What Does ASE Certified Mean

Mechanic Explaining BrakesWhat Does ASE Certified Mean?

Most automotive service and repair shops want their employees to be certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). The ASE is a non-profit institute, created in 1972, that works to improve the quality of work that mechanics and service technicians do. Nationwide, there are well over 350,000 professionals that are ASE certified in different areas of the automotive industry.

How to Become ASE Certified

In order to become ASE certified, one must take one or more of ASE’s exams and have at least two years of relevant work experience or, in some cases, vocational schooling. There are over 40 exams. Each exam stresses important knowledge of job-related skills in an automotive specialty such as automobile, truck, or collision repair. When an exam is passed, and two years of relevant work experience completed, certification is awarded. As of 2012, ASE moved to computer-based testing and offers testing during eight months of each year.

The Importance of ASE Certification

ASE certification was started so that customers could have a way to know if a mechanic or service technician is a well-trained individual. A mechanic or service technician that is ASE certified is more likely to do a good job repairing a vehicle because of the training and experience they have gained while earning their certification.

While ASE certified technicians and mechanics are qualified for the job that does not mean that each and every ASE certified will do the same quality work. Also, consumers need to be aware that just because a shop displays ASE certification does not mean that every mechanic or service technician on staff is ASE certified. If one employee is ASE certified, the shop can display the ASE seal. Consumers can always ask to see which employees are ASE certified and in what areas they are certified. If a consumer wishes to know this, they should ask before they allow any work to be done to their vehicle.

Is the mechanic or service technician that you use ASE certified? Would you trust a mechanic or service technician that wasn’t ASE certified? Leave a comment in the box below.

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