It doesn’t take long in a mechanic career to figure out that oftentimes, the best automotive technician jobs go to those who have gotten ASE certified. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy the same advantage, making yourself more appealing to employers and potentially earning a higher wage. In addition, you’ll have validation of the expertise you gained in automotive technician training.
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence administers testing in more than 40 areas of automotive diagnostics, service, and repair. The A Series – or the Automobile and Light Truck certification – is made up of nine sections, A1 – A9. You must pass A1 – A8 in order to earn Master Automobile Technician status. Part A6 deals with Electrical/Electronic Systems.
Preparing for your A6 ASE test will give you the best chance of passing, thus avoiding having to spend more time studying and being forced to pay the testing fee again.
The ASE website
The NIASE provides a comprehensive website with information on every aspect of testing, from finding a location to test prep and tips. They provide free study guides for every certification level, available in the form of PDF links on the Test Prep & Training page. Be sure to take advantage of this rich resource of A6 ASE prep materials.
Practice tests are also available for each exam topic; however, you will have to pay for these. The first two are charged at a rate of $14.95 each. If you wish to take between three and 24 practice tests, they’ll cost you $12.95 each. 25 and upwards cost $11.95 each.
You can access the A6 practice test, or any of the others, via a voucher system. You purchase voucher codes and then apply them to whichever tests you choose. There is only one version of the test for each topic, so using additional vouchers on the test will not yield a different version.
Third-party websites
When you’re searching for ways to obtain the A6 ASE study guide and practice test, you’ll come across other websites which offer various preparation materials and services. The NIASE does recommend using a varied approach to preparing for the exams, however you’ll want to be careful to research the company you’re considering using to make sure they’re reliable. While the organization does not assess or approve any particular aftermarket prep option, they do maintain a list of companies on their website.
Taking the Test
As soon as you feel you’ve studied up enough, it will be time to schedule the big day to take your A6 exam. The NIASE provides information on testing times and locations, and allows you to schedule a time to take the test at your convenience – year-round, even on weekends. There is no long any written ASE testing administered – all exams are computer based at a proctored facility. There is a demo available on the ASE website in order to familiarize yourself with the format.
The A6 Electrical/Electronic Systems exam contains 45 scored multiple choice questions, in addition to 10 or more extra questions used for statistical purposes. You will not have any prior knowledge of which questions count in your score and which don’t, so it’s best to try to answer each one to the best of your ability.
ASE certification allows you to put everything you learned in automotive tech school to good use by enhancing your resume and increasing your lifetime earnings potential in your mechanic career. There are plenty of resources available to help you achieve this goal.
If you’re already a certified mechanic and you’re interested in working with YourMechanic, submit an online application for an opportunity to become a mobile mechanic.
