There are 266,860 ASE certified technicians in the U.S., including 93,341 Master technicians.
But there is only one Dan Fuller.
Fuller holds the most ASE certifications of any technician in the U.S., and for 30-plus years has been certified in all 48 areas ASE tests.
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“This isn’t unusual, but in recent years happens less frequently than before. At the moment, about 12 individuals hold all available certifications,” says Tony Molla, ASE’s vice president, communications. “Back when we had fewer tests, I seem to remember there being over 400 individuals that qualified at one point. That said, it’s quite an accomplishment and even more so now that we have nearly 50 areas of certification. It’s difficult to be able to find the time to keep up with so many requalifications, and Dan is to be congratulated for being among a very elite group within our industry.”
“I can’t actually remember a moment when I thought, ‘Hey, I should have all of the certifications.’ It was more of a natural thing,” Fuller says. While it might not have been a goal at the start, now it’s a matter of pride, career and showing others in the industry how important certification is and what it can do for you.
Fuller is a Master and ASE and GM World Class Technician at West Chevrolet in Woodbury, Conn. He also is an assistant professor and program coordinator at Gateway Community College in New Haven, Conn. The two positions help him stay up-to-date in many areas on which he tests.
“The people at my dealership and the people at this college have been so supportive of
me and everything I do,” he says. “I’m living my dream. I’m teaching and working and playing with cars. What could be better than that?”
But he didn’t have such a breadth of knowledge, and just like every other technician, had to start somewhere.
Learning from Mentors
When Fuller was a student at Technical Careers Institute in the early 1980s, instructor Linc Eisler really drove home the importance of being ASE certified. Because he admired his mentor so much, as soon as Fuller had the required two years of service time in, he took the first certification test.
“It was challenging, but it definitely was the thing to do,” he recalls. At that time, the early 1980s, there were eight automotive tests, and it took him a couple of years to earn certifications in all of those areas.
Fuller started working for General Motors as an instructor shortly thereafter, and those at the OEM really encouraged him to earn certifications in all 16 areas of automotive and truck repair.
“It took me by about five years in to earn all of the certifications that were available at that time, and this was back in the mid-80s,” Fuller explains. “As I started working in different parts of the trade for GM, I started working on trucks and buses. For example, I was working on alternative fuel vehicles when GM released them, and that’s when ASE came out with the alt fuel exam, so it was just a natural (thing) to take the exam when it came out.”
As he continued to teach through GM’s training centers, which he still does, Fuller modeled himself after other instructors who held several certifications. “Then at a certain point in time, I just said, ‘OK, whatever exams come out, if they’re related to me, I just need to take them,” he adds.
Even if the tests didn’t apply to him, he started to take them. “At a certain point, it’s a pride thing. I’ve got them all right now, a new test out,” and when they came out with the engine machining one, he was teaching engines, so he prepared for and took the exam.
This dedication is one of ASE’s proudest goals. “It’s why we do what we do. The real value and heart of the ASE certification program is the automotive professionals with the drive, commitment and dedication to go the extra mile to show their qualifications,” Molla notes. “Serving that kind of dedicated professional is what everyone here at ASE appreciates. It makes it all worthwhile.”
Employee Benefits
Undoubtedly, it’s a lot of work to study for and take the certification tests every year. But the payoff comes in higher pay and a better career. “Absolutely (my pay has improved by certifications). Honestly, I think my whole career has been better because of ASE,” Fuller says.
When he started out in his first dealership, O’Keeffe Cadillac in Westport, Conn., he received a raise when he became ASE certified. GM required ASE certification to become a Master and World Class technician.
“I never could’ve become a GM instructor or service engineer without ASE, and then I just got into the college two years ago, and Master ASE certification was an absolute requirement, even up there with a degree to become a faculty member,” he continues. “My salary absolutely has gone up because of ASE, and I don’t think my career could’ve taken this path without it. I’m sold.”
In the end, Fuller says it’s up to the individual what he or she makes of the certification, but it can open a door for them.
“I was working with a dealership last week, and they’re looking at bringing a new technician in,” Fuller states. “If you have two resumes in front of you, and one says ASE certified and the other doesn’t, who’s going to get hired and who’s going to get more money? It’s pretty clear-cut.”
