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Auto Pros Academy Programs:

A Seamless Pathway to Automotive Excellence 

Future Auto Techs Middle School STEM Program

What is STEM?

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It is an educational approach that integrates these four disciplines to provide students with hands-on, problem-solving, and real-world learning experiences. STEM education aims to build critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and technical skills that prepare students for success in school, careers, and life.

In the Future Auto Techs Middle School STEM Program, students explore these subjects through exciting automotive technology projects. This approach helps them see how STEM applies to everyday life and future careers—especially in engineering, design, and technology fields. The program encourages teamwork and critical thinking while sparking curiosity and confidence in students’ ability to solve problems and innovate.

Auto Pros Academy is proud to launch a truly innovative program—one that has never before been offered to middle school students in the Antelope Valley. This free, after-school initiative brings the excitement of automotive technology directly to local schools and community spaces, making hands-on learning accessible and practical.

Expanding Access Across the Antelope Valley
Launched August 15th, 2025 at Hillview Middle School, in partnership with Westside Union School District, Hillview was the first to pilot our Future Auto Techs Middle School STEM Program. With district support and a dedicated classroom at Hillview, students participate in 15 dynamic automotive repair STEM projects throughout the year—each designed to spark curiosity, foster creativity, and build essential problem-solving skills.

We are excited to expand the program to Joe Walker Middle School for the 2026–2027 school year. Classes will be held every Wednesday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, following the Westside Union School District calendar. This additional school site allows us to serve more students within the district and continue growing access to hands-on STEM education.

We are also proud to continue offering the program at the Lancaster Community Center, which launched on September 8th, 2025. Classes are held every Monday from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, following the Westside Union School District calendar. This location remains open to students from any school district, ensuring middle schoolers across the Antelope Valley can participate.

From engineering basics to real-world challenges, every project opens doors to the possibilities of the automotive industry while giving students direct, hands-on experiences that prepare them for future success.

How Our Classes Work

To bring out the best in every student, all projects are completed in teams of five—a proven approach for middle schoolers that encourages teamwork, effective communication, and leadership development.

Instead of traditional individual grading, our point system rewards teams for creativity, collaboration, concept, and design on every project. Throughout the year, teams earn points for their achievements, with the top teams recognized at the end of the program. This structure makes learning exciting while also reflecting the real-world teamwork and problem-solving of the automotive industry.

Program At-A-Glance

Enrollment & Eligibility
Open to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students


  • Hillview Middle School site: limited to 20 Hillview students


  • Joe Walker Middle School site: limited to 20 Joe Walker students


  • Lancaster Community Center site: limited to 20 students, open to any school district
    Apply online — first-come, first-served

Program Schedule & Commitment


  • Hillview Middle School: Fridays, 2:15 PM – 4:15 PM


  • Joe Walker Middle School: Wednesdays, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (following Westside Union School District 2026–2027 calendar)


  • Lancaster Community Center: Mondays, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM (following Westside Union School District calendar)


Students attend once per week for 2 hours
Each project runs for 2 weeks; final design projects last 3 weeks

Student & Family Support

Parent Communication: Parents receive regular highlights and winner emails after each project, along with three quarterly surveys for feedback

Looking Ahead

Auto Pros Academy is building a pipeline of opportunity for young learners across the Antelope Valley. By partnering with schools and community spaces, we are creating a movement that educates students to explore STEM, develop workplace skills, and discover careers as engineers, designers, technicians, and innovators.

This program offers a valuable head start—giving middle schoolers the skills, confidence, and inspiration to pursue top-paying careers and change their lives.


 Future Auto Techs Middle School STEM Application starting this school year 2026-2027

Automotive Engineering & Technology Prep Program (Freshman/Sophomore)

TRAIN INSIDE A REAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP — NOT A CLASSROOM

Give your student the opportunity to begin their journey into the automotive industry through one of the most unique youth automotive training programs in the Antelope Valley.

The Automotive Engineering & Technology Prep Program is a one-year Intro to Automotive course designed for students entering 9th and 10th grade who want to explore automotive technology, engineering, and real-world career opportunities. Students will train on an instructional vehicle, not customer cars. 

