DIAMOND BAR, Calif. — The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has added a Self-Adhesive Products Specialist Exam to its battery of installer certification tests.
The new SEMA test, known as Z6, will measure real-world knowledge and skills of industry professionals who install self-adhesive products on passenger cars and light-duty trucks. The exam covers a range of product categories, including graphics, pinstriping, window film, body-side moldings, rocker panel moldings, vinyl wraps, body cladding, dash overlays, deflectors, chrome portal covers, fender flares, paint protection film and door handle and mirror covers.
The other exams in the SEMA Installer Certification Program— Z1 for electric sunroofs, Z2 for truck accessories and body exterior components, Z3 for leather interiors, Z4 for roof treatments and Z5 for custom wheels and tires—assess competency and knowledge regarding the installation of various specialty auto products.
The Z6 test will be launched this fall. It will be administered, along with the Z1 thru Z5 exams, on Thursday, Nov. 13, at more than 700 testing locations in the U.S. and Canada. Registration for the SEMA tests closes on September 22.
SEMA worked with ASE, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, to develop all six tests. For its newest test, the Z6, the association relied upon a cross-section of industry experts, including manufacturers, warehouse distributors and installers, to formulate the test.
The certification program is a voluntary process, which recognizes individual achievement on a national level and enhances the stature of the industry. Certification also serves as an impartial, third-party endorsement of an installer’s knowledge and expertise, thereby helping to boost consumer confidence and demonstrate a company’s commitment to quality, excellence and customer satisfaction.
SEMA has granted certification credentials since 2001 to specialists who meet the work experience requirements and successfully complete written exams. To earn SEMA’s Self-Adhesive Products Specialist designation, an installer must have at least two years of hands-on experience and must also pass the written exam. All SEMA credentials are valid for five years, and certified professionals receive a certificate suitable for framing, a wallet card and sleeve insignia.
“The market for self-adhesive products is steadily growing,” said Ellen McKoy, executive director of SEWA, the Specialty Equipment Warranty Alliance, a SEMA subsidiary. McKoy, who administers the SEMA certification program, said, “A credentialing program for installers of these products will likely enhance that growth and further elevate the level of professionalism within this market segment. The program also opens the door to cross-marketing opportunities within other market segments where many companies specialize in fleet graphics, vehicle wraps and window tinting.”
To register for any of the SEMA exams or for more information about the SEMA Installer Certification Program, go to www.sema.org/certification, or call 909/396-0289, ext. 158.
