Achieving ASE Certification
for Automotive Training Programs
The motor vehicle repair industry has taken on a new sophistication.
It requires advanced technical training and computer literacy.
Today's automotive technician must have:
- Thorough knowledge of automotive
systems and components
- Good computer skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Above average mechanical aptitude
- Good reasoning ability ability
to read and follow instructions
- Manual dexterity
According to the Occupational
Outlook Handbook, jobs as automotive service professionals
will be plentiful for persons who finish training programs in
high school, vocational or technical school, or community college.
To help vocational educators recruit,
mentor, and train tomorrow's technicians, the National Institute
for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) offers certification
for technician training programs. The purpose of the automotive
technician training certification program is to improve the
quality of training offered at secondary and post-secondary,
public and proprietary schools.
Programs can earn ASE certification
upon the recommendation of the National Automotive Technicians
Education Foundation (NATEF). NATEF was founded to develop,
encourage, and improve automotive technician education. NATEF
examines the structure and resources of training programs and
evaluates them against nationally accepted standards of quality.
NATEF's precise national standards reflect the skills that students
must master. ASE certification through NATEF evaluation ensures
that certified training programs meet or exceed industry-recognized,
uniform standards of excellence.
Benefits of Certification
Certification of an automotive training program brings with
it program credibility, prestige, recognition, and overall program
improvement. The certification process benefits everyone: schools,
students, future employers, and the automotive service industry.
Specific benefits of program certification are noted below:
For schools, program certification:
- Increases potential for funding
from public and corporate sources
- Provides a mechanism for recruiting
students based on demonstrated program excellence
For students:
- Provides a means of identifying
quality programs meeting national standards
- Ensures that training received
is current, complete, and applicable
For employers:
- Ensures a pool of well-trained'
entry-level technicians
- Encourages involvement with
the schools through the advisory committee
For the automotive service industry:
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