Guide · the mechanic career path, checked Oct 2026
How to become a mechanic, step by step
To become a mechanic, you get hired into a shop, either after a postsecondary automotive program or as a trainee who learns on the job, and then prove what you know with ASE certification tests. ASE calls its certification voluntary, but employers may require or prefer it, and some jobs need a specific credential: refrigerant certification for A/C work, a state license for smog-check repair in California.
The usual path
Training or a trainee job
A postsecondary automotive program, or a lube, tire or shop-helper job where you learn under a technician.
Build documented experience
ASE counts 1 year for G1 and 2 years for the A tests, and an accredited program counts toward it.
Pass a first ASE test
G1 or the A test closest to your work. See your first test.
Add A tests toward Master
A1–A8 make Master Automobile Technician.
School or on-the-job?
Both lead to the same tests. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (page updated Sep 14, 2026), the typical entry for automotive service technicians is a postsecondary nondegree award, followed by short-term on-the-job training.
What school buys you is time off the experience requirement.
- Toward the 2-year A and T requirement: An ASE-accredited program counts as 1 year, an OEM co-op program up to 2 years, 3+ ASE entry-level tests as 1 year, other training up to 1 year; substitutes cannot be combined.
- Toward G1's year: An ASE-accredited program counts as 6 months, an OEM co-op program as 1 year, 3+ ASE entry-level tests as 6 months; substitutes cannot be combined.
- Students in ASE-accredited programs who pass a set list of 8 ASE entry-level tests can earn G1 without taking it.
Without school, the experience clock starts with your first hands-on shop job. Routine service work (oil, tires, brakes, inspections) is what G1 tests.
Where the ASE tests fit
| Test | Work experience required | Where you take it | One test, one order | Practice | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASE G1Auto Maintenance and Light Repair | 1 year | Center or remote | $96 | Practice test Facts | ASE: work experience requirements · ASE Certification: Need to Know (Jan 2026) | |
| ASE A5Brakes | 2 years | Test center only | $96 | Practice test Facts | ASE: work experience requirements · ASE Certification: Need to Know (Jan 2026) | |
| ASE A6Electrical/Electronic Systems | 2 years | Test center only | $96 | Practice test Facts | ASE: work experience requirements · ASE Certification: Need to Know (Jan 2026) | |
| ASE A1Engine Repair | 2 years | Test center only | $96 | Practice test Facts | ASE: work experience requirements · ASE Certification: Need to Know (Jan 2026) | |
| ASE A8Engine Performance | 2 years | Test center only | $96 | Practice test Facts | ASE: work experience requirements · ASE Certification: Need to Know (Jan 2026) |
How long it takes and what it costs
The first certificate waits for the experience: G1 needs 1 year of experience, an A test 2 years. You can sit the test before that; the certificate waits until the experience is approved.
Test fees: $96 for one test bought alone; see test cost.
Credentials besides ASE
- Refrigerant: per the BLS, the EPA requires every technician who buys or works with refrigerants to be certified in refrigerant handling. ASE runs an EPA Section 609 program for this.
- State licenses: California's Bureau of Automotive Repair licenses smog-check repair technicians; one route is to hold A6, A8 and L1. See the A8 smog license page and mechanic certification.
- Diesel: the truck path runs through T2. See diesel certification.
Pay and job outlook
Per the BLS: automotive service technicians and mechanics earned a median $50,620 in 2025 ($24.34 an hour), held 825,800 jobs, and employment is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035. The BLS notes that employers may require or prefer certified technicians. Diesel technicians had a median of $61,770.
Practice on your phone
ASE G1 practice app
Take practice tests and review every answer in a study app. Not affiliated with ASE.
Optional. G1 is the broadest first test; its free practice test is on this site too.
Next steps
- ASE certification Every ASE test series, the requirements and the steps from myASE to certificate
- ASE study guide Free official study guides, 2026 changes, licensed books, task-list plan
- Master Technician The eight tests A1–A8, Master truck T2–T8, and how to keep the status
- ASE test cost Registration, test, retake and recertification fees for each test, as of Oct 2026
- Diesel certification Which diesel test to take: T2 for trucks, A9 for light vehicles, L2 above them
- ASE recertification Recertification tests, remote testing and the Renewal App: when, how and what each costs
- Mechanic certification ASE certification, school certificates, OEM programs and state licenses: what each one is
Becoming a mechanic: questions
How long does it take to become a mechanic?
Hiring can come first; certification follows the experience: 1 year for G1, 2 years for an A test, less with approved training.
Can I become a mechanic with no experience?
Yes: start in an entry-level shop job or a training program. The ASE experience requirement only applies to the certificate, and you can test before it is complete.
Do you need ASE certification to be a mechanic?
You can start work without it, since the certificate only comes after the experience. Later it counts for hiring: per the BLS, employers may require or prefer certified technicians.
How much does it cost to become a mechanic?
Training costs vary by school. An ASE test is $96 bought alone, with each extra test in the same order $62.