Apple Updates Service Tech Training and Certification Program

[MacRumors]

Apple has updated its Apple Certified Macintosh Technician (ACMT) Certification, making it easier for individuals to get their initial certifications and for existing techs to keep theirs without yearly recertification exams.

The company is making its AppleCare technician certifications permanent as of June 23rd, making it so technicians will not need to go through a yearly recertification process. Additionally, exams of all kinds will be performed online rather than in a testing center.

However, individual product qualifications -- certifications to repair more complicated products like the iMac -- will still need to be performed.

Changes include the following:

No more ACMT recertifications: All service technicians with existing ACMT certifications as of June 23 will be granted a new ACMT certification that eliminates yearly recertification exams. This new certification will allow the same ordering of service parts as the preceding ACMT certification and will not expire.

New exam resources: The following Apple service exams will be available solely from a new online resource:

- 9L0-010 - Apple Macintosh Service Certification Exam
- 9L0-064 - OS X v10.8 Mountain Lion Troubleshooting Exam
- 9L0-E04 - iOS Qualification Exam

Notes:

- All other AppleCare online exams are not affected by this change. You will still access other exams at ibt.prometric.com/apple.
- Details on the new exam resource will be provided in other communications.

No more testing centers: All AppleCare Service exams will be available online. You will be able to take these exams without the need to travel to a testing center.

No more proctored exams: Initial ACMT certification exams will no longer require exam proctors for exams taken at training centers.

Apple has posted a knowledge base article outlining the program, and has also provided an email address for technicians to ask further questions.

It's not clear if the changes are related to a rumored update to Apple's AppleCare support program, or simply an unrelated streamlining of the technician certification process.

Article Link: Apple Updates Service Tech Training and Certification Program

 

[RayK]

Very exciting, bring on the new "per-item" cert! Only $20 a test/product!

 

[charlieegan3]

Can anyone do these or are they for existing Apple employees only?

 

[TouchMint.com]

Can anyone do these or are they for existing Apple employees only?

Would like to know too.

 

[boomer0001]

My ACMT expires on June 12th...there goes another $100 to recert for the last time

 

[macs4nw]

For better or worse, a lot of changes happening lately. No one can honestly say there's stagnation at APPLE.

 

[der.be]

Can anyone do these or are they for existing Apple employees only?

everybody can become an ACMT. i don't think apple employees have those certifications too, it's for authorized service providers.

 

[macs4nw]

.....i don't think apple employees have those certifications too, it's for authorized service providers.

I have been told there are different levels of genius, within the store; you can check their name tags for their qualifications. Some of them have those ACMT certifications, and certainly the techs in the back doing the repairs.

 

[mabhatter]

I wonder if they are going to make it easier with the "made in the USA" lineup coming soon. Mac is grimly second string in sales to iOS now, maybe Apple is ready to take the lockdown off Mac and give us a just "Mac" Intel or AMD system that lots of people will want and is easy to repair (they're making this in the USA so the parts cant be so small and the mini) They could support a whole cottage industry of repairs.. Like is winding up for iOS device repairs out-of-warranty.

 

[mastermix]

Well I'll miss doing my recerts every April... a little. Been certified since '02 when there were two separate certs for Desktop and Portable back in my AASP days...

 

[guzhogi]

Anyone know where I can get training materials?

 

[x13gamer]

I was going to go through the training at a place in Detroit but the cost was almost $4K and I have just graduated from college and did not see how I could pay for another semester of college after I graduated without having a guaranteed job somewhere.

----------

My ACMT expires on June 12th...there goes another $100 to recert for the last time

Why don't you email them and see if you can hold out, the worst thing they are going to tell you is "no."

 

[Macboy Pro]

I suspect several things here. Apple will be not only providing the tests but now pocketing the fees. I suspect every iteration of software and hardware will have its own test ( and fee). Follow the money....

 

[Mac Lifesaver]

My ACMT expires on June 12th...there goes another $100 to recert for the last time

Slightly conflicting statements.... Contacting Apple might save you $100 and some time??

"How does this transition work?
If you are already ACMT certified, you do not have to do anything. You will see a new ACMT certification in your Global Certification Exchange records on June 23. This new certification replaces the previous ACMT certification. At a later point, the legacy ACMT certification will be retired. This will not impact your access to service parts."

"I need to recertify ACMT before June 23rd. What should I do?
Recertify with the existing exams. After you do so, your ACMT certified status will be permanent."

 

[elpamyelhsa]

Yay, been doing these for over 10years!

 

[AppleMark]

I am bemused why anybody, especially those on the receiving end of any service provided by individuals no longer required to keep their qualifications up to date, thinks it is a good thing?

