By Micheal Smyth, director of the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC), a program of the Energy Institute at West Virginia University

Editor’s note: This blog post is the second in a series leading up to AAPEX 2019 in Las Vegas. This installment is the first to highlight alternative fuels training sessions scheduled to take place in Mobility Garage: Products and Training for Tomorrow.

When I enter an automotive repair facility and see that the technicians are ASE certified, I have confidence that my vehicle will receive top-notch care. And I’m not the only one. The ASE brand is one of the best known in our industry and we are excited to have Kevin Lekas, project manager with ASE’s Special Testing Programs division, as a presenter in Mobility Garage.

Founded in 1972, ASE — short for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence — is a non-profit organization committed to voluntary testing and certification of service professionals. As of 2019, ASE offers more than 50 certifications in subjects ranging from engine repair to brakes to electrical systems, and there are approximately 245,000 certified technicians.

Before earning an ASE Automobile Technician certification, a technician must have two years of experience in automotive repair. The person holds the credential for five years, at which point he or she must pass a recertification exam. The Master Automobile Technician certification is bestowed on those who earn certification in a series of eight different specialties on a variety of automotive subjects. For those working on alternative fuel vehicles, ASE has the F1 and H1 exams that cover compressed natural gas topics, and the L3 for hybrid electric vehicles.

Kevin will cover this information and more during his Mobility Garage session.

“I’ve known the folks at NAFTC for years and have enjoyed working with them in the past,” Lekas says. “I look forward to sharing information at AAPEX 2019 about ASE certification in greater detail and what certification means for today’s technicians. During my session, attendees will learn more about ASE, why the certification process is important, and what our organization is doing in the alternative fuels arena. Additionally, I will offer tips and suggestions about how to prepare for ASE tests.”

Kevin’s appearance at Mobility Garage is also appropriate because ASE has announced the myASE Renewal program. The program is a certification maintenance app for current and previously certified automobile technicians to renew their credentials via mobile technology (phone or tablet), or over the web. The program will also identify the correct answer to the question and provide rationales for each answer choice. By using the myASE Renewal program, automobile technicians will be able to maintain their credentials indefinitely.

If an ASE exam is in your future or if you are due for recertification soon, this session is one you should put on your calendar!

Mobility Garage: Products and Training for Tomorrow at AAPEX 2019 will feature several highly regarded trainers providing information about important alternative fuel vehicle topics. Kevin Lekas’ presentation will take place Nov. 6, 2019 at 2:30 p.m., in The Venetian, Titian Ballroom.

Between now and November, we will update this blog with more about these experts and the topics they will discuss as part of Mobility Garage. To attend, make sure you’re registered for AAPEX.

During AAPEX 2019 (Nov. 5–7, Sands Expo, Las Vegas), the NAFTC will be providing live updates on social media. Follow us on Twitter (@naftcwvu) and Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/naftcwvu. More information about the NAFTC may be found by visiting: www.naftc.wvu.edu.