Pathway to Automotive Cooperative Education (PACE) Internship Program

Work Full-Time. Attend Class One Day a Week. Build Your Automotive Career

The PACE Program combines paid, full-time employment with college courses to prepare students for rewarding careers in the automotive industry. Students attend automotive classes just one day each week while working at a participating dealership, fleet operation, or independent repair facility, allowing you to earn income while gaining valuable hands-on experience.

Designed to bridge the gap between education and employment, PACE helps students develop technical expertise, professional skills, and industry connections that lead to long-term career success. This program builds a strong foundation for ASE certifications, manufacturer-specific training, and future leadership opportunities within the automotive industry.

Why Choose PACE?

Full time work year-round
Integrated work and school scheduling
Three semester daytime program
Earn two Career Studies Certificates
No general education requirements
Courses count towards the Automotive Associate Degree

How to Get Started

Anyone interested in PACE should review and complete the following steps to apply to the program. If you are admitted into the program, you will then be required to find a sponsoring shop that is willing to employ you. A sponsor must be obtained no later than the beginning of October. If you are unable to find a sponsor by the deadline, you will not be permitted to continue in PACE. A new cohort is started every semester.

Apply for admission to NOVA. It's a simple, free, no-obligation online application. It's a simple, free, no-obligation online form. Submit the PACE application.
Submit the PACE application.
Schedule an advising appointment HERE.
Submit a copy of your driving record to mhashimi@nvcc.edu to be stored along with your application. If you are a Virginia resident, you can request it online or go to a DMV. This helps to assess your employment options.

For any questions or assistance, please schedule an advising appointment with Laura Garcia who oversees the PACE program here.

Sponsorship

After you are officially accepted into the program, you need to begin the process of finding a sponsor. Sponsorship is a paid apprenticeship with the anticipation that you will enjoy working for that employer who invested in your training. It is your responsibility to obtain your sponsor, but we will assist you with resume editing and finding job opportunities.

How to Get Started

Educational Pathway

Students complete the Maintenance & Light Repair Career Studies Certificate and the Automotive Diagnosis & Repair Career Studies Certificate while participating in a paid cooperative internship. These stackable credentials may be applied toward an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Automotive Technology, providing a seamless pathway for continued education and career advancement.

What Can You Do with an Automotive Career Studies Certificate?

Automotive Service Technician
Service Advisor
Parts Sales
Sales Representative

Contact Us

For more information, contact Alexandria Campus Automotive & Collision Program Head Laura Garcia at Lgarciamoreyra@nvcc.edu.

Northern Virginia Community College
5000 Dawes Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22311

This program is supported by the Subaru of America and Toyota Motor North America.