The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) and Skills USA are co-branding end-of-program tests for students in high school and post-high school automotive technology programs.

Now when entry-level technicians come in for interviews, many will be armed with this extra credential. According to Trish Serratore, senior vice president of ASE, it will be a starting place for shop owners to gauge a potential hire's abilities.

That is key in today's market when hiring someone new.

"We can't assume they know anything coming into the shop. That could be a fatal assumption," says Eddie Butler, owner of Butler Automotive in Augusta, Ga. "Even if it's just knowing how to use a piece of equipment, we can't assume anything."

More than a piece of paper

The test now will offer a credential students can carry into interviews, though it is not a certificate of accreditation.

"What it does for the students is it allows them to know that they are taking a test that has total industry support," says Serratore.

Susan Moe, executive director of AYES, reports that the end-of-program test will cover eight areas of automotive service and four areas of collision repair. It most likely will be a combination of theory and vehicle service information in a multiple-choice format.

"It's important that future technicians actually can have the first step in the ASE certification process at the end of their high school education," she states. "This is going to help them and their future employers stand out from the crowd by proving their proficiency."

The target date for the new test is spring 2009, and it most likely will be administered by a proctor in a digital format, though nothing has been decided officially. While it can be administered at a post-secondary level, it is designed more for high school students finishing their programs.

"What we hope to do is bring more quality young men and women to the table to assist them in proving to the shops and dealerships that they are indeed qualified to come into the business," says Tim Lawrence, executive director of Skills USA.

That is something repair shop owners are looking for.

"Obviously, when we have applicants come in, it's very difficult for us to assess their skill set, other than through traditional on-the-job (assessments) and during the first 90 days. It would be nice if we could have some kind of aptitude test or any kind of test on what they've done," notes Butler.

Not only does the new test show students' potential, but it also shows their initiative, according to Paul Lambdin, president of Cary Car Care in Cary, N.C.

"It's just one more point that a person has in their favor," he says. "It illustrates that they're showing more interest in the industry than other potential hires."

A new-old venture

The partnership on the end-of-program tests is nothing new for these three organizations. Lawrence says Skills USA and AYES have been partners on the testing side, with Skills USA providing the hands-on models and AYES developing tests for competitions. And all the while, ASE has been supporting Skills USA championships.

Meanwhile, Moe says AYES partnered with ASE in 2002 to create the AYES exit exam through a U.S. Department of Labor program.

"They had worked with us developing the online test and we worked with them in part with our test question banks," she adds. "Now it's just taking it to the next level, building on the strength and all our industry levels into one."

All three organizations have reported high hopes for the partnership, stating the industry will benefit from the end-of-program tests.

"We're just really excited that the three organizations have combined efforts," Lawrence says. "There could be three assessments out there striving for the same goal but sending students in different directions. We're folding this process into one assessment that everyone can benefit from."