ASE Certification?

[absintheisfun]

The daily grind is becoming a bit too much, and I have an opportunity to do something about it. I'm hoping that I can get some feedback here in a "what would you do" kind of way.

I have always had a fascination with cars, and I am VERY SLOWLY teaching myself through trial and error how to work on my car. The opportunity has presented itself that I can quit my job and go get formal training somewhere like ATI or Lincoln tech.


so...the question-

If you could continue your lifestyle with onlyh slight sacrifices (financially), would you go get a certification and try to make a major career change?
The sacrifice would be the 67 Camaro I'm working on--The $$ saved to restore would go to education and paying the mortgage!

Would you take a sebatical and get the certification and then return to work (for someone else, because I hate my job!)

For anyone who has done this, a could of side questions--how long does it take? 3 months, a year?
How much is the average tuition for one of these trade schools?

[amx2334]

If the daily grind is too much now you really don't want to work on cars for a living. I did it. 3 yrs of school.most people last about 10 yrs. and go find something else.If you have the ability to be a good tech. you have the ability to do alot of other things that pay better and don't beat you up nearly as bad.
If I had to choose between a car and an education that is a no brainer.I can always buy a car but I can't go back in time for an education.sold a 77 T/A in '86 to pay my tuition. no regrets.

[Paul_J]

One of the people I respect the most is a 4 time world class ASE tech. He is one of the hardest working guys I know as well as the absolute most honest person I've ever met. He is the best driveability guy I know. He's no parts changer and diagnoses down to the failed component. He is always in class maintaining his certifications. He is totally burned out! He has more trouble trying to find an honest shop to work for.

[tumper93]

I have been a tech at a Chevrolet dealership for going on 16 years now. I went through the GM ASEP program which was 2 years back then but is now a little longer, I learned stuff in there I thought but once I got in the career quickly learned all I had was "book" knowledge not all that it would take to make a living. Honestly it takes years and years to make a good technician and even longer to make a good living at it. If you can afford to make low pay for a few years then okay, but it will be a struggle. Since the market is slow so is the car business, you will NEVER bring home the same amount unless you are paid hourly. I got a degree in mechanical drafting and CAD about 10 years ago to get out of this but couldn't take the pay cut and if I could have I would still be making what I am now. Having the skills and knowledge to work on cars is invalueable cause even you will always needs someone to do it. I personally make a good living where I live, I made 62k last year and it is a rewarding job since I do it the right way and don't just do what ever to get the car out. I don't like JACKLEGS who give techs a bad name, you have mechaincs and you have true technicians, being the later is harder than just turning a wrench. You have to truely have a grasp on how things are working and be able to see those things working to be good at what you do. YOu will never get rich do this but you will get gray hair and a lot of headaches. I don't want to discourage you from do this for a living, but you need to know it is not what the TV shows and infomercials make it out to be, you go home tired and dirty. I like it enough that I will do it till I retire, but vacation time really helps!! I like being good enough that the GM rep calls me about the VEtte problems someone cannot figure out and having other techs come to me for answers or guidence, and being able to work for pay under the table at local independent shops for $40 an hour to diagnose something. If you get good the benifits far outweigh the pay, but the side jobs pay for the Camaro and trust me it has the "good stuff" so you can do it as long as you put all you r heart into it. By the way I did this career because I like working on my 68 and if I didn't have the skills I have learned over the years, the car wouldn't be what it is because I couldn't afford to put that kind of money in it or pay someone to do what I have done.

[Vegas69]

It's a grind. I lasted about two years out of college. From what I hear now, the new cars aren't needing repaired like in the past. If I ever got back in it would be in the racing or pro-touring segment.

[69keith]

I got a five bay shop with 2 techs working for me. I have no cert. -but I been working on cars since I was 13. I'm 37 now. The only part I hate is working with the public and employees...
Keith

[XLexusTech]

Somthing to consider is your age. Most folks who are @ the top of the auto tech game look to move out of the tech side in thier 40's or sooner. Been there Done that. Most guys I worked with on the line it was a common theme How do it get myslef out of this before I am 40 or 50. So before jumping into this consider it.

In reaards to ASE certs get them the real $$ is in dealerships or owning you own shop both require ASE (maufacutres push it on dealerships and its a real good idea but not mandatory for pricate Buisness) and it will get you foot in the door. You may want to look into the maunfature provided trainig programs. The toyota one is tp notch!

[CHRIS67]

I got a five bay shop with 2 techs working for me. I have no cert. -but I been working on cars since I was 13. I'm 37 now. The only part I hate is working with the public and employees...
Keith

It's a HUGE difference between working on your car for enjoyment and working on others for a living. I spun wrenches for a few years after HS and votech and decided it wasn't for me.

