In a number of states and localities, technician training programs are able to meet ASE standards for certification only by establishing an articulation effort between secondary and post-secondary programs. NATEF Trustee action, as well as language in the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act, encourages articulation between programs at the secondary and post-secondary levels.

Articulation agreements encourage, but cannot require, graduates of secondary programs to go on to post-secondary education. Financial and social considerations suggest that many, perhaps most, graduates must seek employment upon graduation from high school.

Articulation agreements for Automobile, Collision Repair & Refinish, and Medium/Heavy Truck technician training programs may involve two or more training centers at secondary and post-secondary levels or two programs at the secondary level. However, when programs articulate the following conditions must be met:

1. The minimum ASE specialty areas required in Automobile, Collision Repair & Refinish, and Medium/Heavy Truck technician training programs must be included:

Automobile: Brakes, Electrical/Electronic Systems, Engine Performance, and Suspension & Steering.

Medium/Heavy Truck: Diesel Engines, Suspension & Steering, Brakes, Electrical/Electronic Systems, and Preventive Maintenance Inspection.

Collision Repair & Refinish: Structural Analysis & Damage Repair plus at least two of the following areas:

Non-Structural Analysis & Damage Repair
Mechanical & Electrical Components
Plastics & Adhesives
Painting & Refinishing

(Note: A program may be certified in Painting & Refinishing only and would not be required to have an articulation agreement.)

2. Automobile programs must have a minimum of two required specialty areas to articulate with another program for ASE certification purposes. It is strongly encouraged that programs certify in the area of Electrical/Electronic Systems. Beginning in September 2004, Electrical/Electronics will be required as one of the two specialty areas of instruction for programs that articulate.

3. Medium/Heavy Truck programs must have a minimum of two required specialty areas to articulate with another program for ASE certification purposes.

4. Collision Repair & Refinish programs must have Structural Analysis & Damage Repair and one of the four optional program areas to articulate with another program for ASE certification purposes.

** IN EVERY CASE A SIGNED COPY OF THE ARTICULATION AGREEMENT MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THE SELF-EVALUATION MATERIALS. **

5. The articulation agreement must be in writing and approved by the administration of each institution. The agreement shall:

a. List the areas of instruction to be offered by each training center.

b. Stipulate how credit will be granted for successful completion of the instructional areas at each institution. This should also include the criteria for evaluating successful completion.

c. Describe procedures for applying for credit at the post-secondary level for instruction received at the secondary level.

6. WHEN TWO OR MORE CENTERS ARE TO BE EVALUATED AT THE SAME TIME

The procedures for submitting the self-evaluation materials and on-site team evaluation application are as follows:

a. Each training center in an articulation agreement shall conduct a self-evaluation for the specialty areas at their training center. The center requesting the largest number of specialty areas to be certified shall be designated the lead center. If the participating centers are requesting the same number of areas certified, they will select one center as the lead center. The lead center will be responsible for submitting all self-evaluation materials including a cover letter and a signed copy of the articulation agreement.

b. When two or more centers under an articulation agreement are being evaluated at the same time they shall agree upon the selection of the on-site evaluation team members.

c. The NATEF office must be informed of the number of training centers and specialty areas being evaluated. The number of centers and areas being evaluated may require additional members or additional days to complete the evaluation.

d. The division of the local costs involved for the on-site evaluation is to be explained and submitted with the Application for On-Site Evaluation.

e. The course of study for the articulated centers requesting certification shall be sent by the lead center to the Evaluation Team Leader assigned by NATEF.

7. WHEN ONE CENTER IS ALREADY CERTIFIED

The procedures for submitting the self-evaluation materials and on-site team evaluation application are as follows:

a. When a training center is entering into an articulation agreement with a center that is currently certified, the center that is not certified will submit the self-evaluation materials along with a signed copy of the articulation agreement. The non-certified center will follow through with the total certification process.

b. The on-site evaluation team members will only evaluate the materials at the training center requesting certification.

c. The training center that is already certified will NOT be required to be evaluated until they are due to recertify their training program.

8. Articulated training centers may certify in one or more of the same specialty areas as long as they meet the minimum required areas jointly. For example, one automotive training center (Center A) may be certified in four or more areas, including the minimum required areas. The articulated automotive training center (Center B) may offer only two of the required areas. Center B would be eligible for certification only after articulating with Center A.

9. Each training center in an articulation agreement shall provide their graduates with a certificate identifying successful completion of instructional areas meeting ASE standards.

10. Certification shall be awarded for each articulated program. Each secondary and post-secondary program shall receive a plaque including specialty area plates only for instructional areas certified in their training center.

11. The certified plaque shall indicate the name of the training center and will include "articulated with ____________ training center". This will clearly indicate that a training center may be certified in fewer than the required areas only when it articulates with another training center.