South Dakota Automotive Mechanic Salaries, ASE Certification, Free Study Guides

Luckily throughout the State of South Dakota, a good automotive technician is not obligated to have a license to maintain automobiles!

Then again, even if there is not a formal or national qualification does not mean most auto technicians are similarly proficient for a position in an automotive mechanic shop.

In South Dakota, auto mechanics that satisfy the following standards are much more likely to get a position in an motor vehicle repair center compared to individuals who don’t satisfy a majority of these minimal qualifications:

• Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certification (Master Mechanic certification preferred)
• South Dakota work experience in one of the following areas:
• Parts Specialist – 2 years
• Collision Damage Estimator – 2 years
• On-the-job training from local automotive dealers
• Plus: Any car manufacturer certifications (e.g. General Motors, Chrysler, Mercedes, BMW, etc.)
• Automotive Repair Classroom Training:
• Collision repair training
• Repair Technology training courses (including diagnostic software)

Salaries for Automobile Mechanics in South Dakota

Total Number of Auto Mechanics	1,820
Average Annual Salary	$37,030
Average Hourly Wage	$17.80
Employment (per 1,000 jobs)	4.52
Annual Job Growth Rate	4.0%
Estimated Job Openings per Year	91

Wage Statistics for Automotive Service Technicians (2014 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Some Additional Qualifications

To help make oneself a great deal more valuable to potential employers, many mechanics will find that their career opportunities greatly improve if they are able to obtain additional certifications and training:

Automobile Service Excellence (ASE) Certification in South Dakota

A large number of mechanics decide to obtain extra qualification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) (www.ase.com). ASE is an independent, non-profit organization that improves the the effectiveness of vehicle repair and service by certifying and assessing maintenance and service industry experts. ASE Certification can be a significant element of an auto mechanic’s experience and credentials, and definately will help showcase expertise and help to make mechanics much more valuable to potential hiring managers. Simply be sure you put in some time to study for the assessments by using our absolutely free examination articles and quiz questions. Auto technicians and also other auto service industry experts that want to get ASE certification could take each of ASE’s 40 tests. After passing these job-related skill level tests, the technician becomes ASE certified in several of the following aspects: Automobile, truck equipment, collision repair, and more.

Refrigerant Licensing in South Dakota

The United States Of America Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates all motor vehicle service technicians that work with or buy refrigerants to obtain certification in appropriate handling of refrigerants. There is not a formal test preparation required, but a large number of unions, technical schools, and company groups offer training and college classes for assessment preparation. Further information about this certification can be found on the official EPA website.

ASE Student Certification in South Dakota

ASE Student Certification can help you move on the right track for setting up a professional career as an effective service expert in the automobile industry. Compared with the actual ASE official certifications, there isn’t any mechanic experience qualifications for student certification. Any candidate simply needs to complete one or more of the student certification tests. Once the student has proficiently finished one of these assessments, the school prints the certificate and has it signed by the school principal and it is presented to the individual. The student certification is valid for two years from the test date.

Individual Characteristics for South Dakota Credentialed Auto Technicians

Attention to Detail: Vehicular complications may often times result from forgotten about problems or issues which could be detected by a really experienced technician. The nature of an automobile mechanic is to look over every single plausible trouble with very good depth when producing a prognosis or repair.

History of Customer Service: Vehicle service professionals work together with customers on a daily basis, and the most successful technicians develop special individualized relationships with their clientele that keep them returning for potential future Assistance. Quite a few experts underrate this aspect of the South Dakota automobile maintenance market place.

Diagnostic Skills: A fundamental capability of service specialists is definitely the ability to diagnose electrical, mechanical, and functional problems with motor vehicles and various other complex systems. The skill to detect and fix complications typically comes with on-the-job experience and training in a maintenance shop.

Ranges of Incomes in South Dakota by City:

City / Region	Typical Salary	Salary Range	Job Count
Rapid City	$33,720	$25K - $51K	320
Sioux Falls	$36,990	$27K - $49K	700

Next Steps towards ASE Certification

Now that you’re familiar with all of the ASE Certification requirements in South Dakota, try out our free Automotive Service Excellence Tests to see how much you know!