[70bird]

Two of my long time buddies are auto techs.
One actually bought the shop where he started doing LOF's (sorry lube,oil&filter) when he was 19. Cool! He's doing very well for himself with a 6 bay shop and 2 techs.

Both friends have one thing in common: Neither seems to like working on their own junk anymore, or never have/make the time.
We all used to live for evenings or weekends with a wrench in one hand, and a beer in the other. But life does change.
Point is: While doing what you love for a living can be rewarding, you may OD on the thing you love until you hate it.

Myself, I have kept cars a hobby and still enjoy it.

[wedgehead]

I my self have been an ASE cert tech for 20 yrs. I have been wrenching and getting paid to do it since I was 14 now 45. I have owned my own shop for ten years. I wouldn't change a thing. It has alowwed me to do many things and meet many people. I do find it sometimes a little hard to work on my own stuff though. Maybe just to many projects. If you do do it drivabilty,trans and front end alignment is where you will make the most money at a dealership. I worked at them for a while. The money was OK at them (70k) but the politics was the reason for leaving dealerships.I have twin sons that only one has interest in the business. I will encourage him to do it if he wants. As for the ASE get them you will make more money with them than without them. They don't indicate ability always, but they do indicate pride in your career enough to get certified.

[Finch]

By far the ASE certs are worth the time and money to get them. Back when I was in the automotive industry I had Master Automotive, Master Heavy Truck and the Autobody certs at the same time. I could pick and choose jobs as they carried alot of weight to the hiring shops. But as it goes you can have too much of a good thing, and I found myself burned out by the time I got home from wrenching all day and my projects fell by the wayside. That is when I new I needed a new career as it was taking the fun out of what I loved the most.

[wills55]

Two of my long time buddies are auto techs.
One actually bought the shop where he started doing LOF's (sorry lube,oil&filter) when he was 19. Cool! He's doing very well for himself with a 6 bay shop and 2 techs.

Both friends have one thing in common: Neither seems to like working on their own junk anymore, or never have/make the time.
We all used to live for evenings or weekends with a wrench in one hand, and a beer in the other. But life does change.
Point is: While doing what you love for a living can be rewarding, you may OD on the thing you love until you hate it.

Myself, I have kept cars a hobby and still enjoy it.

Thats my feelings exactly. Ive been a tech for 8years. Ive been ASE certified since I was 21 and a Master since I was 22. I have to say that The ASE's do help your $/hr, but when it comes down to it, if you love working on YOUR car, you wont after a while. You cant find the time, or just dont want to spend your evening or afternoon or weekend working on your car/cars, when thats all you do everyday, all day. It pays pretty well, but if you cant stand the "grind" now, working in a dealership or private shop will turn you sour real quick. Thats just my $.02, maybe its just because I hate my job too...

[SaturnVUEguy]

I work with the sales dept at a dealer, but went to school to be a tech too. There is A LOT of politics at dealers

[mpozzi]

The good thing about any form of education is that no one can ever take it away from you. I'm an ASE Master and have maintained that status for about 20 years. While I don't twist wrenches for a living, my day job requires a thorough knowledge of all things car. Passing the eight ASE tests, plus the L1, require ample amounts of both practical and book-learn time. Having the certification also helps my credibility in court and discussing automotive issues with technicians.

You'll be questioning the questions as more than one of the answers can be correct. ASE wants you to choose the "most correct" of them so read each question very carefully. And you'll hate "Technician A" and "Technician B" by the end of that testing session ... trust me on this.

The tests aren't getting any easier ... and choose "B" if you haven't a clue as it's supposedly about 33% correct :).

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[absintheisfun]

when it comes down to it, if you love working on YOUR car, you wont after a while. You cant find the time, or just dont want to spend your evening or afternoon or weekend working on your car/cars, when thats all you do everyday, all day...

The big concern I had was "would I enjoy it if it was a career and not a hobby".
I have a 4yr degree that has helped me greatly to get where I am, and I have the money to go get a certification and do nothing else--for about a year--After a year, reality will set it very quickly if I don't start earning the same income I do now.
I'm glad (and kind of saddened) to hear that with automobiles, you don't want a career in it if you enjoy it.
What bothers me is the politics of where I work. I absolutely enjoy supply chain management (yes, I know...i'm a dork). Even with the crap I put up with now, I love the job-hate the place.

Thanks for the input guys--I needed to hear that I would more than likely lose interest in the hobby if I did it for a living and would lose interest in my projects. I figured as much, but a part of me hoped that the reponses would be greatly in the favor of DO IT DO IT...I'm a mechanic and I love it!...

[BA.]

The only part I hate is working with the public and employees...
Keith


...there's something funny there. :)