INSTITUTIONS OFFERING AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL LISTED AT THE BOTTOM
WHAT IS AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL AND WHO IS AN AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICIAN?
Automotive electrical, also known as auto electrical, is an electrical course that involves the installation, servicing and repairing of electrical systems and their components in vehicles. These electrical components include air-conditioning, the dashboard, car audio, the navigation system (GPS), lighting in the vehicle, indicators and headlights, alarm systems, alternator, battery, starter, doors and windows and many other components. An automotive electrician is therefore someone with skills that involve installing and repairing the components listed that form the electrical system of the car. It is worth differentiating automotive electrical and automotive mechanics. Auto electrical is concerned with the parts of the car that work with electricity like the bulbs in the car, the display on the dashboard or the air-conditioning while auto mechanics is concerned with the mechanical parts such as brakes and the suspension.
WHERE DO AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICIANS WORK?
Auto electricians work in garages that may be government or private owned. The government owned garages are usually attached to a particular ministry such as the ministry of health to service and repair the ministries cars. In the private owned garages, the general public take their cars for servicing and repair.
WHAT TASKS ARE INVOLVED IN THE WORK?
The tasks involved in the job of an auto electrician include installing new vehicle wiring systems. This means that the wiring in a new vehicle can be done by an auto electrician. They install and find problems to alarm systems. These alarm systems are the parts of the car that alert the owner that someone has touched or opened the car. When the car has a problem they inspect the car and find the problem or listen to the customer about the problem he/she is facing. Thereafter, they fix the problem or they can replace the component that has been damaged or is not working fine. They also do regular servicing and repair of electrical systems. They are found working hand-in-hand with auto mechanics because some of the electrical components cause a mechanical problem and some mechanical problems may cause an electrical problem
WHAT IS THE WORK SCHEDULE OF AN AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICIAN?
The work schedule of an auto electrician is dependent on where he/she works. Usually garages are only open during the day and this is when auto electricians will be required to report for work. Otherwise they can be called in to work any time of the day when their services are needed.
WHAT DOES THE JOB MARKET LOOK LIKE?
Cars are now being fitted with many electrical components. Some cars have sensors that help people to park by beeping when someone gets closer to wall or another car. Auto electricians are required to fit and repair such components. Auto electricians will be employed in places with many vehicles such as courier companies like DHL or the post office, production companies such as Trade Kings, the mining industry, electricity production companies, city councils etc. Virtually any work place that makes use of vehicles will at one point or the other require the services of an auto electrician. The job opportunities are therefore many.
WHAT SORT OF CAREER-PERSONALITY MATCH IS REQUIRED?
For an auto electrician, the work is often manual meaning someone who wants to pursue this career needs to be comfortable with hands-on work. It is helpful to have a background in mathematics, physics, chemistry and technical drawing for it to be easy and enjoyable.
INSTITUTIONS OFFERING AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL LISTED AT THE BOTTOM
WHAT SUBJECTS WILL THE PROGRAM COVER?
The program covers courses that teach repair work of electrical or electronic parts of motor vehicles, diagnosis (finding out) of problems in the electrical/electronic parts of motor, maintenance of electrical and electronic parts of motor vehicles, installation of electrical/electronic optional accessories, tools in the auto electrician workshop, work planning and human resources management, safety in the workshop and quality evaluation of the maintenance service provided.
WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?
The entry requirements to auto electrical at diploma and craft level are five ‘O’ level credits including Mathematics, English, Science and any other two subjects. The minimum entry requirement at Trade-test level is a grade 7 or grade 9 certificate.
WHAT ARE THE FUTURE ADVANCED QUALIFICATIONS AVAILABLE AND WHY?
There are no advanced qualifications at degree or master’s level in auto electrical offered in Zambia.
