When Ethan Tassio signed up for an automotive elective in high school, he didn’t expect it to change the direction of his life. “I didn’t know anything about cars,” he admits. “But the more I learned, the deeper I got sucked into it.”

What started as a simple class quickly grew into a passion for understanding how things worked under the hood—and a clear sense that he’d found something he genuinely wanted to pursue. By graduation, he knew he wanted to turn his automotive interest into a career.

Putting His Career in Drive

Instead of heading straight to college, he stepped into the industry—taking on a full-time role as an automotive technician and gaining hands-on shop experience. 

Working alongside experienced technicians helped him grow, but it also showed him that advancing in the field would require a stronger technical foundation and formal automotive technician training.

“Once I got into it, I realized how much I enjoyed the work,” he says. “I knew I wanted to keep getting better.”

The Road to RVCC

Ethan’s search for automotive technician schools in NJ brought him to Raritan Valley Community College. “I wanted to build a deeper understanding of the field,” he explains. “RVCC seemed like the best place to do that.” 

He enrolled in RVCC’s A.A.S. Automotive Technology program while continuing to work full time. “At first it was difficult to balance both school and work,” he says. “But my service manager worked with me to build a schedule that accommodated my college courses as well as my work needs.”

Taking two to three classes per semester helped him stay on track while maintaining his full-time job. He completed the hands-on coursework for the program in August 2024 and is set to earn his associate degree in May 2026.

The RVCC Experience

For Ethan, it was the people at RVCC who made the biggest difference in his education. “The staff really care about your progress,” he says. “Getting to know my lab instructors and professors really helped me understand how to advance myself.”

He especially appreciated the way instructors used their own career experience to strengthen his learning. “They have a deep understanding of what it’s like to work as a mechanic in all sorts of places,” Ethan explains. “They helped me learn to write more detailed repair orders and document my work better.”

Ethan also formed friendships that extended beyond the classroom. “My friends from the program and I still keep in touch,” he says. “We update each other on the progress we’ve made since graduating.”

Fueling His Future

Today, Ethan is a B-Level auto technician at Buhler Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat in Hazlet, NJ. “Eventually I want to become an A-Level technician,” he says. He also hopes to take his passion for diagnostics even further. “I would love to work with an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to do root-cause analysis on issues seen with new cars in the field. As much as I am a fan of fixing cars, I enjoy finding out what’s wrong far more.”

As he prepares for graduation in 2026, Ethan knows his time at RVCC was instrumental in setting him up for long-term success in the automotive industry. “The relationships you build here make a big difference,” he says. “I’d definitely recommend RVCC to anyone who wants to get into the field.”

Thinking About a Career in Automotive Technology?

If you’re searching for “a mechanic school near me in New Jersey” or exploring auto mechanic school NJ programs, you’ll find one of the best program options at RVCC.

Designed in partnership with industry employers, RVCC’s automotive technician training  program prepares students for ASE certification, offers real-shop training, and includes pathways for apprenticeships and manufacturer certifications.

Learn more about our automotive technology program and apply to RVCC today!