5 Certifications to Supercharge Your Auto Technician Career

It's a great time to work toward turning your love of cars into a rewarding career as an automotive technician. There's a major shortage of qualified technicians entering the job market, leaving employers in a pickle.

According to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), about 76,000 auto technician jobs become available each year while only 39,000 new technicians enter the workforce. That leaves employers facing an annual shortfall of 37,000 trained technicians.

A favorable labor market is one of the best reasons to consider technical school, but there's more to the story. Specialized qualifications can make you even more attractive to employers — and this is where auto certifications enter the picture.

What are auto certifications and how can they help your career?

Certifications are optional credentials you can earn from respected industry organizations. They validate your skill set to employers, guaranteeing that your knowledge meets the certifying body's high standards.

The best auto certifications help your career in three important ways:

• Certifications raise your career ceiling.
  Some automotive service centers build their marketing around hiring certified technicians. Certifications can also give you a leg up when promotion time rolls around, and you'll have an edge when competing for jobs against non-certified technicians.
   
• You'll enjoy more mobility. 

Most states require mechanics to hold a license, but standards differ and your license may not easily transfer from one state to another. Industry-leading certifications, on the other hand, are nationally recognized. Holding one can make your job search easier if you end up relocating.
 

• You can command a higher salary. 

Technicians with top auto certifications earn a median salary of $81,000 per year. That's about 70% more money than the overall median salary for automotive technicians reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in May 2023.

Top 5 auto tech certifications to consider

There are dozens upon dozens of certifications out there and some hold more value than others. As a first step, you should identify an automotive technician career path to follow. Then, search for respected certifications that match your choice.

To spark your research, consider these five nationally recognized certification pathways:

Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications

Offered by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (NIASE), the ASE program includes a whopping 58 different certification options. They cover everything from light commercial vehicles to heavy-duty trucks. No matter where your professional interests lie, there's an ASE certification for it. 

Most auto technicians begin with ASE's A Series, which cover regular passenger vehicles. The proficiency tests in the A Series are numbered, beginning with A1 and going up to A9. 

Each test covers a specific domain:

• A1: Engine repair
• A2: Automatic transmission and transaxle
• A3: Manual drivetrain and axles
• A4: Suspension and steering
• A5: Brakes
• A6: Electrical and electronic systems
• A7: Heating and air conditioning
• A8: Engine performance
• A9: Light vehicle diesel engines

You can earn any number of ASE A Series certifications. If you pass all the tests from A1 through A8, you'll become an ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technician. This is one of the most valuable automotive credentials you can hold.

ASE also offers lots of other certification options, like the four tests in ASE's B Series. These cover collision repair and refinishing, and they rank among the best auto collision repair certifications out there. Add the B6 test for damage analysis and estimating to turbocharge your career prospects even further.

Want to work on transit vehicles or school buses? There are ASE tests for that (H Series and S Series). How about military vehicles? There are ASE tests for that (MIL Series). 

ASE is widely considered the industry's gold standard. If you only pursue one auto mechanic certification pathway, ASE would be the way to go.

Manufacturer-specific certifications

Do you have a soft spot for a particular automaker? Would you like to enhance your job prospects by becoming a recognized service expert for a top-selling vehicle brand? If so, manufacturer-specific certifications might be up your alley.

Lots of manufacturers offer official certification programs to technicians who want to specialize in their vehicles. Here are three examples:

New Ford Tech program

The New Ford Tech program includes four unique learning pathways, including Ford Accelerated Credential Training (FACT) certification. You can earn your FACT credential by completing a 15-week training program at one of nine Universal Technical Institute (UTI) campuses across the United States. With a FACT credential, you'll have the inside track on technician jobs at Ford and Lincoln dealerships.

Honda PACT

The Honda PACT program uses a partnership model with technical schools around the country. Complete a participating two-year program and you'll have the chance to earn as many as 10 Honda and Acura service certifications, along with at least two ASE credentials. With Honda ranking among the world's top-selling car brands, these certifications can open the door to countless job opportunities.

General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (GM ASEP)

GM offers its ASEP program through a nationwide network of ASE-accredited technical schools. You can learn from GM-certified technicians and build the cutting-edge skills you'll need to service modern Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicles. Like other manufacturer-specific certifications, a GM ASEP credential puts you in a great position to land a technician job at a dealership.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 609 certification

If your career plans involve servicing automotive air conditioning systems, you're going to need EPA 609 certification. EPA-approved certification programs meet the standards laid out in Section 609 of the Clean Air Act. By completing one, you'll build the knowledge and skills you need to handle refrigerants in accordance with EPA guidelines. To get started, explore the EPA's list of 21 approved providers of Section 609 technical training.

Auto Glass Safety Council (AGSC) certifications

According to BLS data, auto body and glass repairers earn slightly more than service technicians and mechanics. If you'd like to take advantage, you can start with AGSC's General Auto Glass Technician certification. It's an entry-level credential that builds on a solid working knowledge of auto glass repair fundamentals.

From there, you can become an AGSC Master Auto Glass Technician or a National Windshield Repair Division (NWRD) Certified Repair Technician. The NWRD is a specialized operating division of the AGSC. 

Automotive Management Institute (AMI) certification

The AMI offers a long list of professional recognition programs. Many of them overlap with areas covered by ASE certifications, but the AMI does offer several unique pathways that can help you reach leadership roles. These include the Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) and Accredited Shop Foreman (ASF) programs.

These AMI certifications combine technical know-how with business management skills. If you've got your sights set on becoming a service manager, these credentials can help you get there.

Connect with PEAK's technical school resources and scholarship programs

At PEAK, we know how important it is to support the next generation of automotive technicians. That's why we're building a growing library of technical school resources, including a helpful guide to financial aid options for technical school and a dedicated portal for up-and-coming automotive tech students.

Best of all, we offer direct financial support to talented automotive tech students through our PEAK Performance Scholarships Program. You can apply through the American Trucking Association's Technology and Maintenance Council for your chance to win up to $12,500 in education funding.