anyone mecp certified?

[My Honda Is Slow]

just like it says anyone here or know anyone thats mecp certified? where did you take your test and did you go to the school before taking? how much more are you making if so. just looking for some info on it if anyone has any

[Notladstyle]

just like it says anyone here or know anyone thats mecp certified? where did you take your test and did you go to the school before taking? how much more are you making if so. just looking for some info on it if anyone has any


i took mine at the Santa Clara library, they charged $35 to proctor it and send it out for you. Thats only lvl 1 though. i think you have to go to a retail store or a pre-determined location for the higher levels.

[My Honda Is Slow]

yeah i would be happy with a level one that would at least get me in at like best buy or circut city did you study for it? or was it even a challenge? i figured you would chime in lol

[TBSpyder]

I had mine proctored at the Oldsmar Public Library for free. Just had to pay for the study guide and test. If I'm not mistaken, CC and BB do not require mecp certification, atleast they didn't last time I checked (several years ago). You'll definetly want to study for it, but it's not rocket science. You're not going to make much more with it, installers don't make shit anyways.

[GradeA_TireFryer]

Bb Is A Gray Area On That, And I Dont Think Cc Requires It At All, You Will Make Like $1 More A Hour, Starting Out In The Business Expect To Get About $8 A Hour, Ask Spider How Much Installers Make At Sa - I Think They Are The Best Paid In The Area, Unless You Find A Shop That Pays You Piece Work Then That Depends On How Fast You Are And How Busy The Shop Is

[TJElite]

www.mecp.com (http://www.mecp.com) should have all the answers.

I took the level one while over at the Installers Institute taking an advanced fab class. Really didn't intend to, but the rest of the class was taking it, since they were part of the full training schedule at II. Since I had to sit there while they took it, I figured I'd might as well. I think it was like $50, with the study guide. Level 1 is actually only good for year, and then you are supposed to take the advanced test. I haven't gotten around to that yet.

Like John said, not rocket science. How much you'll have to study depends on how much you already know about stuff like ohms law, relays, safety, etc. IMO, the study guide is pretty good, and makes a good resource if you aren't familiar with these things, and even if you are, its still good.

It ended up being a good thing that I took it, because Pioneer wants at least one MECP person at your site before you can carry the line.

As a shop owner, I wouldn't necessarily pay more to someone with MECP, but it would be an extra qualification come hiring time. I most likely wouldn't hire someone without this basic knowledge at all, but actually having MECP says to me 'hey, I'm serious enough about this field to go an extra step'.

Toby

[My Honda Is Slow]

thanks guys great info so far, i called best buy a few days ago and asked the installers if they were hiring first thing they asked is if i had my mecp cert. they said i had to have that to be an installer

[TBSpyder]

thanks guys great info so far, i called best buy a few days ago and asked the installers if they were hiring first thing they asked is if i had my mecp cert. they said i had to have that to be an installer


They're probably just trying to weed people out. Car stereo shops (especially the big chain stores) are called and asked almost daily about install positions. Even with mecp certification, it is a very hard field to break into. Most places won't even give you the time of the day unless you have atleast 1-2 years experience.

[Notladstyle]

meh, just tell the shop owner/manager you install alarms and you are 100% guaranteed a job... at 7.50 an hour. at least in my experience.

[TJElite]

thanks guys great info so far, i called best buy a few days ago and asked the installers if they were hiring first thing they asked is if i had my mecp cert. they said i had to have that to be an installer

Did they say what the starting rate is? Just curious.

BB and CC might be good ways to get yourself in the door, but they don't do any real custom work (if they do any at all), so you really won't learn or get any real experience. I get people in here looking for jobs saying 'I have been at best buy for 3 years' and they expect me to hand over the keys to the shop.

If you are really serious about a career in car audio here's what I'd suggest...

1. get your MECP

2. take some other clasess, like from the Installer Institute over in Daytona, if you can afford them

3. get in the door somewhere

4. get 6 months under your belt, all the while reading and learning everything you can about car audio

5. get resumes and apps out. Concentrate on shops you actually want to work at, that do the kind of work you want to do. While BB or CC on an app is a slight plus in my mind, there are some shops out there that can actually be a negative on your resume.

