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Q. Does specializing in one brand of diagnostic tool have any negative effects on our students by making them too narrow and focused on just one thing in a very large industry with many diagnostic platforms including aftermarket and manufacture specific?

A. The goal is to create automotive diagnostic experts, acquiring these expert skills from the recognized leader of diagnostic equipment is more beneficial than broad generic skills on a handful of product offerings.

Q. Does Snap-on do a detailed review of our curriculum or is submitting course titles and the fact the program is ASE/NATEF/AYES certified enough proof of a rigorous drivability curriculum?

A. Snap-on is willing to review your curriculum for the purpose of becoming familiar with the course material and we are obviously interested in how our equipment is utilized in that course. We strongly feel that we are establishing a partnership with not only the school, but also the students and your automotive community. In addition we feel that you are the experts in establishing a curriculum for your students. Therefore we do not have any plans at this time to conduct detailed reviews. It can be considered that the ultimate proof of a schools success at teaching the material is in how well the students are prepared for taking the certification exam.

Q. Who handles the online certification test? Is this something the school has to deal with maintaining and entering students. information or is this entire process handled by Snap-on?

A. Snap-on manages this operation.

Q. Does Snap-on provide the curriculum for the certification presentations or do we have to produce this curriculum? Is there any flexibility to change or modify this curriculum to fit our needs?

A. Snap-on will supply electronic copies of our instructor manuals that lead to the certification exam. These manuals should be used as a baseline for any certification class. Schools are free to add any additional material that they would feel appropriate or advantageous to the course, however keep in mind that the exam is standardized.

Q. How many diagnostic platforms (ETHOS, SOLUS PRO, VANTAGE PRO, MODIS, VERUS) do we have to support? Can we pick just one or do we have to do all four?

A. To be a recognized certification center full support is the most advantageous.

Q. Do all of our instructors have to be Snap-on certified or just the one / two that will be doing the specific training?

A. Since there is a common vehicle diagnostic thread that runs through most automotive topics, it would be preferable to have all associated instructors become Snap-on Certified. However it may be understandable that certification training may not be practical or obtainable to all of the instructors.

Q. Do we have to buy the European software for the tools or is the Asian & Domestic software adequate?

A. It is felt that the current population of European vehicles will likely increase in the future. Supplying the students with competence in this area would be a benefit for those who may ultimately find careers in facilities that would service European vehicles.

Q. Do we need a full set of accessories (OBD I adapters, pressure transducers, ignition adapters, flexible analyzers, etc.) for each diagnostic tool or just a set or two available for use with all the diagnostic tools?

A. The quantity and mix of accessories should be appropriate with the needs and requirements of the class. There is an obvious advantage of having adequate materials to allow the students enough hands on experience to become knowable and comfortable.

Q. Is there an increased discount from Snap-on when we go to purchase this equipment for becoming a partner in the Snap-on Certification Program? How does this compare to the regular educational discount? Does this continue for all the needed software updates?

A. Due to the varying participation levels in the Snap-on Certification Program at different levels additional discounts are taken in on a case by case basis.

Q. Do we need to mandate (implement in our curriculum) that our students buy a specific diagnostic tool (i.e. Ethos) for a specific course or as a program requirement?

A. It is not required but it is recommended that it is an option that should be made available to them. Many technicians today in fact own their diagnostic tools.

Q. How do our instructors get certified initially? How much does this cost, where does this happen?

A. Initial training is typically done regionally and inexpensive, training also co-insides with AYES and NATEF requirements.

Q. How often do our instructors have to be retrained / recertified? How much does this cost? Where does this happen? Is there a simplified type of update training, or do they have to go through a full course again?

A. Recertification is dependent on the scope of the new features that are added to a product. For example if vehicle coverage was expanded, it is not anticipated that recertification would be necessary. However if significant new capabilities were added then we would determine how best to convey this information and the best method of validating product knowledge. That being said, we can envision that retaking the certification test(s) sometime in the future would be a good method of measuring product knowledge.

Q. How much do we have to charge our students or area technicians for this training? Who sets this price? What is Snap-on.s take? If we are a private school, trying to make a profit is there a limit on the price we can charge?

A. Snap-on is not looking to profit from the sale of the Snap-on Certification. We want to support present and future students and technicians the best way possible by utilizing a partnership with you.

Q. What is our responsibility for training technicians in the community? How do they purchase training? Are the local Snap-on dealers involved?

A. Marketing and recruitment is a joint responsibility that includes involving the Snap-on franchisees in your area.

Q. Is this certification something local employers will recognize? How is Snap-on marketing this certification program to employers around the US?

A. Snap-on being an innovation leader in the industry employers will recognize the quality and value of the information. Marketing of the certification program will always be under review and continue to find ways to grow.

Q. What is the validity of the online certification test? Since it is not proctored from secure computers what keeps one student from taking the test for another student? Is there any practical (hands-on) part to the certification test that is graded and where points are awarded?

A. Due to the online nature of the certification exam(s), there is not currently a method for preventing one person from taking another.s test. However the people who actually struggled through one of the exams may not be very comfortable in taking someone else.s test. By doing so, the significance of their accomplishment may be minimized. The tests are randomly generated therefore not only the question selection is a mystery but also the order of the questions.

Having a practical (hands-on) component to the final certification process is an interesting proposal. But due to the on-line nature of the certification exam, and the desire to have a standardized method of measuring product knowledge having another component to go along with the exam should be considered the rare exception to the rule.

Q. How many retakes does a student / technician get to pass the test? Is there a cost for the retake? Do they have to take the class again before the retake? Do they have to pay for the class again? Is there a minimum amount of time that has to pass before they can retake either the class or test?

A. There is a minimal cost involved in taking an online test. This cost includes not only the online exam hosting but also the labor (time) involved in setting up each test that is offered. That being said, we have not felt the need to establish a limit to the number of tests that will be offered, however we believe that two retests should be the maximum.

After that a recommendation for retaking the course is made. Snap-on Certification has always intended to be a challenge to obtain. The Certification is to designate the experts in product knowledge. Entry into the certification course is intended for those who already have a high level of product knowledge. We have also recommended that after the certification course is taken, the student spend some quality time on their own with the product reviewing what they have learned in the course prior to taking the exam.