The Automotive Technician Accreditation, launched last week, hopes to raise standards of car servicing and repair, improve consumer confidence in the sector and raise the professional status of skilled workers.
Governed by the Institute of the Motor Industry, ATA has the backing of manufacturers, dealer groups, the SMMT and RMI.
IMI chief executive Sarah Sillars said: “This is a landmark day for the industry, the ATA brand will act as a national badge to support all brands.”
The industry aims to promote the ATA brand as a sign of competence that will act as a signpost for consumers for good service in the way the Corgi brand is used in the plumbing and gas industry.
Technicians can become accredited through manufacturer led schemes or through independent assessment centres across the UK.
Accreditation is valid for five years and costs £50 for an individual to register, the recommended fee for the ATA assessment is £195 — it normally takes a day for candidates to complete the tests.
ATA is voluntary but legislation to back-up the scheme may follow in the future — an arbitration process is currently in place to handle any complaints.
The IMI said it hoped 50 per cent of all businesses working in vehicle servicing and repair would be involved in ATA within the next five years.
The scheme may also be expanded to cover accreditation for showroom, parts, fast-fit and service reception staff.
The RMI welcomed the ATA scheme but called for the completion of a motor industry apprenticeship to become a necessary requirement of the assessment system.
Stephen Ramsay, managing director of the RMI's training arm Remit. said: “The formal accreditation of technicians puts the retail motor sector on the road to raising the standard of the profession, but as an industry we must go further and make apprenticeship training compulsory for those entering the industry.”
“Now that we have technician accreditation in place for those already working in the sector,” added Ramsay, “the next logical step is to make sure that everyone that enters our industry goes through a formal apprenticeship.”
Remit's Centre for Technical Excellence in Croydon has been approved as one of the ATA assessment centres appointed by the IMI.