Alarm Certification
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=53373
Printed Date: April 20, 2024 at 7:15 AM
Topic: Alarm Certification
Posted By: Powermyster
Subject: Alarm Certification
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 7:58 AM
Hi,
First let me start by saying fair play to every one that contributes to this site its a very helpful site and very informative.
I'm just wondering about a couple of things. I have been working on cars since i was bout 16. and i've always done my own work including fitting alarms, car audio, engine rebuilds. I'm from Ireland and i've been looking so see if there is a qualification or training course for fitting alarms. I can't seem to find any over here.
Also i see the recommended reading books there and noticed the MCEP Course how would you rate this and is there any other book that you would recommend for someone of 'Competant DIY' status.
Thanks
Replies:
Posted By: thepencil
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 10:23 AM
Setting yourself to a good foundation is very important and MCEP book is a good start. So, learned and read as much as you can about electronic stuff that can go into a car. Then practice on your friends and family car. There is nothing like practicing what you learned on a real car. ------------- Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. 
Posted By: Powermyster
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 10:40 AM
I can't do the exam over here i checked with the local prometric centre.
i was looking to get that book amazon don't have it
do you have any suggestions
Posted By: thepencil
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 10:58 AM
I know this school here will have MCEP books. I bought books from them before.------------- Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.
Posted By: bretbowman
Date Posted: April 09, 2005 at 4:39 AM
Remember that certifications are just a piece of paper. Your work in the "real world" since you were 16 is going to be of much more value than reading a book or holding a certificate. These are just the facts of life. I've been working in the IT field for over eight years and though I've passed a couple certification test, don't really hold any significant certifications of any kind. I do have plans to pursue something like this in due time, but I hold this priority WHERE IT IS. Don't let pursuit of a certificate (piece of paper) get in the way of continuing to get real world experience. Nothing will teach like experience. Many people will also vouche for this. My $ .02 worth. ------------- 2002 Toyota Sequoia Limited 2WD (Clifford G5 Avantguard 5 w/ 2 SmartWindows modules) - IT Engineer - NRA Life Member - LDS Return Missionary - Married for time AND ETERNITY - Eternally sealed family
Posted By: Powermyster
Date Posted: April 09, 2005 at 5:48 AM
Yeah i'm in IT aswell.
I know what your saying just thought that i would try get something..
As for Real world Experience Your spot on there i have come across situations that no classroom or book prepares you for think some of the guys here would agree.
Cheers for the input folks
Posted By: profuse007
Date Posted: April 09, 2005 at 12:27 PM
if youre not certified, then have a resume or portfolio to back ur competent up.
ireland might have a diff certification than the US and canada do.
-------------
Houston,TX
"The two most common elements in the universe are H+ and stupidity" (Ellison).
Posted By: auex
Date Posted: April 09, 2005 at 3:58 PM
Hey jackasses, it is MECP not MCEP. I mean how many times are you guys gonna transfer the same error in one post.
-------------
Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.
I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.
Posted By: Powermyster
Date Posted: April 09, 2005 at 6:07 PM
i've been searching for a course here and there is none. i know two alarm guys and both have no certification
i actually did find one basic course but it only gives you a certification f attendance and its €200 for 6 hours no thanks not for something without a cert from some kind of official body.
Posted By: bretbowman
Date Posted: April 09, 2005 at 10:42 PM
bobk]N wrote:
cert= low pay Cert= high pay. Experance sometine is the best teacher and with a cert in your field you will make more money then the person that has no cert and works right beside you and that may know more then you.
Sure isn't the case where I work. Most of our IT engineers with mass certs are straight out of college and our lowest paid here.
Posted By: auex
Date Posted: April 09, 2005 at 11:44 PM
Incase anyone takes my comment the wrong way, insert sarcasm.
Also certification means nothing without the experience to back it up. Certification may get you a raise at the box stores (BB and CC) but at an alarm/stereo shop they don't care about cert's unless you can back them up. If you come out of a school and are certified, in some cases first class without any experience, then it means nothing and is nothing but a piece of paper. In my experience a shop won't neccesarily hire someone who is certified over some one who is not, they will hire the person that can do the job.
bretbowman wrote:
bobk]N wrote:
cert= low pay Cert= high pay. Experance sometine is the best teacher and with a cert in your field you will make more money then the person that has no cert and works right beside you and that may know more then you.
Sure isn't the case where I work. Most of our IT engineers with mass certs are straight out of college and our lowest paid here.
Well in this industry (12V) you both are technically wrong, pay wise. It is the person that can do the job faster that will make the most money. Unfortunately this will sometimes reduce quality. Certification means nothing in this situation. I don't really feel like debating box stores vs. stereo/alarm shops at the moment but the better installers are usually at the place that pays commission as they have the potential to make more money. ------------- Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.
I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.
Posted By: bretbowman
Date Posted: April 11, 2005 at 1:13 AM
auex]I wrote:
case anyone takes my comment the wrong way, insert sarcasm.
Also certification means nothing without the experience to back it up. Certification may get you a raise at the box stores (BB and CC) but at an alarm/stereo shop they don't care about cert's unless you can back them up. If you come out of a school and are certified, in some cases first class without any experience, then it means nothing and is nothing but a piece of paper. In my experience a shop won't neccesarily hire someone who is certified over some one who is not, they will hire the person that can do the job.
bretbowman wrote:
bobk]N wrote:
cert= low pay Cert= high pay. Experance sometine is the best teacher and with a cert in your field you will make more money then the person that has no cert and works right beside you and that may know more then you.
