Ask employers in Finland, Spain and Portugal what kind of technician they need, and you will hear many different job titles: high-voltage technician, EV maintenance technician, diagnostic technician, electric vehicle specialist. The work behind these titles is often similar, but the names change from country to country and even from workshop to workshop.
That makes it hard to compare skills needs or training across borders. To solve this, the AutoCredify project used two existing European job profiles as a common reference point.
Why not create new job profiles?
Rather than inventing new profiles from scratch, the project adopted two that already exist in the Automotive Skills Alliance (ASA) Skills Hub, a European resource describing job roles in the automotive sector. This approach:
- builds on profiles that are already validated at European level
- keeps the work consistent across countries
- makes training easier to compare and transfer
The profiles are not meant to replace national job titles. They act as a shared language for describing what a role involves.
Profile 1: Electric Vehicle Technician
This profile focuses on electrification. An EV Technician inspects, maintains, tests and repairs electric vehicles while working safely in high-voltage environments. Key skills include:
- high-voltage safety procedures
- EV architecture and how it works
- battery systems and battery diagnostics
- charging systems and infrastructure
- electrical testing and fault diagnosis
- preventive and corrective maintenance of EV systems
- use of digital diagnostic tools
This profile matches most closely what stakeholders in all three countries described as their most urgent need.
Profile 2: Automotive Mechatronics Specialist
This profile reflects the way mechanical, electrical, electronic and digital systems now work together inside a vehicle. Key skills include:
- advanced vehicle diagnostics
- electronic control systems and vehicle communication networks
- software-assisted troubleshooting
- calibration and configuration
- sensors and driver assistance systems (ADAS)
- integrating electrical, electronic and mechanical systems
Stakeholders placed less immediate emphasis on these skills than on electrification. However, as cars become more connected and software-driven, demand for this profile is expected to grow.
Where the two profiles meet
The two roles share a strong common base. Both treat these as core skills:
- high-voltage safety
- EV maintenance
- battery systems and diagnostics
- electrical fault diagnosis
- electronic systems maintenance
The difference lies in the digital layer. Software diagnostics, vehicle communication systems, ADAS calibration, connected vehicle technology and advanced troubleshooting are core for the Mechatronics Specialist, but only supporting skills for the EV Technician.
What this means
For policymakers and education providers: using common European profiles makes it possible to compare national training, spot gaps and design courses that are recognised beyond one country.
For technicians and students: both profiles share a strong common base of electrical and high-voltage skills. Developing these skills keeps both career directions open, while digital skills are what set the Mechatronics Specialist apart.
In the next article, we look at how these profiles translate into a career ladder, from general mechanic to high-voltage specialist.
This article is based on AutoCredify deliverable D5.1, “Occupational and Learning Pathways for the Twin Transition”, co-funded by the European Union.