6. Be confident, but not cocky. If the right shop offers you a job cleaning toilets, take it. I started out working for free. Show them that you are serious about making a career out of this. Once you are in the door, you are one step closer than your competition on the street, and you are interacting with the installers, managers, sales people and customers every day. Experience can trump training in many instances.

7. Find pleasure in the job, not just the income. This is true anywhere, but like John said, don't expect to get rich doing stereos. Believe it or not, there is a lot more to life than income. I left a 6 figure job with GE to open my own shop, and I couldn't be happier with my decision. I don't expect to ever make that kind of money again, and I'm ok with that.

Toby

[My Honda Is Slow]

see that the thing i want to find the happy medium between income and career choice. i was a mechanic at tires plus, and goodyear then i drove a wrecker for 4 years and i dont want to be a grease monkey anymore not saying you dont get dirty on installs but im sure its far less. i also went to school and graduated for welding i can weld anyhthing almost anywhere and prob make decent money eventually but the work sucks. I would be happy with the pay-cut for doing something i enjoy anyday but i know some people suffer all day at a job that hate just to make every cent they can, and i dont want to do that. sorry for the rant just letting loose

[Miles]

i can tell you at my store that they as a rule, don't hire people straight to install. the last guy they did that with, we got burned on something fierce, because he had absolutely no product knowledge. i spent over a year on the sales floor, and had to get my mecp certification before they'd even train me back in the bay. now i've been installing full time for a little over 2 months... i've still got another year or so to go before any dedicated shop would even look at my application without laughing, let alone hire me as an installer.

be prepared to do some leg work to get where you want to be, put in an application for the sales floor as well as the install bay and make it known at the interview that you want to eventually install, but that you've got a good enough attitude to do what it takes to get there.

[Notladstyle]

F car audio, learn to install alarms and you will actually make decent $ and have an almost guaranteed job at one of the billion alarm shops in tampa.

This small mexican/indian/ghetto redneck ran shops are best - they pay you under the table and you'll make 50 bucks on a 45 minute alarm install...

better yet, compete with me on tr/craigslist.Just kidding, you have to have real straight-off-the-boat-cents-a-day-labor blood running through your veins to keep up with my pricing.

[POST]

F car audio, learn to install alarms and you will actually make decent $ and have an almost guaranteed job at one of the billion alarm shops in tampa.

This small mexican/indian/ghetto redneck ran shops are best - they pay you under the table and you'll make 50 bucks on a 45 minute alarm install...

better yet, compete with me on tr/craigslist.Just kidding, you have to have real straight-off-the-boat-cents-a-day-labor blood running through your veins to keep up with my pricing.


basically you'd have to start accepting pesos for your laborwork.

[Notladstyle]

basically you'd have to start accepting pesos for your laborwork.

pfff pesos are too rich for my taste, I prefer krispy creme donuts.

[TBSpyder]

see that the thing i want to find the happy medium between income and career choice. i was a mechanic at tires plus, and goodyear then i drove a wrecker for 4 years and i dont want to be a grease monkey anymore not saying you dont get dirty on installs but im sure its far less. i also went to school and graduated for welding i can weld anyhthing almost anywhere and prob make decent money eventually but the work sucks. I would be happy with the pay-cut for doing something i enjoy anyday but i know some people suffer all day at a job that hate just to make every cent they can, and i dont want to do that. sorry for the rant just letting loose



Installing car audio probably isn't too similar to being a grease monkey, but the days I went home without dirt and grime under my nails, sweaty, hands cut up, and stains on my clothes were far and few between. Not to mention the back aches and strains from contorting into the trunks and under the dashes of cars. You'll find most installers have a chiropractor. ;) Can't say I miss any of that. You really need to find a niche in the custom fabrication area (perhaps welding) and you could probably do decent once the word gets out. There's just too many people out there willing to work for peanuts (*couhgh*Dalton*cough*) to make any real money doing the same old thing. Unless you open your own shop, then you can be a baller like Toby.....but that opens a whole new can or worms.

