The following certification information was extracted from the Automotive Service Association's annual "How's Your Business?" surveys from 2004 and 2005, offering average employee counts.

Nearly nine out of 10 ASA mechanical shops report having an average of three ASE-certified technicians and an average of five technicians total. Eighty-two percent of ASA collision facilities employ approximately four ASE-certified technicians and average seven technicians total.

In 2005, there were approximately 201,610 mechanical technicians employed in the United States. Sixty-five percent of ASA mechanical shops reported they were ASE Blue Seal certified in 2005, as compared to 74 percent in 2004.

Fifty-eight percent of mechanical survey respondents in 2005 reported their ASE certification was current, an 18 percent increase from 2004. A 13 percent decline in non-current certifications was reported from 2004 to 2005 and 22 percent indicated they were not certified in 2005.

In 2005, there were approximately 9,070 collision facility technicians and 92,630 painters and body repairers in the United States. Forty-two percent of collision respondents held current ASE certifications, down from 47 percent in 2004. From 2004 to 2005, there was a 23 percent increase in those reporting out-of-date certification. Twenty-two percent were not certified in 2005, unchanged from 2004.

ASE certifications are valid for five years, and technicians must retest to ensure they're keeping up with current technology.

Motorists recognize the ASE Blue Seal and express confidence in the certification program and trust their technicians are armed with advanced technological knowledge to accurately repair their vehicles.

Stat Corner is written by Karin White, ASA's research and project specialist. She can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 252, or by e-mail at karinw@asashop.org.

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