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Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification sets the skilled mechanic apart from the amateur grease monkey, allowing employers and customers alike to verify a mechanic's level of expertise. However, as automotive technology is continually changing, ASE certification needs to be updated periodically. Any good auto mechanic school will usually offer programs for mechanics who want not only to renew their certification, but also to stay on the cutting edge of automotive repair.
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, the non-profit organization that devised the ASE certification system, was founded in 1972. The organization and its certification system was established in order to enable consumers to easily recognize qualified mechanics, as recent years had seen a growing need for the establishment of standards in the field of auto mechanics. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence offers recognition as an "expert" to mechanics who pass at least one test and provide proof of at least two years' relevant work experience. There are more than 40 tests, each corresponding to a specific area of expertise. In order to maximize one's salary and value to an employer, mechanics are advised to become certified in as many specific areas as possible.
Part of the need for standards in the automotive field is due to the field's constant state of flux: automotive technology is constantly changing and becoming more complicated. As a result, each ASE certification must be updated every five years. This means that in order to retake the certification tests, a mechanic must be knowledgeable about any changes or advancements in automotive technology during the past five years. Auto mechanic school provides an easy forum for mechanics to continue their education and maintain their ASE certifications.
Auto mechanic school has always offered beginning automotive students a way to learn the trade and earn their ASE certifications. Curriculums are dedicated to ensuring that students fully understand and have experience with the subject matter of each test. The programs offered in auto mechanic school aren't just for beginners, however. Most good automotive schools offer programs for continuing education to established mechanics. These courses may range from a refresher course for reviewing the subject material that will be addressed on the test, to a more detailed briefing on recent changes in automotive technology. Some courses may also be geared toward established mechanics who do not currently have any ASE certifications, but would like to, without having to go through the entire degree program.
ASE certification reassures your customers that you are an expert in the field, much as the "Ph.D." after your doctor's name reassures you that she knows what she is doing; and just as in your doctor's field, continuing education is the cornerstone of a mechanic's business. Frequently updated ASE certifications relay to customers and employers that the mechanic knows the most recent advancements in the field, ensuring quality work even on the newest of cars. As a result of the regulations put in place by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence, auto mechanic school caters not only to beginners, but to returning students and experienced mechanics as well.
The image of an auto mechanic was once associated with menial labor and low pay. Fortunately, those days have long ago subsided. Today's auto mechanics are part of the skilled labor force, and must maintain a current understanding of the technology changes that govern success in their profession. The sheer number of advances in the automotive industry over the last several years mirrors those of the information technology industry. It is estimated that by the year 2020, over a billion cars will be in everyday use across the world. With the trend of automobile ownership only likely to rise, becoming an auto mechanic might be a shrewd career move, especially for those with mechanical aptitude who enjoy working on complex machinery.
But how exactly does one enter the profession? The answer is through auto mechanic training programs offered by several technical schools and universities across the nation. These programs are geared toward providing students with the basic understanding to work on modern automobile systems. Not only have cars and trucks become much more complicated over the last several decades, the diagnostic equipment used to evaluate them has as well. Additionally, there are several schools that offer courses on specific automotive systems, such as electrical, transmissions and fuel systems. Formerly, one or two mechanics would be responsible for knowing everything there is to know about every automobile placed on the lift. Today, many repair shops and dealerships hire mechanics that specialize in a particular area. In fact, recent years have seen the development of businesses dedicated to one specific area of automobile repair.
According to the United States Department of Labor, auto and diesel mechanic wages are on the rise. Increases in the technical knowledge required of mechanics have placed well trained technicians in demand on the employment market. As cars become more complicated, so will the training require of auto mechanics. As with any profession in general, the more technical a position becomes, the more lucrative it becomes as well.