- Location
- Southern Maryland
Bored and thinking about getting a cert. Do you just take the test or do you have to take classes too? Expensive? Easy? What's the story...
ASE cert
- Thread starter ehall
- Start date
cracked-butt
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Eastern Tenn.
school. not sure how long it takes though, or the cost of it.
fireLt.
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Craig Colorado
You don't have to go to school to take the ASE tests. It's been awhile but I don't remember them being very expensive.
joe_peters
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Grants Pass, OryGun
Used to be study guides a long, long time ago.
Googled "ASE test study guides"
Here is a money-back guarantee to pass: http://passthease.search-autoparts.com/
Googled "ASE test study guides"
Here is a money-back guarantee to pass: http://passthease.search-autoparts.com/
Dundy
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Taunton, MA
It's just a series of tests but in order to qualify for them you need 2 years of hands-on work. Certain tests are hard but if you have more than just general knowledge you should pass.
Jeepman401
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lisbon CT
do you want to work in the automotive field? they are absolutely worthless if you dont, and only worth something at the right shop as I found out
mrmikey32
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake in the hills,IL
i took mine when i worked at autozone oddly enough. didnt cost me anything
- Location
- WA state
Not expensive, some employers will pay for your tests, as said already need at least 2 years Hands-on exp.
Boatwrench
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Petaluma, CA
About the test, in some shops it may get you an added premium to your wages.
When I worked for a Buick dealer it was $0.25 per hour per certification. Some test I just walked in and passed, others I needed a little refesher training and went to the community college's auto program at night. They instructed right to the test, so it was very rote. After that it occurred to me the certs don't mean squat except for the extra cash. It was more of an advertizing gimic for the dealer. Years later when I was in a position to hire people I would not pay any mind to whether the applicants had the certifications or not. Being in one shop for a good number of years, indicating you were a stable employee was more important to me.
mrmikey32
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake in the hills,IL
i dont work in any automotive field anymore. i work out of my garage, and i some times help in the pits at a local track.
but it was free, so i took it.
but it was free, so i took it.
Jeepman401
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lisbon CT
I was in a position where I was working at a dealership that advertised as having everyone certified, and nobody was. I had taken my tests already, and had the experience, I just never bothered to send in the work experience report, so I technically wasn't certified.
I sent in the paperwork to help out the dealership, and got nothing out of it, because I hadn't done anything to improve my skill level at that time
next time testing comes around, someone else in the shop goes out and gets 2 certs, and gets $1 an hour more for it, and still couldnt fix anything, but he was improving his skills.
since that point, its just been a worthless piece of paper in my eyes.
- Location
- Rainy side of Washington
most degrees and certs are useless pieces of paper in my eyes and have been for years... I'd rather watch some guy replace a section of brake line and install a new thermostat and make my decision based on how he does than know that he remembered a bunch of unrelated info that was on a test.
I'm an electrical engineer not an auto tech as a profession, but the same holds for most skilled trades. Book smart is not the same as skilled, especially when it's a cert and the class teaches to the test.
I'm an electrical engineer not an auto tech as a profession, but the same holds for most skilled trades. Book smart is not the same as skilled, especially when it's a cert and the class teaches to the test.
JohnX
Sarge
- Location
- Williams AZ
The tests are not too expensive, worth it if you plan to stay in the business. I have taken all the auto series and machinist series in the last 3 years or so. Some people take tests well, thats me. I did not study one iota for any of the tests and passed them all with high scores. I do not have ANY experience as a machinist, nor do I commonly work on auto trans, manual trans, or AC. I do have a knack for seeing logic in things, which definitely helps on those tests. I would recommend only doing 2-3 tests per night unless you're fast. You are allowed 4 hours and for me, I take about 1.5 hours for two tests (I like to get home at a reasonable hour). The tests run from 7pm-11pm on tuesday and thursday nights, but are only offered twice a year. You can also take them on a computer (no not from home) another two times per year. Start with the fields you know about, then when you feel comfortable you can take the others later. The tests are written by other techs and the questions are designed to test your experience not what you've memorized from a book.
Any more questions PM me.
Any more questions PM me.
- Location
- Harrisburg, NC
A lot of parts companies will. I work at Advance and we've had a couple of our managers take the test in the last couple of months. I forget the requirements you need to meet for the company to pay for it though.
Thought about doing it if I qualify...just to have. Especially if they pay for it
- Location
- Lafayette, IN
If not for this I would have taken at least one test by now. I have zero "real" work experience, but I still may go and take a test or two just for fun. I like to be diversified.
GrimmJeeper
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Gardena, CA
boss payed for my parts specialist cert, i payed for the rest when i put myself through school the first time. I think the schooling was more valuable to me than the tests, unless you plan on making a career out of being an auto mechanic, I wouldn't bother. I got bored of doing oil changes and brake jobs after my 2 years, and have been working the parts counter at a NAPA store for the last 5 years. I actually find working here more rewarding, I get to troubleshoot and help people fix all sorts of interesting problems - it's never the same thing twice. I'm getting bored with this now too though, so I'm going back to school for a degree in graphic design, which is what I've always wanted to do.
ASE certs will get you a better starting pay, and make it easier for you to get a good mechanic job versus working at the corner hole in the wall. That's about it, though.
ASE certs will get you a better starting pay, and make it easier for you to get a good mechanic job versus working at the corner hole in the wall. That's about it, though.
