LAS VEGAS – August 4, 2025 – There’s a shortage of auto technician talent in the U.S. aftermarket. Forecasts for the shortage vary, but they are all uniformly high. 

To help raise awareness of the shortage, AAPEX is hosting a new student engine assembly competition at this year’s event. Teams of aspiring auto techs will compete to assemble and disassemble a Chevy 350 engine for prizes.

Scholarships are another solution. Both the Auto Care Association and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers have long offered various scholarships. Recently, we’ve also noted that several other organizations have announced scholarships for aspiring technicians. 

1. University of the Aftermarket Foundation 

The University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UAF) is on pace to fulfill 470 individual scholarships worth $940,000 this year, according to Mike Buzzard, the chair of UAF’s scholarship committee and a managing partner at Schwartz Advisors.

The UAF has its own scholarship program and facilitates many more through its Automotive Aftermarket Scholarships Central website. 

Read more: Automotive Aftermarket Scholarships Central 

2. Autel 

Autel announced a new program called the “Autel Awarding Excellence Scholarships.” Five aspiring auto techs will be awarded $5,000 scholarships, “to students who graduated from high school in 2025 and are pursuing an automotive repair program.” 

Read more: Autel Launches Excellence Scholarships Through New Initiative 

3. Northwood University and Women In Automotive

Northwood University partnered with Women In Automotive to provide five $20,000 scholarships to “support women in the automotive industry from entry-level roles to executive leadership.” Each award “will be distributed in $5,000 annual increments over four years.”

Northwood University also offers other scholarship programs. Overall, it awards $19 million in scholarships annually. 

Read more: Northwood, Women In Automotive offer new scholarships 

4. Department of Labor

“The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded nearly $84 million in grants to 50 states and territories to increase the capacity of registered apprenticeship programs,” according to a report in Repairer Driven News. This program includes auto technicians but is not exclusive as it’s open to many trade skills. 

Read more: U.S. DOL awards nearly $84 million in apprenticeship grants, Mike Rowe warns Americans ‘will to work’ is disappearing 

5. CNCDA Foundation and AAG

The California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA) Foundation is partnering with the Automotive Apprenticeship Group (AAG) to provide an apprenticeship program in California. The apprenticeship program aims to help alleviate an estimated shortage of 5,000 auto technicians in that state. 

According to an announcement, “The apprenticeship available through the CNCDA Foundation is a two-year program where apprentices accepted into the program are compensated at a competitive wage and with no out-of-pocket expenses (thus, no incurred debt).”

Successful completion of the program earns graduates “a national certification from the U.S. Department of Labor.” Students will also have support from “a dedicated AAG career manager that provides guidance and support during their apprenticeship journey.”

Read more: California new car dealers are turning to apprenticeships to address the shortage of auto technicians 

6. Ford Philanthropy 

The charitable arm of the Ford Motor Company announced $2 million in scholarships. The organization plans to award 400 scholarships this year in increments of $5,000. 

Read more: Ford Philanthropy, dealers invest $2 million in scholarships for future auto techs 

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Credential media are eligible to receive complimentary passes to AAPEX 2025, which is being held in Las Vegas from November 4-6, 2025. If you are new to AAPEX, start here; if you’ve received a media pass in the past, you can renew here. Questions? Send them to Media.relations@appexshow.com.

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