Building Houston’s Technician Workforce Together
HADA Student Auto Technician Competition
The HADA Student Auto Technician Competition connects high school automotive students with local dealerships, industry professionals, and hands-on learning experiences. Students compete in technical workstations, interviews, and an on-vehicle diagnostic challenge while exploring career pathways in automotive service and repair.
Program Overview
What is the Technician Competition?
The HADA Student Auto Technician Competition is a hands-on workforce development event designed to spotlight the next generation of automotive technicians. Student teams demonstrate their technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, safety awareness, communication, and professionalism through timed competition stations and a real-world vehicle diagnostic challenge.
The event also gives students the opportunity to meet dealership leaders through their mentorship and training, as well as interview with potential employers, visit career fair exhibitors, and learn more about the many career paths available in Houston-area franchised dealerships.
Purpose
Why This Program Matters
Workforce Pipeline
Houston-area dealerships need skilled, career-ready technicians. This competition helps introduce students to real opportunities in dealership service departments.
Hands-on Learning
Students apply what they are learning in the classroom and mentoring at a local dealership through technical workstations, service information tasks, interviews, and on-vehicle diagnostics.
Industry Connection
Dealership mentors, instructors, vendors, and sponsors work together to prepare students for employment, apprenticeships, and continued automotive education.
Program Highlights
2025 Competition Recap
In 2025, students from across Greater Houston competed for scholarships, tools, prizes, and advancement opportunities while building relationships with dealerships and industry partners.
Schools Participated
Dealers Involved
Students Engaged
Career Fair Exhibitors
Student Story
See the Program in Action
Watch how students, instructors, dealerships, and industry partners come together to build confidence, develop skills, and open doors to future careers in automotive service.
Technician Career Expo
Held alongside the Student Technician Competition, the Technician Career Expo connects students with dealerships, manufacturers, technical schools, and automotive industry partners. The expo gives participants the opportunity to explore career pathways, learn about employment opportunities, and gain valuable insight into the automotive industry.
Career Opportunities
Meet with hiring dealerships and industry employers to discover internships, apprenticeships, and full-time career opportunities available throughout the Greater Houston area.
Networking
Build meaningful connections with dealership leaders, service managers, recruiters, instructors, and industry professionals who can provide guidance, mentorship, and career advice.
Industry Exposure
Explore the latest automotive technologies, tools, and career paths while gaining firsthand insight into the skills and innovations shaping the future of the automotive service industry.
Choose Your Path
Whether you are a dealership ready to mentor future technicians or a school preparing students for the competition, this page will guide you through next steps, expectations, and key deadlines.
For Dealership
Support a student team, mentor competitors, participate in interviews, exhibit at the career fair, or sponsor the event.
Explore Dealer InfoFor Schools / Students
Register your team, review competition expectations, prepare for interviews, and learn what students need to bring on competition day.
Explore Student & School Info
Get Involved
Whether you're a dealership, manufacturer, supplier, or community partner, your support plays a vital role in developing tomorrow's workforce.
Become a Sponsor