Automotive Careers - ASE Cert

Considering taking the ASE on my own. I have been working on cars since I was an early teen. I have been taught by my father who used to be a professional mechanic back in the day. I am very good at adding up the pieces and figuring out the causes behind the issue. How difficult is the ASE test? Could I just take it and pass it based on about 15 yrs of working on vehicles?

there are 8 mechanical tests. even if yo do pass them you have to show 2 yrs work exp before they will send you credentials. alot of the tests now are geared towards the newer stuff...good luck

your supposed to be a working mechanic to take the tests

Brakes was the hardest test

Electrical was the easiest

I found that being Master Certified did nothing for me but earn me the right to work on the really difficult jobs that came in the door. I recertified twice I think.

Some shops pay more $$$ for having Certs.

I would say that you should go for it if you are wanting to. Just don't have high expectations going in. The next time you go take the tests you'll hve a much better idea of what to expect.

Good Luck !

g

your supposed to be a working mechanic to take the tests

Brakes was the hardest test

Electrical was the easiest

HVAC was the hardest for me. I am required by GM training requirements to keep my certs up. All 8 plus L1, the advanced engine performance. I really disagree with ASE questions, they are very vague and the scenarios thay ask you about sometimes really cant even happen. They dont have "correct" answers, just the best answer.... Usually you can cross 2 answers off right away, just choose the best one left.

Usually you can cross 2 answers off right away, just choose the best one left.

Yup, 2 of the answers are distractions.

I worked in a garage/gas station when I was 18-22. didn't do mechanical work, just watched and learned. One of the mechanic's needed to take the test to become cert'd in some catergory, so i took the test with him, I took brakes and hvac. Almost passed the brakes, hvac I failed miserably. Almost everyone knows something about brakes. The hvac test had me looking at vacumm controlled doors in the hvac box, pressure measurements, and charicteristacs of refidgerants. I was lost.

I started working on cars after that for a living because i wanted more money. To be a NAPA autocare someone needs to be certified there. So I took the steering & suspension and I took brakes. Both I took about 2 years ago and passed them by a decent margin, I remember them both having a good amount of drivability Q's?

If your just wanting to do it to see if you can pass, do it. It just cost a little money and a little studying. Def get the book for each test. If you pass, it doesnt mean your a better mechanic then if you don't have them, it doesnt really mean anything...maybe that you have a good understanding of the basic's of an auto, and are good at reading/test takeing. My boss has been working on cars since the 70's for a living and has never taking an ASE test. My 2 little meeslie cert's probly helped get me my current job, but my boss can work circles around me. I work on cars in an auto repair shop, my everyday job is never predictable...I may put brake lines front to back on 3-4 cars a week...might do 2-3 timing belts a week...might do 5-10 brake jobs a week....head gaskets? A/C work? clutches?.....tires? never know. Nothing very gratifing to me. I'm looking to become a electricion or carpenter now at 27. My back hurts everyday I wake up.

Sorry I cant spell for shit right now :chug::chug: but your never going to make a bad decision taking a test. For fun, for money, your only going to better yourself.

Almost everyone knows something about brakes. The hvac test had me looking at vacumm controlled doors in the hvac box, pressure measurements, and charicteristacs of refidgerants. I was lost.


When I took brakes test, very little had anything to do with basic, how do drum brakes work question, or like car pulls left, could the left front caliper be stuck?

Most of my test was, ABS electrical and hydroboost diagnosis, and of course heavily slanted toward GM vehicles.

and of course heavily slanted toward GM vehicles.

you think so? I didnt get that... i thought the questions were just stupid for the most part.

Another L1 master tech here. Have been since the L1 test came out in about 96.
The tests are getting more complicated, as they should be. In the past, to me they've been too easy.
Much more of all the tests are geared around electronic controls. ABS, HVAC, Transmissions, etc.
To pass any of the tests that involve electrical, you have to know what you're looking at, or get real lucky.
To pass the auto transmissions test, you have to know the flow diagrams, or again, get lucky.
I believe the one thing ASE certs do for you, is bring credibility. Anyone can go out and buy a set of craftsmen tools. Doesnt make you a tech. Anymore than buying a stethoscope makes you a doctor.
You cannot walk into a dealership, or large independant and demand top dollar without a long list of certs, and some good references.