Unlike traditional after-school programs, students train inside Auto Pros Automotive Repair, a professional automotive repair facility proudly serving the Antelope Valley community for over 42 years.

Students learn directly inside a real working automotive shop, gaining hands-on experience while working alongside the same professional environment used by certified automotive technicians every day.

Instruction is led by Mr. Rudy Gutierrez, ASE Master Technician with over 11 ASE Certifications and decades of professional automotive repair experience.


Program Highlights

🔧 Real-world automotive training inside a professional repair shop

📍 Train at Auto Pros Automotive Repair
44136 10th Street West #205
Lancaster, California 93534

👨‍🏫 Instruction from ASE Master Technician Rudy Gutierrez

🚗 Learn automotive systems, diagnostics, maintenance, and shop safety

📅 Classes held every Tuesday
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

📅 Required Parent & Student Orientation
August 4, 2026 | 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

🚗 First Day of Class
August 11, 2026

👥 Only 20 Students Accepted

✅ 100% Free Program

👞 Non-Slip Shop Shoes Required

🚀 Direct pathway into our Advanced Automotive Training Program

The automotive industry currently faces a nationwide shortage of over 750,000 automotive technicians, creating tremendous career opportunities for students entering this field.

This is much more than an after-school program.

This is early career training.
This is workforce development.
This is the first step toward a future in the automotive industry.

Enrollment Is Limited — Only 20 Students Will Be Accepted

APPLY NOW TO SECURE YOUR STUDENT’S SPOT


 Apply now to reserve your seat for the 2026-2027 school year

Automotive Engineering & Technology Advanced Program (Junior Level)

ADVANCED AUTOMOTIVE TRAINING FOR STUDENTS SERIOUS ABOUT A FUTURE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Take your automotive knowledge and hands-on skills to the next level through our Automotive Engineering & Technology Advanced Program, a one-year advanced automotive training course designed specifically for 11th grade students who are serious about pursuing a future career in the automotive repair industry. Students will train on an instructional vehicle, not customer cars. 

This program is designed for students who are ready to move beyond introductory automotive learning and begin advanced technical training using the same professional concepts, diagnostic procedures, and repair processes used throughout today’s automotive repair industry.

Unlike traditional after-school programs, students do not train on a high school campus.

Students train at Auto Pros Automotive Repair, a professional automotive repair facility proudly serving the Antelope Valley community for over 42 years.

📍 Program Location
Auto Pros Automotive Repair
44136 10th Street West #205
Lancaster, California 93534

Inside our shop, students learn in a real-world automotive repair environment, gaining hands-on experience in the same professional setting where certified technicians diagnose, repair, and service customer vehicles every day.

Instruction is led by Mr. Rudy Gutierrez, ASE Master Technician with over 11 ASE Certifications and decades of professional automotive repair experience.

ASE Certification Pathway

The curriculum used throughout the Advanced Automotive Program is built using ASE college-based automotive learning standards, exposing students to the same professional automotive education concepts used throughout post-secondary automotive training programs.

Our goal is for students to work toward earning their first ASE Certification — ASE G1 Auto Maintenance and Light Repair Certification- while still in high school.

The ASE G1 Certification is one of the automotive industry’s nationally recognized professional certifications and serves as the first major step toward becoming a professional automotive technician.

Very few high school students are given the opportunity to begin working toward professional automotive certification this early.

Program Highlights

🔧 Advanced hands-on automotive training inside a professional repair facility

📍 Train at Auto Pros Automotive Repair
44136 10th Street West #205
Lancaster, California 93534

👨‍🏫 Instruction from ASE Master Technician Rudy Gutierrez

⚡ ASE college-based automotive curriculum

🏆 Work toward earning your first ASE G1 Certification while still in high school

📅 Classes held every Thursday
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

📅 Required Parent & Student Orientation
August 6, 2026 | 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

🚗 First Day of Class
August 13, 2026

👥 Only 20 Students Accepted

✅ 100% Free Program

👞 Non-Slip Shop Shoes Required

The Opportunity After Graduation

Students who successfully complete the Advanced Automotive Program may be selected to enter our exclusive Auto Pros Paid Apprenticeship Program, a two-year paid apprenticeship opportunity designed to continue developing students inside a real automotive repair business.

