Importance of Certifications While Choosing An Auto Technician
This question apparently occurs to a lot of people who believe its a waste of money to consult a certified technician when it comes to their vehicles. Why not simply call in the neighborhood quack, who has always proved useful with a set of tools, instead? Well, there are various arguments against, but the strongest come in the form of the test lineup and mission statements of ASE (The Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) and I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair). These are the two most reputable organizations that certify auto service technicians after conducting tests. Go through the brief backgrounds of each organization, their respective mission statements, and finally their test line-ups.
The Institute for Automotive Service Excellence
Until the early 1970s, there was nothing to help consumers tell the difference between unskilled and skilled auto technicians. Sensing a need for a way to make this distinction, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), an independent, non-profit organization, was founded in 1972. Thanks to the ASE, there are currently about 420,000 professionals with ASE certifications who are spread across all sections of the automotive industry, including car and truck dealerships, standalone garages, fleets, service stations, and franchises.
How does a technician obtain an ASE certification? Well, applicants must register for and clear one or more of the ASEs 40-plus exams. The tests are segregated into specialty areas such as automobile, medium/heavy truck, truck equipment, school bus, and collision repair technicians, engine machinists, alternate fuels technicians, parts specialists, and collision damage estimators. When an applicant passes at least one exam and can provide proof of two years of relevant work experience, he can obtain an ASE certificate. However, this is not a one-time affair, because an ASE certified technician has to renew his ASE credentials every five years, which means he needs to prove that he is constantly eligible and has to be retested. These tests are conducted by ACT, which runs various academic and occupational testing programs. The ASE certification tests are conducted twice a year at over 800 locations in the USA. The exams focus largely on knowledge of relevant job-related skills and are not easy to pass. In fact, approximately one in three applicants fails.
How does the consumer benefit from ASE certification? One, it is a valuable benchmark that indicates the measure of knowledge and skills of individual technicians; and two, it helps a consumer gauge whether a repair facility is high-quality (because it employs ASE-certified technicians). Therefore, watch out for facilities bearing the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence logo on any of their advertisements, including Yellow Pages, or on their exteriors.
ASEs mission: To raise the quality of automotive repair and service through the testing and certification of repair and service professionals in the automotive industry.
You can gain a better idea of the ASE certification and testing by studying the tests as outlined on www.ase.com:
Auto/Light Truck: A1 Engine Repair; A2 Automatic Transmission/Transaxle; A3 Manual Drive Train and Axles; A4 Suspension and Steering; A5 Brakes; A6 Electrical/Electronics Systems; A7 Heating and Air Conditioning; A8 Engine Performance
Alternate Fuels: F1 Light Vehicles-Compressed Natural Gas
Medium Heavy Duty Truck: T1 Gasoline Engines; T2 Diesel Engines; T3 Drive Train; T4 Brakes; T5 Suspension and Steering; T6 Electrical/Electronic Systems; T7 Heating, Ventilation, & A/C; T8 Preventive Maintenance Inspection
Parts Specialist: P1 Med/Hvy Truck Dealership Parts Specialist; P2 Automobile Parts Specialist; P3B Med/Hvy Truck Aftermarket Parts Specialist (Brakes); P3S Med/Hvy Truck Aftermarket Parts Specialist (Suspension and Steering); P4 General Motors Parts Consultant
Advanced Series: L1 Automobile Adv'd Engine Performance Specialist; L2 Truck Adv'd Elec. Diesel Engine Diagnosis
Collision Repair and Refinishing: B2 Painting and Refinishing; B3 Non-Structural Analysis and Damage Repair; B4 Structural Analysis and Damage Repair; B5 Mechanical and Electrical Components; B6 Damage Analysis and Estimating
School Bus: S1 Body Systems and Special Equipment; S2 Diesel Engines; S3 Drive Train; S4 Brakes; S5 Suspension and Steering; S6 Electrical/Electronic Systems; S7 Air Conditioning Systems and Controls
Engine Machinist: M1 Cylinder Head Specialist (Gas or Diesel); M2 Cylinder Block Specialist (Gas or Diesel); M3 Assembly Specialist (Gas or Diesel)
Truck Equipment: E1 Installation and Repair Specialist; E2 Electrical/Electronic Systems; E3 Auxiliary Power Systems
Specialty Test: X1 Exhaust Systems
Now lets take a look at I-CAR
Created in 1979, I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) is also an international, non-profit training organization dedicated to improving the standard, safety, and efficacy of auto collision repair.
