Zilke: An open letter from ASE

LEESBURG, Va. — Tim Zilke, president of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), has issued an open letter to the industry as the non-profit concludes its year-long celebration of its 50th year providing vehicle service assessments and certifications.

Read the letter below:

Dear Industry Professionals:

This year ASE has celebrated a major milestone. For 50 years, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has upheld and promoted high standards of service and repair through the assessment, certification and credentialing of current and future vehicle service professionals.

There are more than 200,000 ASE Certified professionals employed at general repair shops, vehicle dealerships and service facilities across the country. With nearly 300 million vehicles in operation and increasingly complex vehicle technologies, the skills possessed by these highly trained professionals are needed more than ever before.

Becoming ASE Certified requires qualified work experience and passing a challenging test for each certification. ASE Certified technicians must keep up to date on ever-evolving vehicle systems to effectively perform maintenance and repairs and are required to prove their technical knowledge by retesting every five years to keep their certifications current. The prestigious ASE Blue Seal logo helps vehicle owners easily identify those professionals who possess the essential knowledge and skills needed to perform with excellence.

As the yearlong ASE 50th anniversary celebration comes to an end, we want to take the opportunity to acknowledge all those who have championed our mission since 1972 and continue to provide support today.

ASE's board members have generously donated their time and expertise through the years for the betterment of ASE and have provided invaluable assistance to guide ASE and its initiatives. Along with industry partner organizations, they are the backbone of ASE and continue to provide us with their knowledge and needed resources to implement our programs.

We are proud to work with over 2,300 automotive technology training programs and we appreciate all of the instructors who have devoted their careers to the development of skilled professionals. We thank the shops who recognize the importance of ASE Certification when making hiring decisions and the motoring public for relying on ASE as a way to identify credentialed professionals and the shops that employ them.

Most importantly, we celebrate all of the knowledgeable, proficient ASE Certified professionals that provide an essential service to the American motoring public by keeping their vehicles in safe, dependable operating condition. We salute you.

As we look back on the last 50 years, we are proud of how far ASE has come since the time when industry leaders first sought to certify automotive technicians. As we look to the future, we know that ASE will continue to provide valuable service to the transportation industry and the vehicle owners they serve.

Sincerely,

Tim Zilke, President and CEO, ASE