Diesel mechanic training in Washington

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

18 schools offer these diesel mechanic programs, and Washington 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 Washington, 3 of the 31 programs take students without a high school diploma, 18 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 10 ask for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 31 programs here are diesel technology (associate degree, 10 programs), diesel technician certificate or diploma (7 programs), diesel mechanic apprenticeship (7 programs), short course or single class (5 programs), and 2 more of one other kind.

See the 31 programs

How much does diesel mechanic training cost in Washington?

Certificates and short courses (21 programs): $2,106 to $7,902most of them, usually 28 to 200 weeks long
Two-year degrees (10 programs): $7,408 to $12,449most of them, usually 60 to 65 weeks long

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it. "Most" is the middle half of the programs with a price.

In the typical program

Finished the program: 85%
Working 6 months later: 69%
Earned a year, estimated: about $39,600
Length: 38 to 90 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 Washington may also offer diesel mechanic training. How these figures are made

Is there free diesel mechanic training in Washington?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.³⁴⁵
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁶ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁵
Or pay yourself. Certificates and short courses here mostly cost $2,106 to $7,902.Two-year degrees here mostly cost $7,408 to $12,449.

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

How to pay for diesel mechanic training in Washington

WIOA funding can pay for diesel mechanic training in Washington

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 Washington

programs with a price cost under $5,000: 5 of 22
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare: 10th of 26
other states where the typical program's graduates earned less: 6 of 13
most diesel mechanic programs of any state, after Texas: 2nd

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 Seattle, Aberdeen, Portland and other Washington cities

Seattle area13

Areas with 10 or more programs have a page of their own. Choosing another area filters the program list above. 5 more programs are in 5 other areas.

Other training in Washington

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

Where the Washington diesel mechanic program numbers come from

Which Washington diesel mechanic programs are on this list?

These are the diesel mechanic programs Washington 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 Washington offers.

How the prices and results of Washington 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 Washington

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Diesel mechanic training in Washington

How much does diesel mechanic training cost in Washington?

Is there free diesel mechanic training in Washington?

All 31 diesel mechanic programs in Washington approved for WIOA funding

Diesel Technology

Diesel Service Technician

Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technician

Diesel Engines

Heavy Duty Truck Drive Trains

Truck and Heavy Equipment Electrical Systems

Heavy Duty Repairman Mechanic

Diesel and Heavy Equipment

Diesel Equipment Technology

Intermediate Diesel Technology

Introduction to Diesel Technology

Advanced Diesel Technology Applications

Advanced Diesel Technology

Diesel Technology Fundamentals

Diesel Technology

Coach Heavy Duty Mechanic

Diesel & Heavy Equipment Tech

Diesel and Heavy Equipment Tech

Trailer, Container, and Van Repair Mechanic

Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technician

Diesel Technician

Diesel Technologies

Diesel Technology

Diesel Power Technology

Automotive Technology - Light Diesel

Diesel/Heavy Equipment Preventive Maintenance

Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic

Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technology

Coach Heavy Diesel Mechanic

Coach Heavy Duty Diesel Mechanic

Heavy Duty Bus Mechanic

How to pay for diesel mechanic training in Washington

WIOA funding can pay for diesel mechanic training in Washington

Financial aid and grants for diesel mechanic training

GI Bill for diesel mechanic training

Quick facts: Diesel mechanic training in Washington

Diesel mechanic training in Seattle, Aberdeen, Portland and other Washington cities

Other training in Washington

Where the Washington diesel mechanic program numbers come from

Which Washington diesel mechanic programs are on this list?

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

Sources for the facts about diesel mechanic training in Washington