Ah yes... That time of year again.

ASE certifications are a plus when looking to spruce up your resume. They also help in many shops to increase your hourly rate also. Amazing enough I think there are still some states that do not require the minumum of at least state certification.

Here in Michigan you have two choices if you want to repair vehicles outside of changing oil and tires.

(1) Pass the state certification test
(2) Hand in passing tests for ASE certification

Apparently the state puts trust in the ASE test, however you still have to pay the registration to the state regardless if you are ASE or State certified. I think you even have to pay the testing fee, only you dont have to take the test. I could be wrong about that as I maintain state certifications.

I am up for renewal on either my brakes or tune-up performance certification. I plan on taking the last few test at the same time to become what is considered to be a master tech. Considering I dont do much AC or Transmission work I never took them. I have saved countless dollars on registration fee's by not having to pay the ASE rates. What is it now $$ wise to re-new and each test PowerStroker?

Working as a mechanic here in Michigan is one thing, but if you are in business you also have what they call a facility license fee which the fee is bassed off your annual revenue. This in addition to the state registration renewals works out to be in the area of $300 per year. More than enough in registration fee's I feel.

I wish you luck on your test. I voted you would pass "Most" of them because sometimes as you mentioned the test questions are written by idiots. Have you been studying? 

PowerStroker wrote:

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I don't know how to study for dumb questions... Unless hanging out here counts.

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Someone once said there is no such thing as a dumb question, just a dumb answer.

I don't know, I found it somewhat fitting.

Like you would ever admit to failing one anyway.

 

Well keep us posted.

For $$'s sake lets hope you nailed em' the first time.

Seems you are a real "Rear End" pro given the fact it's the only one you Aced.

Not bad..

Do you only have to pay the fee every 5 years as well?

$hit $300 every 5 years is WAY better than the combined near $300 per YEAR I pay.

Do you have to register with your state as a mechanic? See there is no real way to avoid paying the state here if you are going to work as a mechanic. If you bill customers directly for repairs thats another "Facility" registration, which by the way you need a registered Mechanic on file to open.

Do you have to jump thru any hoops at the State level?

-- Edited by SELLC on Tuesday 15th of June 2010 10:31:55 PM

You see here in Detroit mechanics have to be 10X better than the ones you would find in other states. I only say this because here it is considered an insult if you can't replace your own brake pads. This is because of the huge influence the big three have had and the slew of workers that worked on the line putting them together one part at a time. While they felt like they knew what they were doing, many of them didnt.

For this reason the state started making mechanics register. I have heard in the past that our state testing is worse than ASE in some ways but this is only hearsay because ultimatly you must pay and register with the state even if you only "Work as a mechanic" for a shop. As good as ASE certs are PowerStroker here in Michigan they are all but useless until you register them with the state, which will cost you a fee, plus the test and then anual renewals with recertification in certain areas every 5 years.

I think I am going to mozey on down to the local secretary of state in Aug. and renew my Brake and take the last two test. You have inspired me. But I am not going to waste any more money on ASE fee's when the state runs the show.

 

PowerStroker wrote:

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SELLC wrote:

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You see here in Detroit mechanics have to be 10X better than the ones you would find in other states.

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Interesting, that has not been my experience. 

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Yeah but that's because you work for the dealership, and everyone knows the dealership is where you go when you cant hack it on your own.... Just ask Pogo!

 

-- Edited by SELLC on Thursday 17th of June 2010 09:36:18 PM

PowerStroker wrote:

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A dealership is where customers take their car when they don't want it "hacked."

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Is that right PowerStroker?

Check out the hack in this thread, the author claims the mechanic works at the dealership.

http://autotrend.activeboard.com/index.spark?aBID=91042&p=3&topicID=36403312

I'm not saying a stealer-ship (And I mean a LARGE ONE) dosent have a FEW good techs, I am just saying that their few are no match for the pro's out there that get it.

-- Edited by SELLC on Sunday 20th of June 2010 12:23:21 AM

Ohhhh..... Mr. Big ASE man has spoken!

Do they send out ego valve core removers with them patches? Or do they charge you for the decal?

You know I had the BBB call me the other day and wanted $3000 to be an accredited member... I said really huh? So I can be like all them other big companies with 500 complaints and still be considered A+? I just love how that shit works.

Glad you passed your test, however the test administered by the State of Michigan all have over 40 questions, where as some of them ASE test you took, well shit... 20 questions? Can you even consider that a REAL test?

-- Edited by SELLC on Sunday 20th of June 2010 03:28:53 AM

Let's just put it this way PowerStroker....

The test here, even if they were for recertification can not be done in a single sitting. From the way your test sheet reads it appears you did all the test at one time, something you could NEVER do with the test here.

Two nights?

Do they let you do them online or something?