Episode 146 - Is ASE Certifying Skills or Exploiting Technicians With Mike Cleary & John Firm

[@SALEEN961]

ASE needs a major overhaul if they want to remain relevant. As of July 2023, there were only 54,809 ASE Master Automobile Technicians. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 782,200 automotive service technician and mechanic jobs in 2022. With how easy it is to pass these multiple choice tests that literally give you the answer to every question; I can't imagine that the certification rate is this low due to people failing the tests. It looks like the vast majority of the industry isn't even bothering to take the tests anymore.

[@jasonkoplen2554]

The ASE certs need to mean something if they want techs to put the effort into getting them. As of now you can print out a fake one, scratch your name on it, slap it on the wall, and it’d hold the same amount of water as a real one. If you need a busted drain pipe repaired, hvac compressor swapped, bathroom outlets wired, on your home you have to hire a licensed contractor in order to pass state/county home inspection. If you need to have the tires and brakes swapped on an F450 dually pulling a 18k pound load, an ASE master tech can do the work or some kid fresh out of high school that’s been working a rack at a quick lube for three weeks. Ether way it passes state/county vehicle inspection if there even is one. One of the biggest problems in this industry is there’s no ladder. Certs, years of experience, don’t matter. In the eyes of the public or employers we are all just another mechanic.

[@SALEEN961]

@@jasonkoplen2554 Better regulations regarding who is allowed to work on vehicles professionally would be a great start, because you're absolutely right about shops hiring unqualified people. The general public thinks that only troubled kids throw their lives away by working on cars. They think the work is so easy, that even a monkey could do it; and they think that the only reason they don't do the work themselves is because it's beneath them. This mindset is why they are okay with high school kids working on their cars. They don't have any appreciation for how complex their vehicles are, or how serious a simple mistake can be. If the public demanded qualified and licensed technicians, employers would be forced to do better; but very few people even know who their mechanic is, they only ever see the service writer.

[@jasonkoplen2554]

@@SALEEN961 for sure, it would also help eliminate the stigma that all mechanics are hack/scammers that largely comes from some dealer/independent shops having C lvl techs diagnose, do jobs they’re not tooled or experienced enough to handle to keep payroll cost down. Which is also driving a lot of young people out of the trade. The turnover rate for first year techs is hovering just under 50% and who can blame them. When all this trade offers is hard work, low pay, and a retirement package that includes bad knees, a bad back, and a tool box you can’t give away. As we become more scarce over the years and the lots start piling up with broken vehicles maybe we’ll see some much needed change to the industry.

[@liamcordray7251]

Lol I’m car and truck master L1 and L2 for the past 10 or so years and haven’t even gotten one of those magnets. They could care less about the tech or the competency. but other than manufacture certs it’s really the only thing we have.

[@nickayivor8432]

Please interview New Level Auto Keith DeFazio

[@alfee9411]

Overhaul the "workforce development center" Her in Indiana we pay into a "voluntary contribution" fund that only employers who employ 50+ employees "qualify" to use those funds for "training" (example wabash national sends new employees to local Ivy Tech for training FREE, compliments of all small businesses below 50 employees .... HELP

[@alanbeshore943]

Make the pass/fail cutoff 90% instead of 65, then it will mean something to be ASE certified.

[@nickayivor8432]

👍

[@charliemagoo7943]

in my experience.... ase tests have just been an unneeded cavity search. why all the security for a joke of a test?????

[@pickeringautoandperformace8266]

Like some have said ASE needs a overhaul started to look at ASE to the NRA and what they dont do with our money... Heres one thing as a 60yr old shop owner and 37 yrs in buss and that is todays kids honeslty do not read or write much better than maybe a 8 grade level , these kids will have issues passing a State licence let alone ASE , i have had some really good kids over the years one of my best heavy guys simply could not read well enough to even understand flow charts or any repair info... I offered to pay for a tutor and all he simpley did not want to go to reading classes sadly i had no choice but to let him go , he today cont's to job jump if only he would invest in himself by learning how to read at a much higher level he could be big in the auto repair buss he was more than capable of doing it but not reading a chart or anything for that matter its not if but when a major mistake is made.

[@alfee9411]

Great conversation Could be an all day discussion ... Too many yes guys in our industry... Not enough realists that have to eat the dirt and grease, who are calling the shots. Yeah Compton is a realist lol Keep it simple and don't overpromise.