Skip to content
Pathrel
Start free
All courses
Engineering

Artisan in Automotive Engineering

The Artisan in Automotive Engineering is a TVET-CDACC Level 4 competency-based programme that trains students in fundamental automotive repair and maintenance skills for the motor vehicle sector. The course is examined by TVET-CDACC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn basic vehicle maintenance, tool handling, parts cleaning, garage assistance, and workshop safety practices.

Duration
1 year
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 67,189
Ksh 67,189 total
Private tuition
Ksh 55,250
Ksh 55,250 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 67,189 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 55,250 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of KCSE Mean Grade D- (Minus) or below, or KCPE certificate or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 1 year, full-time, with 1 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 100 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Overhead Transmission Technician, at 10 out of 100.The detail

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Overview

The curriculum covers basic units including communication skills, numeracy skills, digital literacy, entrepreneurial skills, employability skills, environmental literacy, and occupational safety and health practices. Core units focus on basic vehicle maintenance, tool handling, parts cleaning, garage assistance, tyre service, oil changing, and industrial attachment in an automotive workshop.

Kenya's automotive sector with its growing vehicle fleet creates sustained demand for entry-level automotive repair personnel. Garages, motor vehicle service centres, transport companies, and fleet operators require trained assistants for vehicle maintenance, repair support, and workshop operations.

Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in automotive workshop environments. Students practice tool handling, parts cleaning, basic maintenance tasks, tyre service, and garage assistance under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment in automotive garages or service centres where students apply their skills in real repair environments.

Graduates work as garage assistants, vehicle maintenance helpers, parts cleaners, and workshop assistants in automotive garages, service centres, transport companies, and fleet maintenance departments. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Automotive Engineering Level 5 and Level 6 for specialised automotive technology and diagnostic roles.

This programme is suitable for KCSE certificate holders with a mean grade of E or KCPE certificate who are interested in motor vehicles and seeking entry-level positions in the automotive repair and maintenance sector.

What you study

8 subjects
  • Basic Vehicle Cleaning
  • Tyre Checking
  • Oil Level Checking
  • Tool Handling
  • Workshop Cleanliness
  • Basic Vehicle Inspection
  • Workplace Safety
  • Basic Material Handling

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Workplace Safety

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Occupational safety and health practices in automotive workshop environments including safe tool use, vehicle lifting, and personal protective equipment for garage work.

  • Basic Vehicle Cleaning

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Cleaning vehicles including washing, interior cleaning, and engine bay cleaning.

  • Tyre Checking

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Checking tyre pressure, tread condition, and tyre wear patterns using pressure gauges and visual inspection to assess roadworthiness and safety.

  • Oil Level Checking

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Checking engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and coolant levels using dipsticks and visual inspection to ensure proper vehicle fluid maintenance.

  • Tool Handling

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Identifying, selecting, and safely handling basic automotive tools including spanners, sockets, jacks, and wheel braces for routine vehicle service tasks.

  • Workshop Cleanliness

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Maintaining clean and organised automotive workshop areas including tool storage, floor cleaning, waste oil disposal, and general workshop housekeeping.

  • Basic Vehicle Inspection

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Visual vehicle inspection covering lights, indicators, wipers, mirrors, and body condition to identify obvious defects and report findings to mechanics.

  • Basic Material Handling

    Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore

    Handling, organising, and storing automotive parts, consumables, and workshop materials including stock arrangement and basic inventory awareness.

Specialisations

  • Mechanic Support

    General assistance to automotive mechanics including tool preparation, vehicle cleaning, parts fetching, and routine support tasks during vehicle repair and service.

  • Vehicle Cleaning

    Specialisation in vehicle cleaning and preparation including washing, interior cleaning, engine bay cleaning, and vehicle presentation for customer delivery.

  • Workshop Support

    Focus on supporting automotive workshop operations including tool organisation, workshop cleanliness, material handling, and basic vehicle preparation for servicing.

  • Tyre Service

    Specialisation in basic tyre checking and service including pressure monitoring, tread inspection, tyre rotation, and basic tyre maintenance for vehicle safety.

A day as a student

Students spend virtually all their time in workshops cleaning vehicles, checking fluid levels, handling tools, and assisting with basic vehicle tasks. The focus is on building basic automotive support skills through hands-on practice.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Quick entry to automotive workforce with basic skills.Entry-level positions have modest salaries.
Most affordable entry point to automotive trades.Basic skills limit initial job options to support roles.
Foundation for progression to craft, certificate, and diploma in automotive.—

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering courses
Public67k to 67k
67k at Rift Valley Technical Training Institute67k at Kisumu National Polytechnic
Private55k to 55k
55k at NIBS Technical College55k at NIBS Technical College

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

TVET 67,189/yr public. NIBS 55,250/yr incl practical (tvet.co.ke).

TVET government funding and HELB loans are available. Artisan programmes are the most affordable entry point to automotive trades.

Funding options

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Funding

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) - TVET Loans

Scholarships

4 recorded

  • National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)

    BursaryKenyan

    Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

  • County Government Bursaries

    BursaryKenyan

    Residents of respective counties, targeting vulnerable learners.

  • TVET Funding

    Government fundingKenyan

    Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions, based on financial need.

  • HELB TVET Loans

    LoanKenyan

    Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions, based on financial need.

Scholarships you could apply for

7 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade
KCSE Mean Grade D- (Minus) or below, or KCPE certificateminimum entry
Alternative entry

KCPE certificate holders are also eligible. No specific subject requirements.

When it next starts

Taught at 100 institutions
January 2027100 institutions

Including Pioneer International University, Kirinyaga University, Meru University of Science and Technology.

May 2027100 institutions

Including Pioneer International University, Kirinyaga University, Meru University of Science and Technology.

September 2027100 institutions

Including Pioneer International University, Kirinyaga University, Meru University of Science and Technology.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Competency-Based Practical Assessment

    Practicum60% of the mark

    TVET-CDACC competency assessment of practical automotive support skills.

  • Practical Projects

    Project25% of the mark

    Completion of basic automotive support task projects.

  • Theory Assessment

    Test15% of the mark

    Basic written assessment of supporting automotive knowledge.

Accreditation

  • TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council

    NationalRequired

    Examining and certifying body for competency-based programmes under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority

    NationalRequired

    Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.

Accredited by Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and certified by TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (TVET-CDACC) under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF). The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Vehicle Cleaning Assistant

    Moderate demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 40,000

    Clean and prepare vehicles in garages and service centres.

  • Workshop Assistant

    Moderate demandKsh 27,000 to Ksh 45,000

    Support workshop operations including tool and material handling.

  • Tyre Service Assistant

    Moderate demandKsh 26,000 to Ksh 42,000

    Assist with tyre checking, inflation, and basic tyre service.

  • Mechanic Mate

    Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 48,000

    Assist mechanics with basic tasks in automotive workshops.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as mechanic mates and vehicle cleaning assistants in garages and service centres across Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Artisan automotive is not a real qualification

    It is a TVET-CDACC/NITA certified qualification that provides entry to the automotive profession with clear progression paths.

  • Mechanic mates don't need training

    Even basic automotive assistance requires knowledge of safety, tools, and basic procedures — training prevents accidents and improves employability.

  • Artisan graduates are stuck in low-level roles

    Artisan graduates can progress to craft, certificate, and diploma levels in automotive engineering.

  • Automotive work is only for men

    Automotive engineering is for everyone — Kenya has growing initiatives encouraging women in technical trades.

Further reading

Read next