Sure isn't the case where I work. Most of our IT engineers with mass certs are straight out of college and our lowest paid here.
Well in this industry (12V) you both are technically wrong, pay wise. It is the person that can do the job faster that will make the most money. Unfortunately this will sometimes reduce quality. Certification means nothing in this situation. I don't really feel like debating box stores vs. stereo/alarm shops at the moment but the better installers are usually at the place that pays commission as they have the potential to make more money.
I'm just glad that the IT industry pays more than the auto security industry does. Though I do enjoy installing car stereos and remote start alarms, I'm grateful that my career has led me to work in a field that provides more 'bread' for my family. I hope that those of you that do good work and put the quality and pride in your work get paid better. It's only just.
Posted By: thepencil
Date Posted: April 11, 2005 at 10:18 AM
Getting yourself in the circle is the most important. Certification is one of way. It probably means nothing once you are in, so it's a good idea to get yourself the MPEC or some sort so that you can put a foot in the door to get yourself the JOB. Once in, you decide how you get paid. If you are there for a job. You pace your work. While some other that I know will work at box store on the weekend and make a million installs in an hour. For some of us here that has to control our destiny, we more or like pick up the mistake of the pacer and the speeder of these install to provide gas for the yacht and bread for our family. ------------- Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.
Posted By: Powermyster
Date Posted: April 11, 2005 at 10:30 AM
I can't find the MECP exam in Ireland Looks like i'm out of luck there anyway. probably get the book even so
Posted By: joebobcletusjr
Date Posted: April 11, 2005 at 4:42 PM
bretbowman wrote:
Remember that certifications are just a piece of paper. Your work in the "real world" since you were 16 is going to be of much more value than reading a book or holding a certificate. These are just the facts of life. I've been working in the IT field for over eight years and though I've passed a couple certification test, don't really hold any significant certifications of any kind. I do have plans to pursue something like this in due time, but I hold this priority WHERE IT IS. Don't let pursuit of a certificate (piece of paper) get in the way of continuing to get real world experience. Nothing will teach like experience. Many people will also vouche for this. My $ .02 worth.
I agree, and also have a tiny bit to add: take extreme pride in your work try to cover each and every possible detail, and most important take step by step pictures of these details to showcase them, I still look back at old installs and reminisce over how sweet it looked and sounded when it was all finished. A picture is worth a thousand... MECP Certifications. Sure you may get paid more with a Cert. but that is because there are only a few ways to prove yourself, paper, pictures, and performance; it takes longer to get recognized for your performance, and a piece of paper shows that you can read a text book and apply it to a test, but pictures will show them that you are capable of doing creative new installs, or just the basics. ------------- eh? what did you just say?
Posted By: Powermyster
Date Posted: April 11, 2005 at 4:55 PM
good idea man
Thanks
Posted By: nava94
Date Posted: April 11, 2005 at 8:28 PM
ok people all at once M E C P! good. on hands experience is what everyone should try to get. the books only give you so much but dealing with a specific car and problem your not going to find in any books.
Posted By: bretbowman
Date Posted: April 11, 2005 at 10:45 PM
You guys are awesome! I love it here!
Posted By: hitec
Date Posted: April 12, 2005 at 10:50 PM
For me certification is the thing to believe !
Posted By: auex
Date Posted: April 12, 2005 at 11:40 PM
Well I do agree that certification is a good thing and I do recommend it. But just realize it isn't the only thing, or most important.
-------------
Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.
I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.
Posted By: gus1
Date Posted: April 13, 2005 at 4:57 PM
I will also reccomend it.... but it is good to spend at least a couple years in the field first. From what I noticed, MECP dosen't cover things like remote start well enough (A must in this country..... you can make almost 50% of your years labour in 3 months during starter season if you hustle).
Remember, it is a piece of paper.... but it is also what you do with it. Don't think you know everything because you have that piece of paper.... you don't. Nobody does. That's why you learn every day. It may be benificial to have the certificate to say you should know the book fundamentals, but you will learn faster under a few hundred dashes... especially in a busy shop that has a couple industry vets (10+ years of experience). The old guys will know a lot of good tips and shortcuts.
Gus
PS: I don't have my MECP, probably will never even bother with it.... 10 years of experience coupled with a degree in electronics is working quite nicely
-------------
Wherever I go, that is where I end up......
Posted By: bretbowman
Date Posted: April 13, 2005 at 9:34 PM
Obviously BOTH certs and experience are good. The bottom line is if you only have ONE or the OTHER. Experience is MUCH, MUCH more valuable than certifications!
Posted By: OhioMike1101
Date Posted: April 16, 2005 at 8:40 PM
i would much rather hire a seasoned and experienced installer at a couple bucks/hr higher than a certified newbie that I have to walk through installs and teach all the basics, tips, tricks, etc....
I do not have the patience to train someone from start. To me, the MECP is just theory and you can have a MECP cert and not even know how to install a radio. I have seen this before. Guy had cert and his first 3 cars, couldn't figure out how to get the factory radio out of the car. On a 1997 cavalier, he broke the dash piece.
Then try a mid nineties Intrepid.... He decided to take the entire 1 piece lower dash off the car for an alarm install. 9 hours later, he was finished with a basic alarm install (was his 4th alarm install) Fastest basic alarm was about 6 hours. Only got to see him do about 6 of them b4 he quit.
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