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Keep those
certifications fresh

Automotive certification programs are affected by
everything from environmental policy to COVID-19,
and the need for training presses on.

BRITTANY VINCENT
MANAGING EDITOR

EMILY MARKHAM
ASSISTANT EDITOR

by Sara Scullin, Editor
Sara@VehicleServicePros.com

re your service and repair
credentials fresh or could
they use a jumpstart?
Completing any certification (or recertification) requires a mix of secondary training
(classroom, video, etc.) and valuable handson experience. Both bustling urban shops
and small, sleepy town businesses shoulder
the responsibility of pursuing and completing the training necessary to keep up with
today's vehicles.
As we wrap up winter (hopefully) and roll
into spring, now's an especially good time
for shop owners to review their staff 's collective knowledge and abilities when it comes to
HVAC tools and service.
T he United States Env ironmental
Protection Agency (EPA) makes clear any
technician repairing or servicing a motor
vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) system must
be properly trained and now certified under
section 609 of the Clean Air Act by an EPAapproved program.
As stated on epa.gov, such programs will
cover " the proper use of MVAC service equipment, applicable regulatory requirements,
the importance of refrigerant recovery, and
the effects of improper handling of refrigerant on the ozone layer and climate. " After
completing an approved program, technicians must pass a test demonstrating their
knowledge. You can visit the EPA website
for a list of approved training and certification companies and programs, two of which
are ASE (National Institute for Automotive
Service Excellence) and MACS (Mobile Air
Conditioning Society).
U.S. shops whose technicians are not prop-

PTEN

MARCH 2021

VehicleServicePros.com

erly certified can face significant fines, so it's
worth looking into.
Even when a year is at its craziest (like
2020) or a shop is at its busiest, training must
remain a priority. ASE recently offered extensions and provisions to technicians looking
to certify and recertify amid COVID-19 disruptions, such as testing facility shutdowns,
and in December the training organization
announced it would offer several new options
to technicians for expiring certifications. For
example, technicians looking for Automobile
& Light Truck (A2-A9) recertification could
sign up for the ASE Renewal App for smartphone, tablet, or computer, and were also
offered a one-year extension.
ASE notes test questions used in the app
are " unique and address more leading-edge
technology topics not typically seen in ASE
certification tests and may also include manufacturer-specific questions. " After answering each question, test-takers are pointed to
an online forum where they can then discuss each question as well as answers with
other technicians.
Other hot-button training issues and certifications to watch include those for electric
vehicles (including working on high voltage
HVAC systems) and ADAS.
No matter what line of work you're in, you
just don't know what you don't know.
Today's technician isn't merely someone
who knows their way around a wrench, and
technician training for that matter isn't just a
" good idea. " Whether a tech specializes in one
area (diagnostics, transmission, brakes, frontend, A/C service, etc.) or many, the learning
never ends.

KAYLA OSCHMANN
ASSISTANT EDITOR

BARRY HOYLAND
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

SCOTT BROWN
TECHNICAL EDITOR

PTEN EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
TECHNICIANS
JOHN HARRIS,
Brooks-Huff Goodyear, Timonium MD
ERIC MOORE,
DeMary Trucks, Columbus, OH
LOU FORT,
K.A.R.S. Inc., Huntingburg, IN
SHOP OWNERS
PHIL FOURNIER,
Phil's Auto Clinic, Hemet, CA
JD GOAD,
Goad's Body Shop, Lexington, VA
EDWIN HAZZARD,
Southeast Mobile Tech, Goose Creek, SC
BARRY HOYLAND,
VSSCA, Camarillo, CA
PETE RUDLOFF,
Pete's Garage Inc., Newark, DE
EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS
CHAD SCHLEY,
Schley Products/SP Tools
JIM O'HARA,
Clore Automotive

http://www.epa.gov http://www.VehicleServicePros.com

PTEN_0321

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