Hi,
A number of garages talk about ASE certified technicians. From, what I can tell, it means that they've passed some written tests. This leaves me with a question.

The only ASE 'study guides' that I've ever seen are pretty much practice tests. I wonder if there are actual texts on the material -- or if you can only get those by actually taking a formal course at an actual school.

Just curious. There are a lot of 'study guides' for government tests that are all practice tests. But that seems to be due to the way government tests are written (my opinion). They often seem to be written by people who scan through reference material and grab specific parts to make into multiple choice questions. ( I think this because I've seen tests where different answers were equally valid, but they wanted a specific one)/

Anybody know about actual texts relating to ASE testing?

Thanks,

hj

 

you can buy the study materials through ASE itself. There are also schools that provide the experience needed to become certified, like UTI. The tests are one part but you need also need work experience to use the title.
https://my.ase.com/Account/Login

 

I received my 1st ASE certification at age 19. I'm now 56. What they are is a means to determine how much knowledge in the field of expertise the person taking the test has. Each test covers different area's of expertise such as brakes, HVAC, electrical, suspension/alignment, transmissions and so on.

How that person received the knowledge is meaningless. If they have the knowledge and can pass the tests, they get certified in the arena of subject they tested in. The tests are timed and in closed rooms, closed book. You MUST possess the knowledge in order to pass the test.

Now with all that said, it is a tool like any other to determine the viability of a persons skill in the field of automotive technology. Newbs really need these certs to attain better jobs in their field. I've worked with those that can pass those ASE tests without breaking a sweat and fail miserably in the shop, (paper tech's) and vice versa so it's not an end all be all "You can trust this shop full of ASE certified tech's with your vehicle" but it is at least a show of some ones determination to sit thru those tests and somewhere in their heads they know how it's supposed to work.

Short story long when you see ASE certified tech's on the door. Take it with a grain of salt and always get a 2nd opinion when your wallet is at risk.

 

a long time ago, ASE certification used to mean something.
not so much any more as anyone can get it with the internet.