Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies programs at accredited colleges and universities teach you how to diagnose and repair diesel engines, power trains and other industrial parts and equipment. For example, the programs teach you how to work with airplanes, trains and trucks, including agricultural equipment. A combination of classroom and hands-on assignments may be required to successfully complete Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies programs.
In addition to taking an assortment of electives, you are also required to take and pass core courses before you graduate with Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies degrees. Some core courses the particular college or university you attend might mandate that you complete include:
Diagnostic, mathematical, repair and maintenance skills are types of skills you gain when you enroll in Heavy Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies. You can also gain skills that help you to upgrade logging and agricultural machinery. You can use these skills to work for a variety of employers including automotive repair shops, military branches, automotive rental agencies, agricultural companies and highway and transportation agencies.
Depending on the specific technical or traditional two or four-year degree school you enroll at, you might be able to complete most of your Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies courses from the comforts of your home through distance learning programs. You can also sign up to complete your postsecondary training in classroom settings. Regardless of whether you enroll in classroom or distance learning programs, you are encouraged to have strong project and time management skills. However, these skills may prove especially beneficial if you complete your courses from home as you won’t have anyone, other than yourself, to make sure you complete projects and assignments on time.
Colleges and universities offer a diverse range of Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies credentials and degrees. For example, you can earn a Certificate in Heavy Equipment/Diesel Technology, Associate of Science in Heavy Equipment or an Associate of Applied Science with a concentration in Heavy Equipment, Diesel Tech. You can also earn a Bachelor of Science in Heavy Equipment, Bachelor of Applied Science with a concentration in Heavy Equipment, Diesel Tech, Bachelor of Science in Heavy Equipment Service Engineering or a Bachelor of Science in Heavy Equipment when you major in Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.
You can get paid to work as a heavy equipment services manager, millwright, industrial machinery mechanic, automotive technician or as a heavy equipment service technician when you get Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies degrees. The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects jobs for industrial machinery mechanics and millwrights to grow by six percent from 2008 through 2018. As of May 2008, millwrights earned a median hourly wage of $22.87, while industrial machinery mechanics earned $20.99 an hour.