Is This Program for You?

If you have a love of farm machinery and good mechanical skills, are detail-oriented and enjoy problem-solving challenges, Agricultural Power & Equipment Technician may be a good fit for you.

Students entering the Agricultural Power and Equipment Technician program should:

• Have an interest in machinery and a good mechanical aptitude.
• Have reading skills in order to understand complex manuals.
• Have good math skills.
• Be self-motivated.
• Work well with others.
• Work well independently.
• Be able to lift 75 pounds.

Program Basics

• Technical diploma - requiring a minimum of two years to complete.
• Day classes.
• High school articulation courses accepted.
• Financial aid available.
• Classes start in August and January.

Cost of Attendance (COA) 24-25

Cost of Attendance (COA) is a total of all the usual expenses of being a student. The COA sets the maximum amount of financial aid a student can receive.

Based on Wisconsin Residents.

Approximate school costs are for a full-time (12 credit) student over a semester span of 17 weeks.

Fees are legislated by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.

These costs are estimates and are subject to change without notice.

Admission and Program Requirements

• Submit Application
• To make sure your classes are the right fit, we consider any previous college credit you've earned, Accuplacer or ACT scores, high school GPA, or an assessment at your registration session. Submit High School Transcripts, College Transcripts, and Test Scores to: Southwest Tech, Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809
• Admissions Preference Policy

  Priority for program acceptance will be given in this order until May 1, 2024:

  1. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College District Residents (permanent address is in one of Southwest Tech’s 30 school districts the College serves) Southwest Tech District Information
  2. Non-District State Residents
  3. Out-of-State Residents

Helpful Academic Background

• Math and applied physics
• Good reading comprehension skills
• Agriculture and technical education courses

Program Fees

• This program is eligible for Financial Aid.
• Estimated cost for each semester can be found under the Curriculum tab. Please note that costs are approximate and are based on the current academic year.
• Please discuss additional fee questions with the program advisor or instructor.

Additional requirements

Students must have eye wear protection (safety glasses with side shields or wrap around safety glasses over prescription glasses) and must meet OSHA Z87.1 or greater while they are conducting operations that are deemed hazardous in nature. These glasses can be purchased at the College Bookstore.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of the program, students are expected to be able to:

• Repair electrical systems
• Analyze an electronic system
• Repair hydraulic systems
• Follow industry safety standards
• Repair power trains/transmissions
• Repair internal combustion engines

Related Degrees

• Farm Operations & Management - Farm Ag Maintenance

Opportunities for employment in this field continue to be excellent, and graduates may specialize, depending on the size of the shop where they are employed. The following are typical examples of employment that a person may find:

• Farm Equipment Technician: Specializes in servicing of all types of agricultural machinery; e.g., combines, balers, tractors, skid loaders, and related equipment.
• Diesel Equipment Technician: Services and repairs diesel-powered equipment, including farm equipment, trucks, and heavy- or light-construction equipment.
• Mobile Equipment Technician: Troubleshoots and services equipment, including hydraulic and electrical systems on trucks, tractors, and other types of equipment.
• Service Writer: Assist customers with writing repair orders, filing warranty claims and assisting with daily operation of the shop.
• Parts Department Personnel: Works in a dealership selling parts over the counter to businesses, farmers, or dealership shops. Inventories parts for stock.

Southwest Tech's Career Connections Center offers Services to assist students looking for job placement.

Credit for Prior Learning

Experience Pays! You've Been There... You've Done That... Let's See If You Can Get Credit For It!

Credit for prior learning gives you opportunities to earn credit for college-level knowledge that you have already acquired. This may be the result of work or volunteer experiences, certifications, apprenticeships, military training, extensive self-instruction, or professional development. Credit for Prior Learning affords you the opportunity to accelerate the completion of your educational goals.

For more information on Credit for Prior Learning see our Credit for Prior Learning page.

At any time, you may Request Credit for Prior Learning.

Agricultural Power & Equipment Technician Courses that may have Credit for Prior Learning options:

Course #	Course Title	Challenge Exam (Demonstration)	Challenge Exam (Standard)	CLEP	Credential	Portfolio
31-804-305	Applied Mathematics
	College Mathematics CLEP Test would also be accepted.
32-070-344	Air Conditioning
	EPA Certification #609 and Skills Demonstration
32-806-303	Science of Mechanics