Section 16-87-26 - Certification of mechanic(a) There are established the following specialties or areas of certification: (1) Automotive (eight specialties): (C) Automatic transmission;(F) Suspension and steering;(G) Heating and air-conditioning; and(H) Manual drive train and axles;(2) Truck: Drive train, brakes, suspension and steering, gasoline engines, diesel engines, and electrical systems;(3) Motorcycle and motor scooter.(b) Certification test: (1) A certification test shall be given in each of the areas of certification, as described above;(2) Each certification test shall consist of: (B) The board, in lieu of the written test, may if it deems it appropriate, allow a person to take an oral test if a written request explaining the reasons for seeking a waiver is submitted to the board at least thirty days prior to the scheduled test date.(c) Application for certification test. (1) Applications for certification tests, together with the required registration fee, shall be filed with the University of Hawaii (UH) who has been contracted by the board to develop and administer the certification program for motor vehicle mechanics; and(2) The application, the registration fee, and any other required supporting documents shall be received by the testing agency at least forty-five days prior to the scheduled test date.(d) Qualifications for taking a certification test. Before qualifying to take the certification test for any specialty or area of certification, a person shall meet the following qualifications: (1) Have two or more years of full-time "hands-on" working experience either as an automotive technician/mechanic or in body repair or painting and refinishing before the applicant can be certified except as noted below;(2) Substitutions for working experience. Applicant may receive credit for up to one year of the two-years "hands-on" experience requirement by substituting relevant formal training in one, or a combination, of the following:(A) High school training - Three full years of training, either in automotive repair or in body repair and painting and refinishing may be substituted for one year of work experience;(B) Post high school training - Two full years of post high school training in a public or private trade school, technical institute, community or four-year college, or in an apprenticeship program may be counted as one year of work experience;(C) Short courses - For shorter periods of post high school training, the applicant may substitute two months of training for one month of work experience;(3) Apprenticeship program - Upon satisfactory completion of either a three or four-year bona fide apprenticeship program, the applicant may receive full credit for the two-year "hands-on" working experience requirement;(4) Authentication of training - To have an applicant's training considered as a substitute for work experience, send a copy of a transcript of courses, or a statement of training, or a certificate showing satisfactory completion of apprenticeship, together with your application form and fee payment. Documents should show length of training (hours or weeks); and(5) Evaluation of requests for substitution of training for experience -The board reserves the right to evaluate all requests for substitution of training for experience and to grant such credit as is appropriate. Work experience other than as an automobile or truck technician/mechanic or body and paint repairer may be credited toward fulfillment of the two-year experience requirement where, in the board's judgment, the nature of the substitute experience so warrants.(e) Application for registration as a motor vehicle mechanic. All applicants who have passed the prescribed certification test shall:(1) File an application for registration as a motor vehicle mechanic on a form prescribed by the board;(2) Submit completed application forms with a non-refundable application fee and the original biennial registration fee; and(3) Submit copy of test results from testing agency showing that applicant has required experience and has successfully passed the certification test.[Eff 7/29/76; am 2/4/77; am and ren § 16-87-26, 6/25/81; am and comp 5/7/88; am and comp 1/28/89] (Auth: HRS § 437B-4) (Imp: HRS § 437B-23)