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Diesel mechanic training in Virginia

10 diesel mechanic programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

8 schools offer these diesel mechanic programs, and Virginia has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Diesel mechanics inspect and repair buses and trucks and maintain diesel engines of every kind. Community colleges and technical schools offer certificates and degrees in diesel repair, employers may require or prefer certification, and some jobs need a commercial driver's license to test-drive trucks and buses.1 Under federal rules, anyone paid to handle the refrigerant in a truck's cab air conditioning must be certified by an EPA-approved program.2

In Virginia, 4 of the 10 programs take students without a high school diploma and 6 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 10 programs here are diesel technician certificate or diploma (3 programs), short course or single class (3 programs), medium and heavy truck technician (2 programs), heavy equipment mechanic (1 program), and 1 more of one other kind.

See the 10 programs

How much does diesel mechanic training cost in Virginia?

$1,790 to $11,231 is what most diesel mechanic programs in Virginia cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 10 programs with a price. All of them: $350 to $27,746

In the typical program

Finished the program
94%
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
16 to 42 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Virginia may also offer diesel mechanic training. How these figures are made

Is there free diesel mechanic training in Virginia?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 10 diesel mechanic programs in Virginia approved for WIOA funding

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10 programs

  • Diesel technician certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Heavy Vehicle Technology

    Advanced Technology Institute

    Virginia Beach

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Advanced Technology Institute, Virginia BeachDiesel technician certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$27,746
    More details about Heavy Vehicle Technology at Advanced Technology Institute
    Finished
    55%
    Working at 6 months
    47%
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    60 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,980
    Students counted
    156
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $27,746

  • Diesel technician certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Diesel Mechanic

    Southside Virginia Community College

    Keysville

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Southside Virginia Community College, KeysvilleDiesel technician certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$31,900
    Price if you pay yourself$4,165

    3 students trained with WIOA funding

    More details about Diesel Mechanic at Southside Virginia Community College
    Finished
    96%
    Working at 6 months
    78%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,983
    Length
    30 weeks, 2 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $800
    Students counted
    138
    Earned a year, estimated
    $31,900
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,165
    students trained with WIOA funding
    3

  • Heavy equipment mechanicIn personNo diploma needed

    Diesel Powered Equipment Technology

    Tennessee College of Applied Technology -- Elizabethton

    Elizabethton, TN

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Tennessee College of Applied Technology -- Elizabethton, Elizabethton, TNHeavy equipment mechanic · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Classes are outside Virginia; Virginia approved the program for its funding.

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$5,975
    More details about Diesel Powered Equipment Technology at Tennessee College of Applied Technology -- Elizabethton
    Finished
    71%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    30 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    65
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,975

  • Short course or single classIn personNo diploma needed

    Basic Diesel Mechanics

    Valley Career & Technical Center

    Fishersville

    No diploma needed

    Valley Career & Technical Center, FishersvilleShort course or single classIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$350
    More details about Basic Diesel Mechanics at Valley Career & Technical Center
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    12 weeks, 36 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $15
    Students counted
    21
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $350

  • Short course or single classIn personNo diploma needed

    Diesel Mechanics & Diesel Engines

    Massanutten Technical Center

    Harrisonburg

    No diploma needed

    Massanutten Technical Center, HarrisonburgShort course or single classIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$445
    More details about Diesel Mechanics & Diesel Engines at Massanutten Technical Center
    Finished
    94%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    12 weeks, 36 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $60
    Students counted
    17
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $445

  • Short course or single classIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Compact Diesel Engine Repair

    Piedmont Virginia Community College

    Charlottesville

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Piedmont Virginia Community College, CharlottesvilleShort course or single class · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$999
    More details about Compact Diesel Engine Repair at Piedmont Virginia Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    10 weeks, 36 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    10
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $999

  • Diesel technician certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Diesel Engine Technician

    Tidewater Community College

    Norfolk

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Tidewater Community College, NorfolkDiesel technician certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$5,148
    More details about Diesel Engine Technician at Tidewater Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    30 weeks, 22 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $50
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,148

  • Medium and heavy truck technicianIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Diesel Medium /Heavy Truck Technician (Career Studies Certificate)

    Tidewater Community College

    Norfolk

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Tidewater Community College, NorfolkMedium and heavy truck technician · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$5,704
    More details about Diesel Medium /Heavy Truck Technician (Career Studies Certificate) at Tidewater Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    30 weeks, 23 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $50
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,704

  • Diesel technology (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Diesel Technology: Diesel Medium/Heavy Truck Technician (AAS)

    Tidewater Community College

    Norfolk

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Tidewater Community College, NorfolkDiesel technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$12,983
    More details about Diesel Technology: Diesel Medium/Heavy Truck Technician (AAS) at Tidewater Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    75 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $12,983

  • Medium and heavy truck technicianIn personNo diploma needed

    Diesel Mechanics/Heavy Truck Maintenance

    Tri-County Driving Academy, Inc.

    Lebanon

    No diploma needed

    Tri-County Driving Academy, Inc., LebanonMedium and heavy truck technicianIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$21,235
    More details about Diesel Mechanics/Heavy Truck Maintenance at Tri-County Driving Academy, Inc.
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    46 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $265
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $21,235

How to pay for diesel mechanic training in Virginia

WIOA funding can pay for diesel mechanic training in Virginia

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for diesel mechanic training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.78

GI Bill for diesel mechanic training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.9

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Diesel mechanic training in Virginia

programs with a price cost under $2,000
3 of 10
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
6th of 26
diesel mechanic programs here, against the typical state's 8
10 vs 8

State comparisons use the same figures as the diesel mechanic training by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Diesel mechanic training in Virginia Beach, Johnson City, Staunton and other Virginia cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 2 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in Virginia

How diesel mechanic training compares with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in Virginia

Where the Virginia diesel mechanic program numbers come from

Which Virginia diesel mechanic programs are on this list?

These are the diesel mechanic programs Virginia approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).10 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Virginia offers.

How the prices and results of Virginia diesel mechanic programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about diesel mechanic training in Virginia

Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics
  2. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 40 CFR part 82, subpart B, Servicing of motor vehicle air conditioners
  3. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  4. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  5. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  6. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  8. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  9. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  10. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List