The ASE tests can be difficult, you can get study guides for the tests, i thought they were helpful because they give you an idea of what to expect.

Thanks for all the advice guys. Where can I find some study guides?

HVAC was the hardest for me. I am required by GM training requirements to keep my certs up. All 8 plus L1, the advanced engine performance. I really disagree with ASE questions, they are very vague and the scenarios thay ask you about sometimes really cant even happen. They dont have "correct" answers, just the best answer.... Usually you can cross 2 answers off right away, just choose the best one left.

hows your dealership doing? im in the same boat you are as far as gm training goes they need to provide more classes i ran out of paths.lol. i hope to take my L1 and L2 sometime in the near future. i found the automatic transmission to be alittle difficult.

as far as studying you either know it or you dont. but i used motorage training books for the tests.

Dealers not doing bad, I am out of training to do also. I have everything, even the assesments done. So until they release the new requirements I have to actually work. But like someone else has said in here, being world class just means you get to work on all the terds that come in the door with no excuses....

Where are you at?

Another L1 master tech here. Have been since the L1 test came out in about 96.
The tests are getting more complicated, as they should be. In the past, to me they've been too easy.
Much more of all the tests are geared around electronic controls. ABS, HVAC, Transmissions, etc.
To pass any of the tests that involve electrical, you have to know what you're looking at, or get real lucky.
To pass the auto transmissions test, you have to know the flow diagrams, or again, get lucky.
I believe the one thing ASE certs do for you, is bring credibility. Anyone can go out and buy a set of craftsmen tools. Doesnt make you a tech. Anymore than buying a stethoscope makes you a doctor.
You cannot walk into a dealership, or large independant and demand top dollar without a long list of certs, and some good references.



When I used to do generous auto repair I took the ASE tests and learned real fast that the majority of the guys that passed got more money. I also learned that the guys with the ASE certs were book smart not hands on smart.

Dealers not doing bad, I am out of training to do also. I have everything, even the assesments done. So until they release the new requirements I have to actually work. But like someone else has said in here, being world class just means you get to work on all the terds that come in the door with no excuses....

Where are you at?

im in orlando fl. i have been on the waiting list for the assesments since the dawn of time. lol.(not really ive only been at the dealer for 2 years.) my goal is to become world glass, did you fly out to detroit or do they offer them locally to you?

they are not too bad if this kind of work is what you do everyday

When I used to do generous auto repair I took the ASE tests and learned real fast that the majority of the guys that passed got more money. I also learned that the guys with the ASE certs were book smart not hands on smart.

If I wasnt book smart, I think I would be offended by that.
BTW, I'm pretty damn good with me digits too.
But, turned from more of the flat rate labor stuff to purely driveability many years ago.

If I wasnt book smart, I think I would be offended by that.
BTW, I'm pretty damn good with me digits too.
But, turned from more of the flat rate labor stuff to purely driveability many years ago.


It wasnt meant to bash anyone. I am just a believer that your work ethic and ability to actually do the job correctly is more important than a written test.

Same deal as I see these guys that get out of a tech school somewhere and have no experience show up with a $10,000.00 Snapon tool box. They think the box makes them a tech. Show me with your hands greasy and getting the job accomplished not with a pen and paper.

It wasnt meant to bash anyone. I am just a believer that your work ethic and ability to actually do the job correctly is more important than a written test.

Same deal as I see these guys that get out of a tech school somewhere and have no experience show up with a $10,000.00 Snapon tool box. They think the box makes them a tech. Show me with your hands greasy and getting the job accomplished not with a pen and paper.

No, I know you weren't. I've worked with master techs that couldnt turn a bolt. But, going into a job interview, or even as far as how you look to your peers, they bring credibility.

im in orlando fl. i have been on the waiting list for the assesments since the dawn of time. lol.(not really ive only been at the dealer for 2 years.) my goal is to become world glass, did you fly out to detroit or do they offer them locally to you?

i went to atlanta to do them. just pay attention and do what they are looking for.

we had a guy who was world class, couldnt fix a flat tire. but he could pass a test...

