ASE-Certified Shop

What is ASE?

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is a non-profit organization established in 1972. The organization's mission is to improve the quality of automotive service centers nationwide through testing and certification, simultaneously providing consumers with a way to identify automotive professionals who demonstrate that commitment to quality.

What Does ASE Do?

ASE promotes excellence in automotive service and parts distribution. Through training and passing tests, automotive service technicians are able earn certification. Today, there are almost 300,000 ASE-certified automotive technicians and service professionals. An important distinction to make is that ASE certification is for service technicians and not shops.

Why Does ASE Exist?

The ASE was established to protect consumers, shop owners, and automotive technicians. Testing and certification allows shop owners and consumers to better gauge a technician's expertise level before hiring or scheduling service. For service technicians, ASE certification is proof of technical knowledge.

How Does ASE Certification Work?

Service technicians must pass the ASE Certification test and have at least two years of on the job training (or a two-year degree and one year of on the job training) to qualify for certification.

Tests administered by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence are challenging. On a first attempt, two out of every three test-takers will pass on average. To retain their certification, service professionals must retest every five years to ensure they stay current with the latest automotive technology.

Who Writes The ASE Certification Tests?

No single person writes the ASE Certification tests. Instead, it is a collaborative effort undergone by a national panel of automotive industry professionals and executives. Exams are segmented by sub-specialty (automobile, medium/heavy truck, truck equipment, etc.).