 

[der.be]

Anyone know where I can get training materials?

http://training.apple.com/certification/acmt

 

[iMacC2D]

Removed.

 

[guzhogi]

http://training.apple.com/certification/acmt

Thanks! I take it the training will stay the same after the transition?

I'm currently a low-level tech in a school district that uses all Apple products (except a few Windows computers where needed). If/when I get this certification, hopefully my boss would promote me to a higher position if/when one opens up.

 

[der.be]

Thanks! I take it the training will stay the same after the transition?

I'm currently a low-level tech in a school district that uses all Apple products (except a few Windows computers where needed). If/when I get this certification, hopefully my boss would promote me to a higher position if/when one opens up.

yes, need a course at an authorized training center, otherwise you can't get the materials you need for that exams. back in that days I made my base-cert (at least in germany) it was an one week crashcourse including both exams (hardware and software).

 

[LoadStar]

yes, need a course at an authorized training center, otherwise you can't get the materials you need for that exams. back in that days I made my base-cert (at least in germany) it was an one week crashcourse including both exams (hardware and software).

You don't need to take a course at an authorized training center, although that is always an option if you learn better from a structured, instructor-led environment.

If you want to try learning on your own, Apple sells the AppleCare Technician Training kit: http://www.apple.com/support/products/enterprise/help.html

 

[Mr Rabbit]

everybody can become an ACMT. i don't think apple employees have those certifications too, it's for authorized service providers.

I have been told there are different levels of genius, within the store; you can check their name tags for their qualifications. Some of them have those ACMT certifications, and certainly the techs in the back doing the repairs.

The only employees in Apple retail stores that are required to be ACMT certified, and attain it as part of their training, are Genii. The other people working the Genius Bar or Family Room as tech support are either Family Room Specialists (certified in iOS troubleshooting) or Creatives that have been certified in iOS as well. Basically, if you have an iPhone/iOS appointment you could be helped by any of those three. If you have a Mac appointment then you'll only be (or are supposed to only be) helped by a Genius.

For the past couple years Apple has been rolling out more machine & procedure specific certifications/exams that are required in order to order parts for & work on those specific machines. For example, when the retina MBP was introduced a separate exam/certification was almost immediately available for it. Technicians were required to take and pass this before being able to perform warranty repairs or order replacement parts for these machines. Same goes for the latest iMacs, as they are drastically different than the prior generations.

So, rather than have this big blanket certification that is required yearly we will likely see more and more of these model specific certifications released alongside major machine revisions. For example, IF a new Mac Pro makes it's debut this time next week then I'd be willing to wager that ACMTs will see a certification appear for "Mac Pro Mid-2013" and will be required to pass this before being officially allowed to repair them.

 

[cmanderson]

My Cert of Achievement

The company is making its AppleCare technician certifications permanent as of June 23rd, making it so technicians will not need to go through a yearly recertification process. Additionally, exams of all kinds will be performed online rather than in a testing center.

Wow...so I guess this is really worth less than the paper it's printed on...

 

[RussMacTech]

Thanks Apple!

Thank you Apple for making my ACMT cert worthless! All the time I spent mastering the material and the OJT required to pass a closed book proctored exam earned me the same certificate that a brand new tech can earn by taking an on-line cert with his service manager standing behind him feeding him the answers. How much value will this cert now have with a prospective employer?

I agree, the annual recert is too much. That is easily solved the same way every other major IT type cert does it; 3 year renewals.

I took down my ACMT cert yesterday and filed it in my file cabinet. It doesn't belong next to the CompTIA A+ and Network+ and the CCNA certifications that you still have to earn. I've stopped studying for the ACSP exam as well. I'll wait until Apple starts giving that one away too.

 

[MacRumor2020]

Apple has updated its Apple Certified Macintosh Technician (ACMT) Certification, making it easier for individuals to get their initial certifications and for existing techs to keep theirs without yearly recertification exams.

The company is making its AppleCare technician certifications permanent as of June 23rd, making it so technicians will not need to go through a yearly recertification process. Additionally, exams of all kinds will be performed online rather than in a testing center.

However, individual product qualifications -- certifications to repair more complicated products like the iMac -- will still need to be performed.
Apple has posted a knowledge base article outlining the program, and has also provided an email address for technicians to ask further questions.

It's not clear if the changes are related to a rumored update to Apple's AppleCare support program, or simply an unrelated streamlining of the technician certification process.

Article Link: Apple Updates Service Tech Training and Certification Program

Is there anyway we can access ATLAS?. Is there any book or videos available for ACMT ?? Seems to have less training material on the Internet.

Thanks in Advance.