The Mobile Electronics Certified Professional (MECP) Committee recently responded to critics.
Specifically, it responded to comments following an editorial in May calling for mandatory MECP certification.
The MECP wants you to know that its basic certification level (the first of three levels) is only that—basic. It’s meant to certify that an installer is at an apprentice level.
By contrast, the upper two levels of MECP certification (advanced and master) indicate that a tech may work on cars on a near or total unsupervised basis.
Secondly, MECP certification is not meant as a one and done exercise. A technician with an expired certification may not have read the most recent revisions.
Third, long-time industry veterans may have an outdated view of the program. Some installation topics that were important 5 years ago are no longer included in MECP studies and exams, which have been updated to reflect the complexities of today’s vehicles.
Kris Bulla and Derek Pace, co-chairs of the MECP Committee have written a full reply to MECP critics here.
It states, “MECP Basic, which requires no previous experience, is an apprentice level credential, not a promise of a highly experienced technician. It’s always helpful when describing an ‘MECP Installer’ to indicate at which level they are certified. “
The MECP reply also includes tips on using MECP to help with hiring. Pace, who owns Certified Sounds in Hawaii said, “From a retail standpoint I am a perfect example of how MECP has provided me with the tools and opportunity to distinguish my business from my competitors and has been one of the keys for me to continue to be and stay successful.”
The MECP Committee also wants you to know that it certifies individual installers, not retailers and that its program is a certification program, not a training program.
Again, we invite you to read the full MECP response here.
The original editorial on MECP was written by Paul Pirro of Tint World and may be found here.
Source: MECP
You want to make MECP more credible you need to get manufacturers behind it. It needs to show up on boxes, websites, literature, etc. They could even make MECP certified installs have better warranty rather than using warranty extension as a way to simply sell their own wiring.
Luke, your example shot yourself in the foot. A pre-med student is just that. It’s a label given to those in training. And guess what? They work in hospitals. Right along side doctors. So in the same fashion Basic MECP installers can interact with customers and do basic jobs, a pre-med student works in the hospital, talks with patients and does basic vitals, etc.
They’re still not doctors. No certifications hang on their walls. And everyone knows they’re still students. And pre-med students do mostly menial tasks in a hospital, if they even work there. I think you’re thinking of a resident, not a pre-med. Totally different thing.
I do not see how any industry type of credentials can be irrelevant to a specific industry. Most industries have some sort of program in place for them to represent there knowledge. And most of the best of the best of our industry support and are MECP Masters whom all have mutual respect for each other. I know guys who are some of the best fabricators in our industry that are not MECP certified and yet they never seem to say any negative comments about MECP. I feel that all you doubters have your own personal fears and problems about the state of our industry and or themselves. It saddens me to see so much negative thinking from business owners and installers in an industry that is becoming more technical and shrinking everyday. Our industry does not need a group of negative businesses it affects all of us one way or another. I was a Certified First Class installer in the 90’s so you could say I am an Industry veteran that came back to Mobile electronics 5 years ago. I am currently Basic certified and want to take my Advanced before the year is up. I work for a Master Technician whom I have more than a few years of experience on and help train in the 90’s. Ironically I find myself learning from him everyday. I guess that saying goes student becomes the teacher. I look at as discipline and allows me to remain teachable and keeps me updated on new vehicle platforms, rather than trying the old school way of trial and error to figure things out I can use study guides and or Lead technician as a valuable resource to continuing my knowledge. My point is think positive and utilize the resources available because that is all we have to move forward.
MECP Basic should be eliminated if that is going to be the standard and you would add much more credibility to the entire program. Someone with apprentice level ability has no business carrying any kind of certification. Handing out certifications to apprentices is foolish and it damages the entire program. Do pre-med students gets handed a doctorate just because maybe someday they’ll get there?
Also where is the consumer awareness efforts from MECP? Customers don’t know, and they don’t care. The MECP website should be devoted to telling people WHY the certification matters, instead it’s aimed 100% at the industry and getting more people to pay for more tests that no consumer knows anything about.
I am sure there is some merit to what this Tint World dude says but then again most “Franchise” owners of companies like Tint World come from outside of our industry. At the very least it takes them a few years to even begin to understand this industry. If I was VP of Tint World I would want that certification since I would know that most of my installation techs have little experience. Independent shops who have the best of the best do not need a piece of paper. Most established independent shops have guys could probably train the MECP “trainers”.
At least with certification your installers can speak with some credibility rather than going off the cuff.
Let’s put it this way., just because tour awesome at a flight simulator game doesn’t make you a pilot. Professional training makes you a pilot.
Chris Bella and myself have been heavy believers in the process since the beginning.
mecp cert is largely irrelevant to my store given the high line work we encounter. it can actually offer false hope and confidence to the shop and installed. ok for Toyotas, etc.
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I never understood why people hate on MECP. Nobody said an MECP certified tech is automatically better than one who is not. It’s just a yardstick to give an employer who doesn’t know the two people standing in front of him some sort of idea. We have no other certifications in the industry to do this. In depth interviews should still take place. And hey, an installer who has taken his own time and money to get certified shows drive and initiative too. And that’s worth something in my book regardless of the “value” you place on MECP.