Automotive Technician Accreditation

Air Conditioning Technicians: ATA assessment process

ATA Assessment Process

There are three competency levels: Refrigerant Handler, Air Conditioning Service Technician and Air Conditioning Diagnostic Technician.

A requirement of ATA is the prerequisites for each grade of technician to pass an assessment. To be eligible to take the assessment, an Air Conditioning technician must: 

 - have a minimum level of industry experience in an appropriate role

-  for Refrigerant Handlers   3 months,
-  for Service technicians   1 year
-  for Diagnostic technicians   2 years

or;
 - hold a relevant nationally recognised qualification at the same level and have a minimum level of post qualification industry experience in an appropriate role as follows:

-  for refrigerant handlers   3 months
-  for service technicians     6 months
-  for diagnostic technicians     1 year

Assessments

To attain each level of accreditation, technicians will have to pass practical assessments and an on-line knowledge test.

Technicians who are referred on one or two practical assessments may re-take these assessments within the twelve month period. Technicians who are referred on more than two practical assessments will have to retake all the assessments again.

Refrigerant Handler

The two practical assessments at Technician level will measure competence in the following:

• Refrigerant handling
• Cylinder handling

Air Conditioning Service Technician

The two practical assessments at Service Technician level will measure competence in the following:

• Refrigerant handling
• AC system servicing

Air Conditioning Diagnostic Technician

There are five practical assessments at Diagnostic Technician level. The assessments will measure competence in the following:

• Refrigerant handling
• AC system servicing
• Fault finding (3 faults)

On Line Assessments

To allow flexibility the online knowledge test can be taken before, during or after the assessment day. If all other assessments have not been completed within 12 months, the candidate will need to complete the on-line test again.

The test will be multiple choice ‘online’ and consist of a number of randomised questions. The time limit for the test varies between levels.

The Refrigerant Handler on-line test consists of 30 questions to be completed in 45 minutes.

The service technician level on-line test consists of 45 questions to be completed in 60 minutes.

The diagnostic technician level on-line test consists of 60 questions to be completed in 90 minutes.

The tests measure knowledge in the following areas:

• