TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PAPER
    FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
    DIVISION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
    BUREAU OF PROGRAM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
     
    ISSUE:
    (F.S. 1004.925) All Automotive Service Technology Education Programs
    shall be Industry Certified by 2007.
     
     
    STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
     
    The purpose of this technical assistance paper is to provide introductory information on the
    National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) certification process.
    Included is an excerpt of the certification process from NATEF’s web site. All requirements
    for NATEF certification can be obtained from the NATEF web site.
     
    Industry certification of Automotive Service Technology programs is an important part of
    providing standardized automotive training to Florida’s career and technical students. The
    Automotive Service Technology Program trains students to enter the workforce as
    Automotive Service Technicians. Graduating students need to be work ready and able to
    perform to current industry standards. The Florida Legislature in its 2002 session passed
    into law (F.S. 1004.925) the requirement that all Automotive Service Technology programs
    will be industry certified by 2007.
     
    Information on NATEF’s industry certification can be found online at: www.natef.org.
    Specific questions about the NATEF process and fees should be directed to NATEF. The
    first part of the NATEF certification process is to complete a self-evaluation of your
    automotive program. All of the certification requirements are addressed on the NATEF web
    site.
     
    Mary Hutchinson, Administrative Director of NATEF, can be contacted by e-mail at
    Hutchinson@natef.org or in writing at 13505 Dulles Technology Drive, Herndon, Virginia
    20171-3421.
     
    Additional information on the general process of NATEF certification can be acquired by
    contacting Andy Anderman at andy.anderman@fldoe.org or by telephone at (850) 414-8574.
     
    AA/sp
     
    Attachments
     
     
     
     
     
     
    The following information on the certification process was obtained from the NATEF web site:
    <http://www.natef.org>.
     
    Program Certification Process
    Program Self-Evaluation
    - The certification process begins with an extensive self-evaluation
    performed by training program instructors, administrators, and advisory committee members.
    Members of this group compare the program to national standards, and have the opportunity to
    make improvements before submitting evaluation documents to NATEF.
     
    NATEF Review
    - Self-evaluation materials are then sent to NATEF, where they are reviewed to
    determine if the program qualifies for an on-team evaluation.
     
    On-Site Evaluation
    - If the program qualifies, an Evaluation Team Leader (ETL), an educator
    certified by Automobile Service Excellence (ASE) and trained by NATEF, is assigned the
    program and an on-site visit is scheduled.
     
    Recommendation for Certification
    - When industry requirements are met the program
    will become certified for a period of five years.
     
     
     
    Areas of Certification
    Automobile Training Programs:
     
    Schools must apply for certification in
    at least the four
    required areas (out of the eight total areas):
          
    Required
     
    1. Brakes
    2. Electrical/Electronic Systems
    3. Engine Performance
    4. Suspension and Steering
           
    Optional
     
    5. Automatic Transmission and
    Transaxle
    6. Engine Repair
    7. Heating and Air Conditioning
    8. Manual Drive Train and Axle
    Collision Repair & Refinish Training Programs:
     
    Schools
    may
    be certified in Painting and Refinishing only; or schools
    must
    apply for certification in
    Structural Analysis and Damage Repair PLUS
    at least
    two
    of the following:
     
    1. Non-Structural Analysis and
    Damage Repair
    2. Plastics and Adhesives
    3. Mechanical and Electrical Componen
    4. Painting and Refinishing
     
    ts
          
    NATEF
    Costs For
    Certification/Recertification
      
     
    Automobile/Truck
     
    (1) Certification Manuals
    $60.00
     
     
    (4) On-Site Eval. Team
      
    $160.00
     
    Manuals ($40 each)
     
     
    Honorarium for the ETL
      
    $350.00
     
    ($175 per day)
     
     
    Estimated expenses for
      
    $150.00
    the
    ETL
     
     
     
     
     
     

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