Selecting An Auto Mechanic – Are Certifications Needed?
This is a question plenty of people ask, probably in the belief that it makes monetary sense to get their vehicles checked and repaired by an uncertified technician because he costs less. Therefore, why pay more for a qualified auto repair expert? Well, you have only to look at the test lineup and mission statements of ASE (The Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) and I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) to find an answer. These are the two pre-eminent organizations in the area of issuing certificates to auto service technicians, thanks to the tests and programs they conduct. This article intends to supply a brief background on each, list their mission statements, and enumerate the test line-up for each.
ASE (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.
Why does an ASE certification mean so much? Well, the ASE’s aim is to improve the standard of automotive repair and service by testing and certifying repair and service technicians in the automotive industry.
To gain a clearer understanding of the methodology of ASE certification and testing, have a look at the tests as outlined on the ASE website (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 for a look at I-CAR
Set up in 1979, I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) is, once again, an international, non-profit training organization that seeks to better the quality, safety, and success rate of auto collision repair.
I-CAR has put in place a concept best described as Outward Vision, which embodies the organizations intention to define the Ideal State of the collision repair industry with respect to technical training. Heres how I-CAR defines the industrys Ideal State:
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-CARs 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.
Some of the training courses offered through I-CAR for collision repair technicians are:
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.