unexposed to on-going training an opportunity to learn beyond testable information,” said Ramsey. As the MECP Advanced level has an experience prerequisite, some of the testable information is based on the technician’s experience and not what is read in a book. “It’s very much a working technician’s reference book in addition to being a comprehensive study tool,” concluded Ramsey. CEA kept the price of the new Advanced guide the same
even though it doubled in size, which speaks to the fact that the MECP program only continues to increase its value to the installation technician community and industry employers. The guide is available now at
www.MECP.com and
Amazon.com.
NEW ADVANCED EXAM The corresponding update to the MECP Advanced level exam
was released on Feb. 6 and has a number of new enhancements that cover a broader range of content due to the diversity of installation technicians’ jobs. “We’ve added Bluetooth, audio and video integration topics, and lots of electrical measurement and troubleshooting
vehicle electronics. MECP is providing a great pathway for both technicians and retailers to capture more of those opportunities and deliver a great experience,” he added. From a technical standpoint, the updated MECP Advanced
level exam has some similarities with the previous version such as the same three-hour time limit, 200 questions across five testable sections — each of which require a 70% or greater score to pass the exam.
Some of the new features of the revised Advanced exam include: • Candidates will have an on-screen calculator available for
any questions requiring mathematical computation • Since many technicians are more visual learners, many questions now include photos or illustrations. For example, reading a wiring diagram, circuit measurement, connection method, electronic component or other question requiring a visual reference. • “Technician A or Technician B” questions are now part of experience-based, troubleshooting related questions, just as on the Master Installation Technician exam. As many real-
“We made sure to provide the technicians with a strong reference of non-
product-specific information and industry best practices to allow those who are otherwise unexposed to on-going training an opportunity to learn beyond testable information”.
— Todd Ramsey, MECP technical consultant
questions that underscore what employers expect with one year or more of experience. The exam covers many other things that are indicative of technician knowledge at this level. MECP also eliminated things employers report they do not valued highly among technicians at this level, which included fabrication topics,” said Ramsey. The overall scope of the new MECP exam follows the General Job Description document that MECP uses as a blueprint to guide the exam development to be on target with what employers should expect of an individual at this level. “We used the same process as with the Basic Installation
Technician level revision two years ago. This general job description approach allows employers to select the type of individual they are seeking for a particular employment or promotion opportunity,” said Jack Cutts, Senior Manager of Member Programs at the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). Cutts services as liaison to CEA’s Automotive Electronics Division whose industry support efforts include empowering retailers to attract and retain more qualified individuals. “We’re very aware that consumer perception of our professionalism is a driving force in consumer choice to consider aftermarket in-
world situations have multiple technicians offering diagnoses, this provides a real-world measure of the test participant’s installation and troubleshooting knowledge. • Peer review and psychometric reviews ensure that questions are both technically accurate and “fair” questions (not “trick questions”). MECP tests have undergone psychometric reviews for over 10 years. Psychometric evaluation is a standard process in nearly all professionally developed assessments, including those for doctors, lawyers and other professions.
STANDING OUT WITH CERTIFICATION The MECP Advanced Installation Technician credential is valid for four years and is a prerequisite to pursuing MECP Master certification. Overwhelmingly, employers are seeking qualified and career-
minded individuals in this industry. MECP is committed to providing assessments that are relevant to technicians and marketable for employers. It’s just one more tool that retailers can use to promote their expertise and capture more customer confidence for aftermarket in-vehicle electronics purchases and installation.
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