INSTITUTIONS THAT OFFER AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY
NORTHERN TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Programme duration: 3 years 3 months (diploma) / 2 years 8 months (Adv. Certificate) / 1 year 6 months (Certificate)
Mode of study: Full-Time and Distance Learning
Admitting school: Faculty of Heavy Equipment Repairs
Intakes: January, May and September for Full-Time / April and August for Distance Learning
Location: Ndola
Contacts
Tel: +260 212 671699/ +260 977 555467/ +260 977 321447
E-mail: principal@nortec.edu.zm
Website: www.nortec.edu.zm
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRE
Programme duration: 2 years (Craft Certificate) / 3 years (Diploma)
Mode of study: Full-Time, Part-time and Distance Learning
Admitting school: Department of Automotive Engineering
Intakes: January and July
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 211 244177 / +260 967 906830 / +260 977 686181
E-mail: info@itczambia.co.zm
Website: www.itczambia.co.zm Facebook: Industrial Training Centre
LUANSHYA TECHNICAL AND BUSINESS COLLEGE
Programme duration: 2 years (Craft Certificate) / 1 year (Trade-test)
Mode of study: Full-Time and Distance Learning
Intakes: January, May and September
Location: Luanshya
Contacts
Tel: +260 966 814941
E-mail: info@ltbc.edu.zm
Website: www.ltbc.edu.zm
KABWE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Programme duration: 2 years (Craft Certificate) / 2 years 8 months (Adv. Certificate) / 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-Time
Admitting school: Mechanical Department
Intakes: January
Location: Kabwe
Contacts
Tel: +260 977 143641/ +260 977 520038 / 0978503594/ 0977889359
E-mail: kabweit@gmail.com
Website: www.kit.edu.zm/index.php/downloads/fees
LIVINGSTONE INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS AND ENGINEERING STUDIES
Programme duration: 3 months (Trade-test level III) / 1 year (Trade-test level I) / 2 years (Craft Certificate)
Mode of study: Full-Time
Intakes: January, May
Location: Livingstone
Contacts
Tel: +260 960 949041/ +260 977 576286 / 0965196917
E-mail: libeszambia@gmail.com
Website: www.libescollege.edu.zm Facebook: Livingstone Institute of Business and Engineering Studies – LIBES
KITWE VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE
Programme duration: 2 years (Craft Certificate)
Mode of study: Full-Time
Intakes: January, May and September
Location: Kitwe
Contacts
Tel: +260 212 261509/ +260 954 478315
E-mail: kvtcmb@yahoo.com
Facebook: Kitwe Vocational Training Centre
LUSAKA BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Programme duration: 1 year (Trade-test) / 2 years (Craft Certificate) / 2 years 8 months (Adv. Certificate) / 3 years 3 months (Diploma)
Mode of study: Full-Time
Admitting school: Department of Engineering
Intakes: January, May and September
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 971 528420 / +260 953 260223
E-mail: marketing@lbtc.ac.zm
Website: www.lbtc.ac.zm
SOLWEZI TRADES TRAINING INSTITUTE
Programme duration: 2 years (Craft Certificate) / 1 year (Trade-test)
Mode of study: Full-Time
Intakes: January, May and September
Location: Solwezi
Contacts
Tel: +260 979 595647 / +260 968 506773 / +260 968 781983 / +260 967 592099
Facebook: Solwezi Trades Training Institute Info Corner
UKWIMI TRADES TRAINING INSTITUTE
Programme duration: 2 years (Craft Certificate)
Mode of study: Full-Time
Intakes: January and July
Location: Petauke
Contacts
Tel: +260 216 371337/ +260 216 371437
E-mail: ukwimitrades@gmail.com
Website: zambiatevetprincipals.edu.zm/ukwimi-trades-training-institute/ Facebook: Ukwimi Trades Training Institute
LUSAKA VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Programme duration: 1 year (Trade-test) / 2 years (Craft Certificate) / 2 years 8 months (Adv. Certificate)
Mode of study: Full-Time and Part-Time
Intakes: January, May and September
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 211 242270 / +260 950 119663 / +260 979 145232
E-mail: admissions.office@lvtc.edu.zm OR lvtcmb@gmail.com
Website: www.lvtc.edu.zm
NKUMBI INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE
Programme duration: 1 year (Trade-test) / 2 years (Craft Certificate)
Mode of study: Full-Time and Distance Learning
Intakes: January and April
Location: Kapiri Mposhi
Contacts
Tel: +260 979 329699 / +260 977 105829
E-mail: nkumbi@ymail.com
Facebook: Nkumbi International College
LUKASHYA TRADES TRAINING INSTITUTE
Programme duration: 1 year (Trade-test) / 2 years (Craft Certificate)
Mode of study: Full-Time
Intakes: January
Location: Kasama
Contacts
Tel: +260 214 221106 / +260 977 506990 / +260 964 556127 Website: zambiatevetprincipals.edu.zm/lukashya-trades-training-institute/
MUMBWA YOUTH RESOURCE CENTRE
Programme duration: 1 year (Trade-test)
Mode of study: Full-Time
Intakes: January and September
Location: Mumbwa
Contacts
Tel: +260 979 887138 / +260 974 874252 / 0977 593640
Facebook: Mumbwa Youth Resource Centre