just now starting mecp

[zmanlivinloud]

hey everyone i am fixing to be 18 , been working with car audio since i was 5 and i am fixing to get the 1st level(im guessing bronze)study guide and planning to make a career out of automotive electronics and i was trying to get a litle research of the starting wage of a mecp certified installer?
thanks
zach

[autostartman]

8.00 dollars an hour..

[CincyR/T]

Wow it hasn't gone up much....I was making$7.75/ hour when I started in 98 and was MECP certified.

[chrisst@webtv.net]

My basic installers certified through MECp start at 10.60, First class at a buck more.

[zmanlivinloud]

thanks

[Todd G Crowther]

Allen you continue to have such a positive attitude. If you are so bitter why do you still have anything to do with the industry.

I place students everyday with car audio shops. The average rate is 10.50/ hr and when you get your test results back and you have passed most shops give you a minimum of $1.00/hr raise on the spot and hang your certificate up so it is the first thing a customer sees.

[autostartman]

Originally posted by Todd Crowther.:
Allen you continue to have such a positive attitude. If you are so bitter why do you still have anything to do with the industry.

I place students everyday with car audio shops. The average rate is 10.50/ hr and when you get your test results back and you have passed most shops give you a minimum of $1.00/hr raise on the spot and hang your certificate up so it is the first thing a customer sees. Have you been to Alaska? How can you say what somehting is when you haven't been to the area I am referring?

The MECP certification will not get you any more money here in Fairbanks. It is not highly regarded. Maybe cause MECP has not focused any effort for our state....

Most installers and shops in town are being urged to get an ASE certification. The ASE is Nationally recognized by everybody. MECP is only recognized by the people in the industry. The ASE certification will give you instant credibility with the customer. Believe me when I say I am ASE certified they listen . When I say I am MECP certified they go "what?".

I feel a genralized testing is a good thing. But, If all your saying is I get a buck extra in my pay, so I can make 11.00 an hour. WOW! GREAT! Where do I sign up!

Hell I can get damn near 20.00 an hour without the certification. WHY? Cause I have experience. I have built a solid reputation for my work. I don't need a certification program to get me a job. Thanks but, No thanks. I will find one myself. My experience will get me my next job. Not your certification... graemlins/thumb.gif

[Todd G Crowther]

Allen,

Of course there can be no price put on you reputation or your experience. However if you have neither you have to start somewhere.

Today's cars are not the same as you worked on when you first got starte 20 years ago.
They are much harder to work on, especialy remote starters. But you allready know that being from fairbanks.

I think you and many others would be surprised at the number of shop owners that want only MECP installers if they are new to the industry. Every day I take calls from shop owners who are placing a value not only on MECP but also on education.

You are correct that there are flaws with the way in wich MECP has gotten the word about themself out to the public. However there is a lot more money behind ASE than there is MECP. Many of the auto manufacturers not only support ASE but even add it to there advertising budget in an effort to promote it.

I know that many of the aftermarket company's support MECP. They even place there logo on there boxes and sometimes in there advertisiong lit. But when was the last time you saw a commercial from an aftermarket stereo company on TV never mind pushing MECP.

Maybe, we as retailers should help out as well by insisting that to get a job at there shop they have either got 5 - 7 years experience or an MECP cert. Sort of like having a college degree or years of experience that will be accepted instead of the degree.

[autostartman]

[QUOToday's cars are not the same as you worked on when you first got starte 20 years ago.
They are much harder to work on, especialy remote starters. But you allready know that being from fairbanks.
TE] [/QUOTE]

I would definatly agree with this statement..

I also agree with the testing. Somewhat. My old boss used the MECP as a test. He used it to test people's motivation for being in this industry. If they wanted to work in this field and took it seriously they would study and pass the test. Worked well. Weeded out the losers.

You would be surprised at how many so called "installer" failed this test. Simply amazing. So I guess I should say it helped weed out the flakes...

Thats not all bad... :D