Repair job changes Western Nevada student’s career path

Jose Fausto Hernandez’s passion for auto mechanics started in a practical way that develops when owning a first car.

For Fausto Hernandez, it was when the window regulator stopped working on his Chevrolet Impala. A local repair shop estimated that it would cost $300 to replace, and Fausto Hernandez thought he could fix it for a lot less.

As it turned out, Fausto Hernandez saved more than 33 percent on the repair work by doing it himself. Ever since then, he’s been interested in auto mechanics.

That interest inspired him to enroll in the Automotive Mechanics Technology program at Western Nevada College last year. More recently, that passion for car repair has led to a job with Michael Hohl Honda in Carson City.

That will require more training for him through a certification program arranged by his employer. His inquisitiveness and desire to learn more about the trade proliferates during idle time. When work slows at Michael Hohl Honda, Fausto Hernandez talks with technicians about different repair projects and how to run tests to locate a problem.

He’ll also have the opportunity to learn how to perform smog certifications. For now, Fausto Hernandez is preparing for his ASE certifications through WNC and graduating in the spring.

He started in Fall 2021 in WNCs Construction Management program but discovered something he enjoyed more: auto mechanics in Spring 2022. That sudden interest has grown into a career ambition. Even though fall semester has started, there are opportunities to enroll in accelerated classes that begin in October. These classes require that students have completed the AUTO 101 course.

For information, call 775-445-4272 or email wcte@wnc.edu.