MECP C tifi ti W b t MECP C tifi ti W b t MECP Certification Webcast

MECP C
Certification
tifi ti
W
Webcast
b
t
Presented By:
Todd Ramsey
The Ramsey Consulting Group, Inc.
What is MECP?
• Mobile Electronics Certified Professional
• A Certification Program for 12v Industry
Installation Technicians and Sales Associates
• Began in 1991
• Acquired
q
byy CEA in 1995
MECP Webcast
MECP Certification Levels
• 4 Levels of MECP Certification
•
•
•
•
Basic Installation Technician
Advanced Installation Technician
Master Installation Technician
Mobile Product Specialist (MPS)
MECP Webcast
Technician Levels
Entry Level Technician Credential
No Experience Required
Intended as an Apprentice Level
Also a “Refresher” for those who haven’t tested in a while
Mid Level Technician Credential
1 year of Professional Experience Required
Intended as the Industry Professional Level
It’s not necessary to take the Basic level first if you have the
required experience.
Highest Level Technician Credential
3 years of Professional Experience Required
Intended as the Install Leadership/Expert Level
M
Must
have
h
already
l d taken
k and
d passed
d the
h Advanced
Ad
d level
l l
Expired Advanced or Master certs do not apply
MECP Webcast
Product Specialist Level
Product Specialist (Salesperson) Credential
No Experience Required
Intended as a differentiator from “general” electronics sales
people who may sell appliances, computers, or televisions
Mobile
Product
Specialist
An excellent assessment tool for retailers to gauge the overall
knowledge of their sales staff
MECP Webcast
MECP Facts
• Exam and Study
y Guide Details
• In 1999 Exam sections began to be revised
• Since 2001, many changes have been implemented
including all new study guides and exams
• In 2003 the Advanced level replaced “First Class”
• Since 2005 all exam delivery has changed to supervised,
computer-based
b d testing
• MECP testing is more accessible and convenient than it
h ever been!
has
b
!
MECP Webcast
So much has changed
• Anyone
y
remember this?
MECP Webcast
MECP Facts
• New Study Guides for Each Level
• Order online at www.MECP.com
• Or…call
Or call customer service at (866) 858858-1555
Basic - $30
Advanced - $50
Master - $70
Basic guide
also available in
Spanish
MECP Webcast
MPS - $30
Technician Study Guides
• Study Guides are not repetitive
• The next level of guide assumes you have read and understand the
previous level and then builds on that information
• Keeps the information more targeted toward the right level participant
B i
Basic
Ad
Advanced
d
MECP Webcast
M t
Master
MECP Exams
• Computer Based, Supervised Exams
• Test at one of over 1000 Prometric test centers
• Or…test at an authorized school
• Or…test
Or test with a Rep Proctor
• Or…test at a Public Library
• Visit www.MECP.com/exams for details
Basic - $
$85
Basic exam
also available in
Spanish
Advanced - $
$105
Master - $
$125
MECP Webcast
MPS - $
$85
MECP Facts
• Exam Questions and Content
•
•
•
•
Psychometrically accurate questions
Relevant topics for today’s
today s installation trade
Regularly updated and refined
Test writers are respected industry experts
MECP Webcast
Technician Exams
Entry Level Technician Credential
150 Questions, 3 hour time limit
Covers the basics of Electrical, Shop Safety, and introductory
Audio, Security, Wireless Communication, and Navigation
Mid Level Technician Credential
200 Questions, 3 hour time limit
Five Topic Areas – Electrical, Installation Knowledge, Mobile
Audio/Video, Security/RS, and In-Vehicle Information Systems
Highest Level Technician Credential
200 Questions, 3 hour time limit, on-screen calculator provided
Intended as the Install Leadership/Expert Level
p Areas - Electrical, Installation Knowledge,
g Mobile
Six Topic
Audio/Video, Security/RS, In-Vehicle Information Systems and
an extensive troubleshooting section
MECP Webcast
Product Specialist Exams
Product Specialist (Salesperson) Credential
150 Questions
Questions, 3 hour time limit
Three exam sections include:
•General Product Knowledge (terminology, application, what
Mobile
Product
Specialist
p
specifications mean
mean, etc
etc.))
