Perry Technical Institute's Automotive Technology program is designed to help students gain an understanding of automotive principles through a variety of experiences including classroom learning, lab activities, working on customer vehicles, writing repair orders, and ordering parts. The objective of the program is to provide students with a broad base of knowledge and skills for employment in the automotive industry. The nine recognized areas of automotive repair are addressed in the program: engine repair, automatic transmission/transaxle, manual drive train and axles, suspension and steering, brakes, electrical/electronic systems, heating and air conditioning, engine performance, and light vehicle diesel engines. The Automotive Technology program is certified by the ASE Education Foundation and the course reflects the ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) training standards established by the (ASE). Section 609 of the U.S. Clean Air Act of 1990 requires that all mobile service technicians opening the refrigeration circuit in automotive air conditioning systems be certified in refrigerant recovery and recycling procedures. The program prepares students to obtain Section 609 Certification through the Mobile Air Conditioning Society. The goal for students who complete the course is employment as entry-level technicians in the automotive industry. The Automotive Technology program is 12 months in length (four quarters). The student will earn 76.5 credit hours which are 1,344 clock hours. Tuition is payable on a quarterly basis. There are four quarters in an academic year. This training program concludes with an externship off campus, or with the completion of a capstone project on campus. The student to instructor ratio for the Automotive Technology program is no greater than 18:1.