[the727kid]

I plan on going to II this summer. I could already pass my MCEP rather easily right now though. As for getting dirty, I was deadning my doors today (only got one done due to rain), and my hands and arms were filthy and extrlemly sticky. (damn adhesive spray)

[ShakinIt]

Installing car audio probably isn't too similar to being a grease monkey, but the days I went home without dirt and grime under my nails, sweaty, hands cut up, and stains on my clothes were far and few between. Not to mention the back aches and strains from contorting into the trunks and under the dashes of cars. You'll find most installers have a chiropractor. ;) Can't say I miss any of that. You really need to find a niche in the custom fabrication area (perhaps welding) and you could probably do decent once the word gets out. There's just too many people out there willing to work for peanuts (*couhgh*Dalton*cough*) to make any real money doing the same old thing. Unless you open your own shop, then you can be a baller like Toby.....but that opens a whole new can or worms.

+1

Not that I'm an installer, but I just did my own system and it was a pain! Plenty of aches from all the weird angles and whatnot. Picture a 6'2", 240lb dude crunched into the trunk of a Mustang.....my wife found it quite hilarious....

[nofxareforkids]

+1 to all, tho at CC no experience necessary, we have a month long training before you can begin installing, i personally like the training i got from CC because we learn how to solder and how not to break stuff. tho, Dalton, if you can install an alarm in 45 mins, i'll buy you a case o donuts usually takes me 4 hours for a standard alarm with keyless entry

[POST]

+1 to all, tho at CC no experience necessary, we have a month long training before you can begin installing, i personally like the training i got from CC because we learn how to solder and how not to break stuff. tho, Dalton, if you can install an alarm in 45 mins, i'll buy you a case o donuts usually takes me 4 hours for a standard alarm with keyless entry


get that money ready.

[nofxareforkids]

can i pick the vehicle, a chevy truck i can do in an hour and a half

[Notladstyle]

+1 to all, tho at CC no experience necessary, we have a month long training before you can begin installing, i personally like the training i got from CC because we learn how to solder and how not to break stuff. tho, Dalton, if you can install an alarm in 45 mins, i'll buy you a case o donuts usually takes me 4 hours for a standard alarm with keyless entry


T-taps and a hot solder iron...

I usually lounge and take my time routing wires in the most obscure routes but a plain and simple alarm under the dash with no frills is 45 minutes. I did 1stGens remote start in less than that but he didnt have power locks.

can i pick the vehicle, a chevy truck i can do in an hour and a half

Make, model, and year?

[GradeA_TireFryer]

How About A New Colorado??????

[nofxareforkids]

yeah do a remote start in a new colorado.......biggest pain in the ass ive ever done, and i assume with no loafing about straight working it probably only takes me 1-2 hours but at cc we have to deal with so much BS its anoying

[Notladstyle]

hell no, wont touch any 07 GMs

[POST]

I can do it in 1 hour..

Granted it most likely won't work, I'll have scratched/dented/ruined all the panels and your seats..... but it'll be done.:D

[nofxareforkids]

hell no, wont touch any 07 GMs


can't say i blame you, they are a PITA passlock3 was a mistake

way to go general motors

[Notladstyle]

passkey is fine, its GM's databus that I have a problem with. its one thing to secure the engine system but its another to integrate every electrical component into one digital controller. its almost impossible to power anything without either the databus interface or running direct power.

[GradeA_TireFryer]

that is what is keeping me from buying a new denali, i hate that pos data bus crap, so it looks like the new 2007 f150 harley truck is my choice (anyone know anything about the big toyota truck?)
i did a colorado - full alam, remote, windows, proxi, battery - ect - 8+ hours of hell and dei was not much help.

[TODDS93T/A]

if you train with some the best a cert. does not mean shit its how good you really are i have say mecp installers that cant touch me but they got a peice of paper get in with a shop that will train you get a good couple of years then go for the cert.

[TBSpyder]

if you train with some the best a cert. does not mean shit its how good you really are i have say mecp installers that cant touch me but they got a peice of paper get in with a shop that will train you get a good couple of years then go for the cert.



Good luck foinding a shop that is willing to "train" you. There's a million kids out there who want to be installers and just about as many who already have experience, I've yet to see a shop who would rather take the time to train someone with no experience, rather than simply pick up someone who already knows what they're doing. I know I wouldn't.


Like Toby said, MECP doesn't mean you're an installing god, but it does atleast show that you have enough interest to take an extra step to further your education (no matter how big or small that is).