•Audio/Video system applications (including terminology, basic
system design, basic OEM upgrades, etc.)
•Security/RS/Wireless Communications applications (including
terminology, components, and applications)
MECP Webcast
MECP Exams
• How do you sign up?
• Visit www.MECP.com/exams
• Choose “Register for the Exam or Locate a
Test Site” for a Prometric Center
• Alternatively check out “How
How and Where to
Take MECP Exams” for other options
MECP Webcast
Benefits for Retailers
• Elevate Professionalism in Your Shop
• Customers pay more for professional credentials
• Technicians
T h i i
WILL actually
t ll learn
l
new things
thi
pursuing
i
MECP certification
• It’s not like cars are the same today as they were 10
years ago….are you keeping up?
• What – if any – measure of overall technician
knowledge do you currently have in your
shops?
h
?
MECP Webcast
Benefits for Retailers
• Window Signage and Certificates
Frank Smith
MECP Webcast
MECP Masters in the USA
Whatt kind
Wh
ki d
of benefit
would that
be to a
retailer?
MECP Webcast
Benefits for Technicians
• Take your career to the next level
• Without a recognized credential, what makes you different
than all the other “experts”?
p
• Command the best possible pay and security of a job
• Maintain or increase labor rates in a tough market
• Demonstrate your leadership capability
• The
Th iindustry
d t needs
d lleaders
d
now more th
than ever!!
MECP Webcast
MECP Leadership
• Behind the Scenes
• MECP Staff at CEA
• MECP Consultant
• MECP Content Developers
• MECP Committee
• CEA Mobile Division Board
MECP Webcast
The Nuts and Bolts of MECP
• All general e
e-mail
mail inquiries go to
mecp@mecp.com
• This is monitored constantly and answered
within
ithi one business
b i
day,
d
usually
ll the
th same
business day.
MECP Webcast
The Nuts and Bolts of MECP
• The MECP.com
MECP com website
• Updated
U d t d on a continuous
ti
basis
b i and
d
contains virtually all the information you
need
d to
t kick
ki k start
t t your path
th tto allll llevels
l off
MECP certification
Big FAQ Page
Links Page (lots of links!!)
“How To” Articles
MECP e-News Archives
Master Interviews
Download Forms and Documents
MECP Webcast
The Nuts and Bolts of MECP
• All orders and customer service
(transaction) related inquiries go to
the CEA Customer Service center
• customerservice@ce.org
• Toll Free (866) 858858-1555
MECP Webcast
The Nuts and Bolts of MECP
• Prometric is the Test Service Provider
• Test participants enter their own information in a
“Candidate
Candidate Profile”
Profile with Prometric
Then Prometric:
• Delivers all MECP exams
• Collects payment of credit card fees
• Captures all test result data for download to MECP Database
• Psychometric question evaluations
MECP Webcast
The Nuts and Bolts of MECP
• Integral 7 Database
• Houses all MECP Records
(past and present)
• Receives daily D/L from Prometric
• Manages participant’s credential
• Triggers
Ti
certificate
tifi t ffulfillment
lfill
t
• Maintains a link to the participant via Event Based E-mail
(EBE) messages
• Database information is at the MECP FAQ webpage
• http://www.mecp.com/FAQ.asp
MECP Webcast
The Nuts and Bolts of MECP
Flow of MECP Exam Information and Results
MECP Exam Development
•Honorary MECP Masters
•Industry Experts and Trainers
•Technical Support Staff
•Engineering and Product Development Staff
Prometric CBT
Exam Delivery
Prometric IBT
Exam Delivery
(Prometric Test Centers)
(Schools, Library, Reps)
Integral 7 Database
(MECP Records)
Consumer
Candidate
MECP Webcast
Employer
Integral 7 Database
• How do you access the database?
• Go
G tto https://i7lp.integral7.com/cea
htt
//i7l i t
l7
/
•
This is already in a confirmation e-mail sent to newly certified people
• Or the FAQ page at MECP.com
• Or the Exams page at MECP.com
MECP Webcast
Time for Your Questions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Exams
Prerequisites
R
Recertifying
tif i
Copies of Certificates
Getting Patches
Retailer Window & Counter Signage
Whatever is on your mind
MECP Webcast