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Virginia Car Mechanic Certifications, Salaries, & Licenses
The great thing is throughout the State of Virginia, an car mechanic is not obligated to possess a license to repair cars!
Having said that, just because there isn’t a structured or universal prerequisite does not mean virtually all mechanics are similarly capable for a career in an automotive repair shop.
In Virginia, auto specialists that match the following requirements are a great deal almost certainly going to acquire a position in an motor vehicle repair shop as opposed to candidates who don’t fulfill these minimum qualifications:
- Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certification (Master Mechanic certification preferred)
- Virginia work experience in one of the following areas:
- Repair Technician – 1, 2, or 3 years
- Service Consultant – 2 years
- On-the-job training from local automotive dealers
- 2 years prior experience in the automotive repair industry
- Formal education training such as:
- Vocational training
- Tech school training and classes
- Lubrication technician experience
Incomes and Salaries for Car Technicians in Virginia
| Total Number of Auto Mechanics | 19,330 |
|---|---|
| Average Annual Salary | $42,740 |
| Average Hourly Wage | $20.55 |
| Employment (per 1,000 jobs) | 5.322 |
| Annual Job Growth Rate | 4.0% |
| Estimated Job Openings per Year | 967 |
Supplemental Qualifications
In order to make yourself even more marketable to future business employers, many automotive technicians may find that their career opportunities increase if they can accomplish extra accreditations and training:
Automobile Service Excellence (ASE) Certification in Virginia
Many 
automotive mechanics elect to get valuable qualification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) (www.ase.com). ASE is an independent, non-profit institution that enhances the the effectiveness of car or truck repairs and services by certifying and validating maintenance and service professionals. ASE Certification is usually a crucial part of a technician’s experience and resume, that will help exhibit skills and make individuals much more marketable to future automotive shops. Simply make sure you invest some time to study for the examinations making use of our totally free testing articles and questions. Auto technicians together with other auto service industry experts that would like to get ASE certification could take any of ASE’s 40 tests. Upon successfully passing these job-related competency exams, the automotive technician becomes ASE certified in any one of the following areas: medium/heavy truck, truck, collision repair, and others.
Refrigerant Licensing in Virginia
The American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates all motor vehicle technicians that work with or acquire refrigerants to acquire licensing in suitable handling of refrigerants. There is no formal test preparation necessary, but quite a few labor unions, technical schools, and employer organizations offer instructional classes and seminars for test preparation. Further information regarding this official certification can be obtained on the official EPA website.
ASE Student Certification in Virginia
ASE 
Student Certification can assist you move on the ideal path for establishing a professional career as a good service expert in the automobile industry. Unlike the actual ASE qualification, there isn’t any work experience prerequisites for student certification. The student basically has to successfully pass one or more of the student certification tests. The moment the applicant has successfully completed one of these examinations, the school prints the official document and has it approved by the school principal and it is given to the trainee. The student certification is valid for 2 years after the exam date.
Individual Qualities for Virginia Credentialed Mechanics
Very Detailed: Auto issues can often times be caused by unnoticed problems or issues that could possibly be detected by a exceptionally detailed mechanic. The nature of an vehicle technician is to check out every possible problem with amazing detail when producing a prognosis or repair.
Service Excellence: car service experts work together with customers everyday, and the most successful auto mechanics establish close personal relationships with their clients that keep them coming back for possible future maintenance. Many specialists overlook this part of the Virginia motor vehicle service business.
Ability to Diagnose: An important skill of automotive experts is definitely the competency to troubleshoot electrical, technical, and wear-related complications with cars and trucks together with other complex systems. The ability to recognize and repair complications often goes along with hands-on training and experience in a maintenance shop.
Common Salaries in Virginia by City:
| City / Region | Typical Salary | Salary Range | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg - Christiansburg - Radford | $32,760 | $23K - $46K | 350 |
| Charlottesville | $37,040 | $26K - $56K | 520 |
| Danville | $33,520 | $20K - $48K | 250 |
| Harrisonburg | $33,840 | $21K - $54K | 470 |
| Lynchburg | $35,160 | $23K - $52K | 610 |
| Richmond | $40,870 | $23K - $68K | 3,670 |
| Roanoke | $33,710 | $23K - $54K | 1,010 |
| Virginia Beach - Norfolk - Newport News | $40,760 | $26K - $60K | 3,550 |
| Winchester | $34,540 | $24K - $52K | 300 |
Next Steps towards ASE Certification
Now that you’re familiar with all of the ASE Certification requirements in Virginia, try out our free Automotive Service Excellence Tests to see how much you know!