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ASE—Certifying the Automotive Professional
Finding a competent auto technician need not be a matter of chance. Much of the guesswork has been eliminated, thanks to national program conducted by the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
ASE tests and certifies automotive professionals in all major technical areas of repair and service. With nearly 400,000 currently certified professionals, the ASE program is national in scope and has industry-wide acceptance and recognition. ASE-certified professionals can be found at every type of repair facility, from dealerships, service stations, and franchises to parts stores, independent garages, and even municipal fleets.
Certification Benefits Motorists
ASE certifies the technical competence of individual technicians, not repair facilities. Prior to taking ASE certification tests, many technicians attend training classes or study on their own in order to brush up on their knowledge. By passing difficult, national tests, ASE-certified technicians prove their technical competence to themselves, to their employers, and to their customers. Moreover, shop owners and managers who encourage their employees to become certified can be counted on to be concerned about the other aspects of their business.
How Certification Works
About 100,000 technicians sit for ASE tests each May and November at over 750 locations. Technicians who pass at least one exam and fulfill the two-year work experience requirement become ASE-certified. Those who pass a battery of exams (and fulfill the experience requirement) earn Master Technician status.
The tests, developed by industry experts with oversight from ASE's own in-house pros, are administered by ACT, the same group known for its college entrance exams.
There are specialty exams covering all major areas of repair. There are eight tests for auto technicians alone: Engine Repair, Engine Performance, Electrical/Electronic Systems, Brakes, Heating and Air Conditioning, Suspension and Steering, Manual Drive Train and Axles, and Automatic Transmissions. (There are also exams for collision repair technicians, engine machinists, parts specialists, and others.)
ASE requires technicians to re-test every five years to keep up with technology and to remain certified. All ASE credentials have expiration dates.
Choosing a Repair Shop Checklist
Here are some tips from the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) on finding a good repair establishment:
- Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one.
- Ask friends and associates for recommendations; consult local consumer organizations.
- Arrange for alternate transportation in advance so you will not feel forced to choose a shop based solely on location.
- Look for a neat, well-organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in the service bays.
- Look for a courteous staff, with a service writer willing to answer all of your questions.
- Look for policies regarding labor rates, diagnostic fees, guarantees, acceptable methods of payment, etc.
- Ask if the repair facility specializes or if it usually handles your type of repair work.
- Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area such as civic, community, or customer service awards.
- Look for evidence of qualified technicians: trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work, and certification by ASE.
- Reward good service with repeat business and customer loyalty.
Gold Class Professionals®
The Gold Class Professionals program was created in 1990 to recognize those businesses that are committed to quality and excellence through training. Being a Gold Class Professional is the highest recognition for training a business can earn in the collision industry. Gold Class businesses are dedicated to providing their customers with efficient, safe and high-quality repairs. They are confident they can properly repair their customers’ collision-damaged vehicles and understand the need to continually update their training and knowledge of the collision repair process.
 
I-CAR has several levels of collision repair class. Collision Pro maintains the highest class: The GOLD class. Repairing your vehicle at a GOLD class shop gives the customer the security of knowing that their vehicle is being repaired by certified trained professionals.
I-Car offers several trainings such as: Heating and Airconditioning, Plastic Repair, Retexturing, and Refinishing, Workplace Hazardous Materials, Plastic Repair, New Unibody Repair, Finish Matching, Advanced Vehicle Systems, Executive Seminar, Aluminum GAT (TIG) Welding, MIG Welding, Collision Repair, STL
Auto GMA (MIG) Welding, Electronics, ADV Vehicles Systems and much more!
Collision Pro has received trainings and certifications in all areas listed above. Our technicians are consistently continuing their education to better repair your vehicle correctly to pre-accident condition.
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