Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard in Automotive Service & Maintenance Technician
Course Code: P266077
Key Information
Course type:
Apprenticeships
Campus:
Highbury Campus
Start Date:
September 2026
Duration:
36 months
Attendance:
One day a week
Fees:
Free

Go full speed ahead with your knowledge and skills in light vehicle maintenance and repair with the Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard in Automotive Service & Maintenance Technician at City of Portsmouth College.
You'll learn advanced skills in service and maintenance, specifically covering servicing, emissions and diagnostics, as well as how to run an efficient garage/business. Meanwhile you'll work, either in dealerships which focus on a particular manufacturer, or in an independent garage dealing with many different makes of vehicles.
Units include:
- engine systems and component faults
- transmission and drive-line system faults
- chassis system faults
- inspecting light vehicles using prescribed methods
- diagnostics, alternative fuels and electric vehicles.
To successfully complete the apprenticeship, you will need both maths and English at grade 4 or above, or Functional Skills Level 2.
You will be required to attend our Highbury Campus one day per week.
It is a government requirement for you to spend a minimum of six hours per week of your apprenticeship working towards your off-the-job learning, which can consist of College attendance, homework/coursework, project related work, employer training, mentoring, and coaching – plus other tasks.
As well as your studies you will build a portfolio of work, and workplace assessors will be in regular contact to provide support and arrange onsite visits to observe your ability and skills in your daily role. It's important for you to take ownership of your own learning by seeking out opportunities to gain new skills on the job with your employer. Learning in College will be delivered through a mixture of classes, work-related activities and independent study and research. Your final grade will be determined by collective performance in the three assessments in the endpoint assessment.
To achieve a pass you will need to score 65% in each of the three endpoint assessments:
• online knowledge-based tests
• skills test (knowledge and behaviours are observed)
• professional discussion (to demonstrate you can apply the broad range of knowledge, skills, and behaviours in the Standard).
You could go into full-time employment within the industry. Past apprentices have gone on to be promoted in their company to roles with more responsibility and within a short period of time have gone on to become managers and even company directors. It is also possible to continue your training via the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) should you wish to specialise or advance your knowledge further.
Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard in Automotive Service & Maintenance Technician
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