What Does It Mean to Be an ASE-Certified Technician?

While a car accident is always a stressful experience, trying to find a reputable auto repair service afterward can be downright hair-pulling. Locating an auto repair shop in Orange that has the right qualifications to service your vehicle while also offering reasonable rates for their work can be enough to make a car owner want to give up and take the bus instead. One key way to know if a repair service can be trusted, however, is if their technicians are ASE certified.

ASE refers to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, a nonprofit certification group that certifies professionals and shops in the automotive repair and service industry across North America. The ASE was founded in 1972 as an independent organization in response to growing consumer desire for distinguishing between competent and incompetent automotive technicians. Ultimately, the ASE aims to improve the quality of vehicle repair through the testing and certification of repair service professionals.

The ASE serves to protect both the automotive service consumer, the auto repair shop owner, and the technicians themselves. By testing and certifying automotive professionals, shop owners and service consumers can better gauge a technician’s abilities before utilizing their services, while certification lets a technician have tangible proof of their capability to perform repairs.

ASE certification is highly stringent, requiring either a certification test and two years of on-the-job training or one year of training and a two-year degree in automotive repair. ASE tests are highly challenging, and only two-thirds of test-takers pass on their first attempt. After their initial certification, professionals must also re-test every five years to keep up with advances in automotive technology. ASE tests are written by workshops of industry professionals and executives, including working technicians, automobile manufacturers, and educators.

There is an ASE certification for every type of vehicle and automotive system imaginable. For instance, A1 is the Engine Repair Certification for cars and light trucks, while S7 covers air conditioning systems and controls in school buses. There are also master technician certifications that are earned after passing all tests for sub-categories. A Master Automotive Technician has earned all eight (A1-A8) Automobile & Light Truck certifications, and they can be considered an expert on the subject of auto repair. Citywide’s owner, Bruce, is an ASE-Certified Master Technician and has been for over 40 years.

At Citywide Auto Care, we’re dedicated to providing the best possible auto repair services to residents of Orange. As part of this dedication, we only employ ASE-certified technicians to guarantee our Orange County friends and neighbors the best complete auto repair experience possible. Whether you just need an oil change or a complete engine repair, we offer efficient and high-quality service at affordable prices. If you’d like to set up an appointment, give us a call today at (714) 633-4211.