Anyone involved in light vehicle service knows that about 70% of all work coming through the door is maintenance-based. That’s also true if you have light vehicles in your fleet operation. While ASE has had a certification category for Medium/Heavy Trucks (the T8 PMI test), up until now, nothing similar existed for those technicians primarily performing maintenance on light vehicles. As of June 1, that will no longer be the case.
In response to requests from the industry for a certification category aimed at entry-level technicians and those doing routine maintenance, ASE will debut a new Auto Maintenance and Light Repair certification test in June 2013. Designated as G1, this new specialty certification measures a technician’s knowledge over a wide range of automotive systems as it relates to maintenance and light repair. To earn certification in this new specialty, candidates must achieve a passing score on the exam and have at least one year of full-time work experience.
This new test category will focus on the knowledge necessary to successfully perform the most common maintenance and light repair tasks, and is aimed at entry-level technicians and those whose primary job function is maintenance services. If you have technicians in your fleet operation fitting this description, the new ASE Auto Maintenance and Light Repair (G1) certification is designed specifically for them.
Developed by industry experts and the certification professionals at ASE, Auto Maintenance and Light Repair is slightly different from the regular ASE certifications. The new test will have a one year requirement of hands-on work experience in auto maintenance and light repair to qualify, and half of that requirement may be met by appropriate vocational training. However, like all other ASE certifications, the credential will be valid for five years and will be available through the more than 400 ASE testing locations across the country. The cost will be the same, as well. Upon passing the G1 test, a technician will receive a shoulder insignia, wall certificate and wallet card.
The new G1 certification assesses the technical knowledge for performing bumper-to-bumper maintenance and light repairs in engine systems, automatic transmission/transaxle, manual drivetrain and axles, suspension and steering, brakes, electrical, and heating and air conditioning. Approximately 700 technicians participated in the pilot test held during the winter testing session to complete the development process prior to launching the G1 test in June. The first general testing will be available in the 2013 July-August test window.
The G1 test contains 55 scored questions, plus 10 unscored research questions, and technicians will have 1.5 hours (90 minutes) to complete it. Like any other ASE certification, G1 tests the skills needed to know in order to do the job; theoretical knowledge is not covered. You can download a free copy of the Maintenance and Light Repair (G1) Study Guide on the ASE website at www.ase.com. The guide contains the Test Specifications and the Task List, covering the topics that will be on the test.