To that end, I-CAR promotes the concept of Outward Vision, which is a concept that aims to define the Ideal State of the collision industry as far as technical training is concerned. In this regard, I-CARs definition of the industrys Ideal State is:
That every person in the collision industry has the necessary technical knowledge and skills relevant to their position to ensure a complete and safe repair. I-CAR continues to develop and deliver technical training programs to professionals in all areas of the collision industry. Furthermore, I-CAR provides a communication forum for anyone interested in proper collision repair. Finally, that I-CAR's primary funding is derived from student tuition and services, insuring that I-CAR can remain unbiased in developing courses and services on an industry-wide basis.
The I-CAR Mission Statement:
To research, develop, and deliver quality technical educational programs related to collision repair; to raise the level of available knowledge and recognize professional achievement; thereby improving communication throughout the Collision Repair, Insurance, and related Industries for the ultimate benefit of the consumer.
These are some of the training courses offered through I-CAR for collision repair technicians:
Identification and Repair Decisions; Adhesive Repair; Welding Repair; Repair of Padded Dashes; Refinishing of Plastics; Analyzing Damage; Creating a Damage Report Manually; Creating a Computerized Damage Report; Safety & Environmental Practices
Understanding Automotive Finishes; Preparing the Surface for Refinishing; Preparing the Equipment, Paint Area & Refinish Materials; Tinting; Applying the Finish; Blending;
Solving Paint Application Problems; Finish Defects, Causes & Cures; Detailing; MIG (GMAW) Welding Cutting & Heating Processes Advanced Welding Methods; Damage Analysis; Straightening Structural Parts; Full & Partial Panel Replacement; Stationary Glass Replacement; Restoring Corrosion Protection; Preparation Panel Replacement and Alignment; Working with Trim and Hardware; Metal Straightening; Using Body Fillers; Door Skin & Intrusion Beam Replacement; Quarter Panel Placement; Moveable Glass and Hardware.
You ought to be convinced by now, surely? If all that has been said here does not convince you that you need a skilled technician to work on your car, nothing will. As in every profession, there is a need for qualified, trained experts in the auto repair industry as well. And when you go to an ASE certified technician, you can be sure you are dealing with an individual who has kept himself updated on the latest happenings in the industry. Therefore, dont scrounge when it comes to taking care of your vehicle. Settle only for the best, and those few dollars more wont seem like a lot. - 2368
The Institute for Automotive Service Excellence
Until the early 1970s, there was nothing to help consumers tell the difference between unskilled and skilled auto technicians. Sensing a need for a way to make this distinction, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), an independent, non-profit organization, was founded in 1972. Thanks to the ASE, there are currently about 420,000 professionals with ASE certifications who are spread across all sections of the automotive industry, including car and truck dealerships, standalone garages, fleets, service stations, and franchises.
How does a technician obtain an ASE certification? Well, applicants must register for and clear one or more of the ASEs 40-plus exams. The tests are segregated into specialty areas such as automobile, medium/heavy truck, truck equipment, school bus, and collision repair technicians, engine machinists, alternate fuels technicians, parts specialists, and collision damage estimators. When an applicant passes at least one exam and can provide proof of two years of relevant work experience, he can obtain an ASE certificate. However, this is not a one-time affair, because an ASE certified technician has to renew his ASE credentials every five years, which means he needs to prove that he is constantly eligible and has to be retested. These tests are conducted by ACT, which runs various academic and occupational testing programs. The ASE certification tests are conducted twice a year at over 800 locations in the USA. The exams focus largely on knowledge of relevant job-related skills and are not easy to pass. In fact, approximately one in three applicants fails.
How does the consumer benefit from ASE certification? One, it is a valuable benchmark that indicates the measure of knowledge and skills of individual technicians; and two, it helps a consumer gauge whether a repair facility is high-quality (because it employs ASE-certified technicians). Therefore, watch out for facilities bearing the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence logo on any of their advertisements, including Yellow Pages, or on their exteriors.
ASEs mission: To raise the quality of automotive repair and service through the testing and certification of repair and service professionals in the automotive industry.
