It's natural for veterans of auto body repair to think that they've seen it all when it comes to repairing and refinishing crash-damaged cars that enter their shops. That may have been true in decades past, but now that a bewildering array of new technologies are being used in today's cars, it would be mere hubris for any auto technician to think that he or she knows everything that needs to be known about repairing and refinishing cars.
Some of today's cars are so complex that do-it-yourself repairs are simply no longer possible. If that is the case for owners, what it means is that the technicians we entrust our cars to must have the proper skills and knowledge to repair these complex cars. Many countries have government-recognized institutions that issue certifications to individuals based on skill and aptitude tests. In the U.S., the coveted ASE certification is issued only to people who have undergone a battery of tests and show proof of at least two years experience in a specific field. And lest one think that these certifications are only a diploma mill, the failure rate for first-time test takers is 30%.
Some of today's cars are so complex that do-it-yourself repairs are simply no longer possible. If that is the case for owners, what it means is that the technicians we entrust our cars to must have the proper skills and knowledge to repair these complex cars. Many countries have government-recognized institutions that issue certifications to individuals based on skill and aptitude tests. In the U.S., the coveted ASE certification is issued only to people who have undergone a battery of tests and show proof of at least two years experience in a specific field. And lest one think that these certifications are only a diploma mill, the failure rate for first-time test takers is 30%.