Can I Get ASE Certified Online?

Automotive Service Excellence, or ASE Certification, ensures that mechanics are fully trained and meet industry standards of excellence and skill. Founded in 1972, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals. ASE offers 40 plus exams that focus on skills ranging from car and light truck repair to collision repair and more.

Whether you’re interested in strengthening your repair skills or understanding different aspects of automotive and truck repair, earning an ASE certification can help you stand out from other mechanics.

ASE certification exams must be taken on a computer at a testing center near you. Certification exams are not available to take online, but you can complete your practice exams at home to prepare before your scheduled test. However, not just anyone can register to take the certification exams. There are a few prerequisites you have to meet first. These include

• Valid work experience. To qualify for ASE certification, testers need to show proof of at least two years of work in the field. The amount of experience needed can vary based on which certification tests you decide to take.
• Valid training or education. If you do not have two years of work experience as a mechanic, ASE will accept approved training courses as part of the work experience requirement. When registering to take your exams, you’ll submit a work experience form along with transcripts or completion certificates for training programs which can be credited toward the hours of hands-on work. However, training cannot cover the full two-year requirement; testers will have to have some work experience.
• Test registration. Since the exams must be taken at an authorized testing site, registering and setting up a testing appointment is required. You’ll also have to pay for the test or tests you want to take.

If you don’t have work experience under your belt, you can still take the exams—however, you’ll not be considered “certified” until you meet the experience requirement. Additionally, mechanics need to recertify every five years to maintain their credential.

Since work experience is the only hard and fast requirement, it is possible to get your ASE certification without schooling. If you find yourself having trouble getting the experience you need, however, a trusted training program can help set you apart.

Bob Shafer, ASE certified skilled trades instructor at Penn Foster, believes certification is the way of the future. “Almost every industry in trades I think more and more you're going to see some kind of certification,” he says. “I see it more with the ASE type certifications, where it's more an independent body rather than a state license. I think some kind of certification is probably going to be needed for employment and just in the business trade and industry itself over time. I think the more role-based stuff that ASE has or some different electrical ones and things like that out there, you’ll continue to see that.”

Since the amount of work experience you need can vary, the amount of time it takes to earn your certification can vary as well. The amount of experience for each area is as follows:

• Repair Technician – 1, 2, or 3 years
• Parts Specialist – 2 years
• Collision Damage Estimator – 2 years
• Service Consultant – 2 years

Certification offers tangible proof that you have the skills and knowledge needed to be a successful mechanic or service technician. While certification isn’t necessarily a requirement to secure a job, it can offer peace of mind to shop owners and customers—and make you more marketable in the field. Since work experience is a prerequisite to taking the ASE exams, most employers will hire mechanics in entry-level positions with the understanding that they will work towards certification.

Besides being required by most employers, earning ASE certification often comes with an increase in pay. According to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, approximately 200,000 ASE Certified professionals are currently in the workforce, making it worthwhile to obtain certification to keep up with potential competition when applying for jobs.

Steve Strapple, Skilled Trades Academic Lead at Penn Foster Group, explains that “Employers want their mechanics to be ASE certified to work on the vehicles. Each new certification usually allows the worker to take on new responsibilities that often come along with more pay.”

ASE certification exams are written to be challenging, so preparing for the tests ahead of time can help you increase your chances of passing. While education isn’t required to sit for the exams, the more training, education, and experience you have, the more likely you are to do well.

Penn Foster’s online Auto Repair Technician Career Diploma can give you the foundational knowledge to help you prepare to take the next steps in your mechanic career, on your schedule. Even better, graduates of the program receive two vouchers toward ASE practice tests so you can feel confident in your knowledge before registering and sitting for the certification exam. To find out more about our online program or to enroll, reach out to our expert Admissions Specialists today at 1-888-427-6500.