This creates a direct pathway from:

Advanced Automotive Training
⬇
ASE Certification Preparation
⬇
Two-Year Paid Apprenticeship Program
⬇
Long-Term Career Opportunities in the Automotive Industry

Very few students are given the opportunity to begin building a professional career pathway this early.

Why This Program Matters

The automotive industry currently faces a nationwide shortage of over 750,000 automotive technicians.

Auto Pros Academy created this pathway to begin preparing the next generation of highly skilled automotive professionals while helping solve this growing workforce shortage.

This is much more than an after-school program.

This is advanced technical training.
This is ASE certification preparation.
This is workforce development.
This is a direct pathway into the automotive repair industry.

Enrollment Is Limited — Only 20 Students Will Be Accepted

APPLY NOW TO SECURE YOUR STUDENT’S SPOT


 Automotive Engineering & Technology Advanced Application school year 2026-2027
About Us

Auto Pros Paid Apprenticeship Program

As the pinnacle of our automotive education pathway, the Auto Pros Academy Apprenticeship Program offers graduates of our Automotive Engineering & Technology Advanced Program an unparalleled, part-time paid opportunity to jumpstart their careers. Launching for our first graduates in 2028, this transformative, two-year program pairs students one-on-one with seasoned automotive technicians from our leading industry partner.

Our students don’t just sit in a classroom—they’re in the shop, hands-on, from day one. Instead of being handed a broom, they dive straight into real automotive work, learning side-by-side with experienced technicians. This immediate, immersive experience ensures they develop the technical expertise and real-world skills needed to excel in today’s complex automotive industry.

Our part-time approach is thoughtfully designed to balance hands-on work with dedicated study time, allowing apprentices to thoroughly prepare for nationally recognized Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications—an essential requirement to take these exams. Apprentices receive comprehensive study materials, practice tests, and personalized mentorship to ensure their success.

Beyond technical skills, apprentices develop crucial professional attributes such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork through regular one-on-one coaching, shop floor shadowing, and participation in real projects. This holistic training prepares them for the demands of a fast-paced, ever-evolving field.

Our program encourages apprentices to achieve ASE certifications during or shortly after their apprenticeship, with a focus on key areas including:

  • G1: Maintenance & Light Repair

  • A4: Suspension & Steering

  • A5: Brakes

By building strong, lasting relationships between apprentices and industry professionals, Auto Pros Academy cultivates the next generation of skilled, innovative, and ethical automotive technicians. This paid, part-time, two-year program not only launches graduates into the workforce but also provides a solid foundation for further educational advancement and lifelong career success.


 Our Partner - Auto Pros Lancaster Auto Repair

Auto Pros Apprenticeship Job Placement Program

As the last step in our journey to a seamless pathway to success, the Auto Pros Apprenticeship Job Placement Program launches rewarding careers in the automotive industry. Beginning in 2030, graduates of our rigorous two-year program will become ASE-certified technicians with valuable hands-on experience gained alongside a Master Certified professional.

Through our exclusive partnership with the Automotive Training Institute (ATI), we connect graduates to high-paying local and national opportunities—whether at leading dealerships, innovative repair shops, or specialty automotive businesses. While nationwide opportunities are available, we also prioritize local job placement to help you contribute to and grow within the Lancaster community and surrounding areas. This dual approach ensures you find meaningful employment that aligns with your career goals and lifestyle. 

Trained to dream big, many graduates are poised to advance further and become Master Certified technicians themselves, unlocking even greater career opportunities and earning potential. Some may even aspire to own their own shops. By aligning with ATI as new shop owners, graduates gain access to specialized training and coaching tailored to automotive business ownership, setting them on a direct path to long-term success.

Most importantly, we have changed countless lives—our graduates complete their training without the burden of debt.

We don’t just train technicians; we launch careers with real earning potential and mobility, completing your journey from student to skilled automotive professional.


 Auto Pros Apprenticeship Job Placement Program Effective 2030
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