Date of Graduation

12-2014

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Adult and Lifelong Learning (EdD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders

Advisor/Mentor

Kacirek, Kit

Committee Member

Grover, Kenda S.

Second Committee Member

Belcher, Gregory

Keywords

ASE; Automotive; Benefits; Certification

Abstract

The roots of certification in America date back to guild-like associations similar to those in Europe, but did not gain industry recognition until after World War II. It is recognized as a way for an industry to elevate itself and be recognized as a stand-alone, autonomous profession, as long as there is validity in the process and impartial oversight by an accredited governing body. It is also a way for individuals to distinguish themselves from their peers by proving a technical aptitude or competence. It allows a prospective job candidate to signal to a potential employer that they have attained of higher body of knowledge held to national standards. Certification can be required or not in a wide array of industries and professions, but is generally not required in the automotive industry except for pockets of technical positions in the automotive manufacturing and service sectors. The certification agency in the automotive industry is the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence which was established in 1972 as an independent, non-profit organization charged with oversight and the administration of the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) exams. The costs of the examinations and the registration fees can add up, they can be quite challenging for even the seasoned professional, and recertification is required every five years. The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the perceived benefits of earning these certifications for 4-year automotive technology graduates working in the automotive or automotive-related industry.

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