You can gain a better idea of the ASE certification and testing by studying the tests as outlined on www.ase.com:
Auto/Light Truck: A1 Engine Repair; A2 Automatic Transmission/Transaxle; A3 Manual Drive Train and Axles; A4 Suspension and Steering; A5 Brakes; A6 Electrical/Electronics Systems; A7 Heating and Air Conditioning; A8 Engine Performance
Alternate Fuels: F1 Light Vehicles-Compressed Natural Gas
Medium Heavy Duty Truck: T1 Gasoline Engines; T2 Diesel Engines; T3 Drive Train; T4 Brakes; T5 Suspension and Steering; T6 Electrical/Electronic Systems; T7 Heating, Ventilation, & A/C; T8 Preventive Maintenance Inspection
Parts Specialist: P1 Med/Hvy Truck Dealership Parts Specialist; P2 Automobile Parts Specialist; P3B Med/Hvy Truck Aftermarket Parts Specialist (Brakes); P3S Med/Hvy Truck Aftermarket Parts Specialist (Suspension and Steering); P4 General Motors Parts Consultant
Advanced Series: L1 Automobile Adv'd Engine Performance Specialist; L2 Truck Adv'd Elec. Diesel Engine Diagnosis
Collision Repair and Refinishing: B2 Painting and Refinishing; B3 Non-Structural Analysis and Damage Repair; B4 Structural Analysis and Damage Repair; B5 Mechanical and Electrical Components; B6 Damage Analysis and Estimating
School Bus: S1 Body Systems and Special Equipment; S2 Diesel Engines; S3 Drive Train; S4 Brakes; S5 Suspension and Steering; S6 Electrical/Electronic Systems; S7 Air Conditioning Systems and Controls
Engine Machinist: M1 Cylinder Head Specialist (Gas or Diesel); M2 Cylinder Block Specialist (Gas or Diesel); M3 Assembly Specialist (Gas or Diesel)
Truck Equipment: E1 Installation and Repair Specialist; E2 Electrical/Electronic Systems; E3 Auxiliary Power Systems
Specialty Test: X1 Exhaust Systems
Now lets take a look at I-CAR
Created in 1979, I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) is also an international, non-profit training organization dedicated to improving the standard, safety, and efficacy of auto collision repair.
To that end, I-CAR promotes the concept of Outward Vision, which is a concept that aims to define the Ideal State of the collision industry as far as technical training is concerned. In this regard, I-CARs definition of the industrys Ideal State is:
That every person in the collision industry has the necessary technical knowledge and skills relevant to their position to ensure a complete and safe repair. I-CAR continues to develop and deliver technical training programs to professionals in all areas of the collision industry. Furthermore, I-CAR provides a communication forum for anyone interested in proper collision repair. Finally, that I-CAR's primary funding is derived from student tuition and services, insuring that I-CAR can remain unbiased in developing courses and services on an industry-wide basis.
The I-CAR Mission Statement:
To research, develop, and deliver quality technical educational programs related to collision repair; to raise the level of available knowledge and recognize professional achievement; thereby improving communication throughout the Collision Repair, Insurance, and related Industries for the ultimate benefit of the consumer.
These are some of the training courses offered through I-CAR for collision repair technicians:
Identification and Repair Decisions; Adhesive Repair; Welding Repair; Repair of Padded Dashes; Refinishing of Plastics; Analyzing Damage; Creating a Damage Report Manually; Creating a Computerized Damage Report; Safety & Environmental Practices
Understanding Automotive Finishes; Preparing the Surface for Refinishing; Preparing the Equipment, Paint Area & Refinish Materials; Tinting; Applying the Finish; Blending;
Solving Paint Application Problems; Finish Defects, Causes & Cures; Detailing; MIG (GMAW) Welding Cutting & Heating Processes Advanced Welding Methods; Damage Analysis; Straightening Structural Parts; Full & Partial Panel Replacement; Stationary Glass Replacement; Restoring Corrosion Protection; Preparation Panel Replacement and Alignment; Working with Trim and Hardware; Metal Straightening; Using Body Fillers; Door Skin & Intrusion Beam Replacement; Quarter Panel Placement; Moveable Glass and Hardware.
You ought to be convinced by now, surely? If all that has been said here does not convince you that you need a skilled technician to work on your car, nothing will. As in every profession, there is a need for qualified, trained experts in the auto repair industry as well. And when you go to an ASE certified technician, you can be sure you are dealing with an individual who has kept himself updated on the latest happenings in the industry. Therefore, dont scrounge when it comes to taking care of your vehicle. Settle only for the best, and those few dollars more wont seem like a lot. - 2368
About the Author:
Rand Stuck is a master mechanic with over 13 years experience repairing BMWs and currently manages the BMW parts department for an online parts retailer. You can find more Repair and Maintenance information at AutoWerks BMW Parts & Accessories
posted by Frank Potter at 12:59 AM
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