The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence is an independent, non-profit organization that certifies professionals in the automotive repair and service industry, within the United States and parts of Canada. They have been around since 1972 and exist to improve the quality of automotive repair through voluntary testing by individuals working in the industry. Testing is not mandatory and technicians who choose to participate in the certification process do so only to demonstrate their experience, knowledge and commitment to their profession. ASE is committed to protecting the consumer, the technician and shop owners through the certification process. Technicians who meet the experience requirements and successfully pass the testing exams demonstrate a level of competency that consumers and employers can count on.
Individuals who choose to be tested must provide proof of a minimum of two years actual working experience in the field or a two-year degree in automotive repair plus one year working experience. There are currently almost 300,000 people who hold ASE Certifications. The exams are challenging and constantly evolving to keep up with modern automobiles. These exams are held in the same test centers that certify doctors, lawyers, real estate professionals and accountants. Only two-thirds of the applicants pass on the first try. Certified professionals must re-certify every five years to remain compliant. The highly technical test questions are written in workshops by groups of seasoned automotive industry professionals such as technicians, educators, and automobile manufacturers.
There are over 40 exams available for certification, segmented into specialty categories such as automobile, medium and heavy truck, truck equipment, school bus, collision repair, parts management and service advisor skills. Just in the automotive specialty segment alone, there are over 15 test categories to choose from. These are broken into very specific areas of the vehicle such as brake systems, engine repair, automatic transmission repair, manual drive train, heating and air conditioning, electrical systems, engine performance, steering and suspension, and light duty diesel engines. Technicians who successfully pass all 8 of the gasoline automobile test areas receive an ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician status. There are additional specialty tests such as general maintenance, advanced engine performance, hybrid systems, alternate fuel systems, refrigerant recovery and recycling systems and service consultant.
At Asian Imports, we are committed to seeking out the best talent by looking for professionals who hold these credentials. We offer complimentary training, study materials and pay for testing for our employees so that everyone within the company will participate in the certification process. It is our goal to demonstrate to our clients that we have an exemplary staff who are committed to providing you with the best service possible. When you look for a new auto repair shop, make sure you look for the blue ASE logo and ask to see their credentials. Our technicians and employees are proud of their achievements and put them on display for you to see.