (subject to institutional articulation agreements) into the Automotive Service Management Technology A.S./A.A.S. degree at Florida public colleges, including Hillsborough Community College, Daytona State College, and Florida State College at Jacksonville.

Special Information

Program Type and Credit

AER0001 is a Postsecondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) clock-hour course. PSAV courses do not carry college credit hours; credits=0 reflects this, with the real measurement being the 60 clock hours of instructional time. PSAV courses appear on a separate PSAV transcript and do not satisfy general education requirements for an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree.

FLDOE Framework Alignment

This course is aligned to the FLDOE Automotive Service Technology 1 curriculum framework (Program Number T400700, CIP 0647060411), specifically the safety, tools-and-equipment, and industry-orientation portions of OCP-A "Automotive Services Assistor" (FLDOE course AER0014). At Palm Beach State College and certain other Florida technical institutions, AER0001 is offered as a 60-hour condensed introduction; at most other Florida institutions following the full FLDOE framework, the equivalent content is delivered within the 300-hour AER0014 OCP-A course. Course title, hour count, and exact content coverage may vary by institution; students should verify with the awarding institution's catalog.

Industry Certifications

The course content prepares students for several entry-level industry credentials commonly recognized by Florida automotive employers:

• S/P2 Automotive Service — the safety and pollution-prevention credential adopted by ASE Education Foundation accredited programs.
• OSHA 10-Hour General Industry (Automotive) — recognized by Florida employers as evidence of foundational safety knowledge.
• ASE Entry-Level Certification — the ASE Education Foundation maintains entry-level student certification testing aligned with the OCP-A content.

Florida Statute 1004.925

Florida Statute 1004.925 requires that all automotive service technology education programs in the state be industry certified in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education. The ASE Education Foundation Master Automotive Service Technology (MAST) program accreditation is the most widely held industry certification for Florida automotive PSAV programs.

Articulation and Transfer

As a PSAV clock-hour course, AER0001 does not automatically transfer between institutions as college credit. Some Florida public colleges have specific articulation agreements that recognize PSAV automotive completion toward A.S./A.A.S. degrees in Automotive Service Management Technology — students should consult the receiving institution's articulation officer for specific applicability.

Military Credit Equivalency

Students with prior military training in motor transport operator, wheeled-vehicle mechanic, or related Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) classifications (Army 91B, Marine Corps 3521, Navy CM, Air Force 2T3X1) may be eligible for military credit equivalency awards toward this course. Documentation through the Joint Services Transcript (JST) or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript is the basis for evaluation. Students should consult the receiving institution's veteran services and military credit evaluation office.