ASE offers a number of options for expiring certifications
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption to many facets of our lives, and for some, maintaining professional certification is one of them. Fortunately, technicians and other staff members with certifications from The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) have some options to ease achieving certification or recertification.
Test locations at ASE partner Prometric test centers and Prometric satellite test locations at community colleges were included in countrywide shutdowns in the spring.
“To be sure we took care of our technicians and helped them stay certified, we extended June 2020 expirations to December 31, 2020,” said Trish Serratore, senior vice president of communications for ASE. “We are still seeing issues with the pandemic and folks worrying about going to test centers, despite all the precautions Prometric is taking. So, we have now extended non-Automobile technician certification expirations until June 30, 2021.”
At this writing, most Prometric test centers and satellite test centers are open except those that must close due to state or local regulations. (Availability can be checked before registering for a test at https://www.ase.com/Tests/ASE-Certification-Tests/Test-Centers/Find-a-Seat.aspx.) Prometric is also promoting social distancing and complying with all CDC requirements. Test registrants may notice additional available testing times and days.
“Due to the pandemic, many non-essential testing programs (ASE is considered an essential testing program due to being in the auto service arena) have offered their candidates extensions or other provisions to test,” Serratore said. “This allows additional seats and appointment times to be available for our service professionals. In fact, we recommend that you check back if you can’t find a seat because one might open the next day due to cancellations.”
Automobile & Light Truck (A1-A9) renewals can skip test center with app
For those seeking Automobile & Light Truck (A1-A9) recertification, signing up for the ASE Renewal App, for smartphone, tablet, or computer, provides an automatic one-year extension at the time of sign-up. That option is not available for new certifications in any test, and it is not available for recertifications for other tests, such as the Collision Repair & Refinish series (B2-B5). Anyone renewing can sign up at any time, including for expired certifications or for those that are still valid years from now.
Introduced Jan. 2020, the app has a $48 annual subscription price for any or all A1-A9 certifications and sends one question per certification per month. Each correctly answered question is worth one point. After correctly answering eight questions per certification, an additional one-year extension is applied beyond the sign-up bonus. After opening the question, the technician will have two minutes to correctly answer most questions. Questions that are complex, use a wiring diagram, or that require reference material will be allowed five minutes to answer. If the time runs out or the question is answered incorrectly, the app will provide an explanation for each answer choice, and another chance will be provided to answer the question in the future.
In contrast to ASE tests delivered in test centers, questions used in the app are unique and address more leading-edge technology topics that are typically not seen in ASE certification tests for three to four years. After the eight points are achieved, additional questions posed to users will include manufacturer-specific questions, part of the app’s design in identifying gaps in knowledge. After each question is answered, an online forum is provided for the technician to discuss questions and answers with other technicians who have also answered that question.
The ASE website notes that, “In that way, you can get help from other technicians to increase your understanding, and help other technicians increase their knowledge as well.”
For more information, visit www.ase.com.
