If you've thought about going to appliance repair school, you probably already know that completing a program can help you earn more money and demonstrate your qualifications. Customers routinely look for highly-trained, experienced appliance repair specialists to help them save money and avoid shelling out for costly appliance replacements. This article provides information on some of the big benefits of school and lists ways you can make the most of your technical education. Read on and you'll find out about the career prospects you'll face after graduation.
What You Need to Know about Appliance Repair Careers
The typical American home is full of appliances that need maintenance, repairs, and installation. It's not just about what's in your kitchen or laundry room—appliance repair school can teach you a ton about other home appliances and basic electronics too (such as water heaters). At these institutions you learn highly-practical stuff you can put to work immediately in a job or in your own small business startup. Even better, appliance repair school passes quickly. You can finish a program in as little as six weeks and begin earning real money soon afterwards. According to PayScale, appliance repair technicians average $17.28 per hour, with pay as high as $25 an hour. Salaries range from $22,000 annually to as much as $62,000, based on Glassdoor data. Demand for appliance repair services will grow as home appliances become increasingly complex and electronics-based. Ordinary people can't use their toolboxes and elbow grease to do the repairs as much anymore, so they have to turn to the pros!
What's appliance repair school all about?
At appliance repair school, you'll learn the basics of appliance repair and maintenance, such as:
- How appliances such as dishwashers and stoves work.
- Troubleshooting appliances for problems.
- Making small and major repairs, parts replacements, and possibly even modifications.
- Installation and set-up of new appliances, as well as removal of existing appliances.
Some schools also cover business and work-related topics such as:
- Starting your own appliance repair business.
- Finding customers and promoting your services.
- Running a business while also working as a repair technician.
- Working with customers.
Depending on the school, you may do some or all of your learning online. Other schools put an emphasis on in-person lab experiences where you are asked to make repairs or assemble appliances. You may even be asked to work with real-life appliance repair customers. This on-the-job learning provides a valuable opportunity to learn in a hands-on manner.
After Appliance Repair School
When you graduate, your next objective will likely become finding employment or starting your own business. Some schools provide special job boards or other resources to help you look for work after you finish your program. If you want to look at self-employment, these schools may guide you along on the next steps of opening your own appliance repair business. Stay connected with the school and try to make connections while you're a student. You never really know where the networking you do during the program may lead you in the future.
Finding the Right Appliance Repair School for You
There's a ton of different schools out there. It can be tough to know which one's right for you. Be sure to do your own research and ask plenty of questions when you look around. Consider finding answers to these questions for each school on your list:
- How does the school help with job placement, if at all?
- Does the school help you start your own business?
- How easy is it to get guidance from instructors outside of class? Are the instructors available for any questions after you complete the program?
- Do students get plenty of lab time to practice on real machines?
- Can you study with a variety of different brands and models?
If you're ready to look for a program, here are a few schools to think about in your search.
Online Appliance Repair Schools
- Penn Foster Career School: Appliance repair is one of many Penn Foster programs. You can study online and get the basics you'll need for the job.
- Cornerstone Appliance Training Course: A self-paced course you can complete online on your own.
- Uncle Harry's Appliance Repair School: Through this program, you can find out more about appliance repair and learn the essentials of operating your own business.
- Master Samurai Tech: A program focused on the technical details. If you geek-out over appliance repair, this might be the program for you.
In-person Appliance Repair Schools
- Fred's Appliance Repair School: A residential program in Ohio providing training on-site in a classroom setting. Tuition costs include accommodations so you can stay on-campus (even lunch is included!).
- Dyer Appliance Academy: Study practical appliance skills in the classroom at this Texas training program.
