How Do I Become a Preventative Maintenance Technician?

The path to become a preventative maintenance technician starts with some basic essential education, an aptitude for things mechanical, and a willingness to work outside the boundaries of a typical nine-to-five workday. The educational requirements are typically a high school diploma, GED, or some type of certification or degree from a specialized training school. For companies that work with certain high-tech or complex equipment, an associate's degree may be required before getting a job as a preventative maintenance technician. The position will likely require some level of physical ability that include lifting, pulling, pushing, or dragging items or equipment that may weigh 50 pounds (22.68 kg) or more. You will probably be working for a manager or supervisor so following instructions will be necessary.

Training to become a preventative maintenance technician can be found at some of the vocational or specialized training schools around the country. There are different types of preventative maintenance technicians that work in different industries. Those interested in pursuing a career in this field should probably decide which industry will be best suited to their own particular skills and talents. For example, a preventative maintenance technician working with a home appliance company will likely be performing preventative maintenance checks on refrigerators or washing machines in people's homes. Working for a company that services jet aircraft will likely require a whole different set of skills and even some very specialized training.

A preventative maintenance technician is likely to be working with some type of motor vehicle, heavy equipment, or other type of vehicle so experience in diagnosing and repairing various types of vehicles, particularly specialized vehicles, like aircraft or construction equipment, is going to give you an added advantage. A commercial driver's license (CDL) or other type of specialized operator's license will allow operation of these vehicles as well, and some employers may require a CDL or require training to acquire some special license. Be sure to check with each company to find out what the specific requirements are for the position offered.

Working with various types of machinery and other mechanical systems like heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), hydraulics, electrical, and plumbing will likely be included as part of the duties when you become a preventative maintenance technician. Experience in any or all of these areas is going to bring value to an employer by saving them the time and money required to train you to work with these types of mechanical systems. Other duties may include installing various types of telecommunication lines or cables, loading vehicles, checking systems, or working with testing and monitoring equipment. As with most all jobs, a background check and drug screening tests are likely to be required.