The tests are based on the Big 3 so if you're a foreign car tech(me), i think they're more difficult. Example... Auto trans test had a question where the correct answer was that auto drain pans don't have drain plugs. Every auto trans service that i've ever done on a Porsche has a drain plug. I've only done about a dozen of them but that's because we don't see a whole lot of cars with high miles. Many of our customers cars are garaged most of the year and annual miles are fairly low(under 5000). I'm presently an L1 Master but i find the need to use a study guide to keep me up on the Domestic changes.

i feel some of the questions are good but theres some that they have that you could argue about that could go either way.

When I took brakes test, very little had anything to do with basic, how do drum brakes work question, or like car pulls left, could the left front caliper be stuck?

Most of my test was, ABS electrical and hydroboost diagnosis, and of course heavily slanted toward GM vehicles.


Hyrda.... unless you are using water pressure.

Good usefull thread, being that im looking towards when im done with UTI I can do the manafacture programs and in 2 years of working become ASE certified.

Ima UTI graduate and went through the Ford graduate program If you are goin to UTI I strongly suggest the grad programs you will learn far more things when you get into them than the core program especially if you have any automotive knowlege at all u will be bored. But just make sure you keep your grades and your attendance high cuz they don't just let any asshole in if you know what I mean, plus alot of the dealerships u may apply at will ask for them and its on your transcripts, and I know they say they help you with job placement there was alot of openings on the east coast so you have to keep an open mind on your placement. But as far as UTI was all the testing was ASE style multiple choice technician a,b, both correct, niether kind of stuff so it will prepare you for the tests and get you thinking like that.

Technician A is a dumbass...Technician B is a dumbass, but less of a dumbass. Which Technician is correct?


ASE in a nutshell

Technician A is a dumbass...Technician B is a dumbass, but less of a dumbass. Which Technician is correct?


ASE in a nutshell

Tests at Wyotech were worded similarly.

I also learned that the guys with the ASE certs were book smart not hands on smart.

DING DING, We have a winner. I have seen guys with 5 certs get fired because when it comes down to doing work they can't perform as well as there ASE certs say they can.

Technician A is a dumbass...Technician B is a dumbass, but less of a dumbass. Which Technician is correct?


ASE in a nutshell

yep,
i'm ase recetified master tech (trucks) i got mine when work decided to pay you more based on the certs you have. they don't do it anymore after they found out you could be dumber than a bag of hammers and still pass the test.
slow ass parts changers that can't diagnose anything did not get any better with certs. but it was the same way in trade school\HS you can leave either
and not learn much.
if you study and are familar with thier test layout you will do fine.
the best cheapest study guide is

automotive technician certification
test preparation manual
by don knowles delmar thomson learning ( publishers)
amazon should have this book.

We could always tell who the ones were who got their certification and could not even use a crescent wrench. You could tell them to hand you a metric cresent wrench and he would come back and say he could not find one. That may be the reason for the metric on 1 side and standard on the opposite now days.LOL In the morning when you pick your work forms he would be at the parts counter loading up with parts. We would say damn you must have a bunch of cars to work on. He say no it has a few miles on it so it probably needs all this stuff anyways. We would tell him when you get all of them installed and it still isn't fixed send it to us. They get 6 to 8 hrs on a ticket when it only took 30 min to fix. Or they talk way over ther head.

AMEN, I love it when I see that, car comes in cuz the horn doesnt work and tech plugs the right rear tire to fix it....

My ASE status-

Your Test History

Test history shows which tests you have registered for in the past. History for tests taken before 1990 is condensed.
Type Test Date Status
A1 Engine Repair 05/13/2008 Pass
A4 Suspension and Steering 05/13/2008 Pass
A5 Brakes 11/08/2007 Pass
A6 Electrical/Electronic Systems 11/13/2007 Pass

Passed them all with a large margin, and I thought they are all pretty easy. To be honest I really don't feel like they made me better at being a tech, I learn more just working on cars for a day. I am still going through school and I'll have the other 4 done this year. The only reason I'm doing them is because they do look better than having no certs. I also passed the NATEF tests and those were cake as well.

I know plenty of idiots that have passed ASE tests that have very little clue when working on a car, so they are far from a good way to judge a person.