While he does recognize that some people suggest that the exams aren’t a true reflection of someone’s ability to do the job, the voluntary process is the best and most accurate way to certify today’s technicians, auto body technicians and parts specialists.
“To some extent, that might be true. I do know some phenomenal technicians that just plain don’t test well,” Fuller says. “And they really, really struggle with getting through the certifications. Now the good news is those ASE prep programs or going to a prep class can help some of those guys. But I don’t think there’s a better way.”
Prepare and Test
Fuller is an instructor, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t take advantage of training opportunities himself. That, along with ASE preparation guides like Motor Age Training, are how he prepares for the certifications.
“I still love learning about this stuff, and it does change so rapidly. In the five years between recertification, a lot of stuff changes,” he notes. “No matter how good you are, nowadays you can’t fall behind, you have to keep going to training.”
In the early days of Fuller’s certification, he would take five, eight, 10 exams every six months so he wouldn’t get overwhelmed. In the early days, he couldn’t take more than four at the time. He had to make a special request when he had a number of them expiring to recertify.
“I’ve almost let some of them lapse. I did come close. I had to go away and I missed a couple of test dates one year, and I realized the tests were getting ready to expire,” he states. “Now I try to start recertifying a year early in case I fail it or I have to go away. It’s kind of a juggling thing now. Most guys would think I’m silly doing that, but now that I’ve got them all, I need to keep them up.”
ASE’s new computer-based testing has helped Fuller stay on top of his recertification. He enjoys the benefits of going online and choosing the dates that work best for him, adding that being in Connecticut helps, as there are testing locations within 12 miles of his home.
“It’s so easy, and I can schedule on my terms. I can pretty much do them all if I wanted to schedule them over the course of a few days. I think I’ll spread them out over a few years,” he says jokingly.
The other thing he likes is that every year, he’d have one test where he was on pins and needles, because he wasn’t sure if he made it, and you have to wait weeks. “The last time, I walked out the door and she handed me the printouts and I thought, ‘Hey, this is cool. I don’t have to stress out anymore.’”
He doesn’t let the fact that he doesn’t work on all of the areas stress him out, either.
“I work in a Chevrolet dealership so I mainly work on cars and light trucks. I’m not doing school buses any more. But I have the certifications and it just seems right to keep them up. I think it sets a good example to stay certified. I teach also, so working with the younger guys and girls, I think it sets a good example. It’s really cool to have a wall full of certificates, you’ve got to admit that.”
Imploring the Future
Fuller tries to convey that message and his attitude to his students, other technicians with whom he works and others in the industry who call him for help.
“A shop owner can easily encourage it, and many, many shops do. They’ll tie a technician’s pay or flat rate pay to the certifications they get, whether it’s ASE or the manufacturers or classes they take,” he states. “In the process, the studying the technician does, hopefully they learn something along the way just during the certification process itself, and they gain a sense of professionalism. I think it’s huge for a shop owner to encourage techs to get certified, because I’ve never seen a certified tech that didn’t seem to be professional. And I think that’s what a shop owner wants – they want professional technicians.”
Fuller is quick to add that everything he has earned in his career is because of instructors. He says they all encouraged professionalism and certification, and without that, he might never have certified, and certainly wouldn’t be at the top of his game now.
His Master certification is posted at the school, while his automotive certifications are displayed at the dealership. He jokes that someday his wife Dianne someday will let him build a room in his home and wallpaper with his certifications.
“I really am proud of them. I truly believe in ASE and the process,” Fuller says. “One of the problems is we don’t have the mandatory certification other trades do. To be certified and show it, make sure the public can see it, that’s one of the best things we can do.”
And that’s why, at some point you might run into Fuller at a testing center in Connecticut, continuing to recertify, staggering the dates of his tests.
Right now at this point, if I let any of them lapse, I’d be letting myself down,” he says. “It’s really fun. I’ve been in the business 30 years, but I only right now feel like I’m on top of my game. I still like playing with cars. I enjoy it. To me it’s a challenge. I love it when somebody calls me with something everyone else has given up on. If I can fix it, what better ego-trip is there than that?”
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