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In the automotive industry ASE certification is the standard by which auto manufacturers build their professionally trained auto technicians upon. ASE stands for Automotive Service Excellence and is well known for it's professional program that tests auto technicians on their knowledge and experience in several different areas pertaining to auto repair.

Should your auto mechanic be ASE certified?

If your mechanic is not certified:
That doesn't mean he won't have the knowledge or ability to fix your car. He may be very competent with a lot of experience. But is he up to date on the latest changes or improvements?
He shouldn't be wearing the ASE patch that grants him professional credentials. If he is, make sure he has his qualifying dates posted or ask to see his card.
He may or may not be committed to furthering his education towards car repair.
He may not be required to take the ASE certification tests to work at the shop he has been hired at. What does that tell you about the repair shop?

If your mechanic is ASE certified:
By becoming ASE certified your mechanic has been recognized by a 3rd party for their automotive knowledge and experience on a national and even international level.
They have shown their commitment to the automotive repair industry. An ASE certified mechanic has acknowledged their priority to educate and test their selves to a set standard.
Striving for and attaining excellence is the sign of personal achievement, which leads to personal pride in their work.
Your mechanic will have studied new changes in the automotive industry to be able to pass the ASE certification tests. This will not only give him new knowledge but also help him review what he has learned in the past.
ASE certification is recognized by most if not all of the automotive industry and offers more recognition for those who pass the tests. This will help give your mechanic more confidence and self-esteem to take the time to diagnose and fix your car correctly or possibly even recognize that the problem may need a more qualified professional such as a technician at the dealership.
An ASE certified technician has passed the standards that tell you he has not only basic knowledge of automotive service and repair but above average knowledge. Repairing a problem first requires finding the problem and then understanding what is causing the problem. You would know by the ASE certification that your mechanic has above average knowledge when it comes to repairing your car.

Being ASE certified does not automatically make a mechanic qualified to work on your car, but wouldn't you rather have someone that has nationally recognized credentials? Just make sure their certification is up to date and ask them in what areas they are certified in before they start their work.

Mechanics can take only one test and still be able to wear the ASE patch, look for the patch that has the gold embroidery and says Master Auto Technician. Master Technicians have taken all the tests in the Automobile/Light Truck area and passed.

Learn more about this author, Mike Webb.
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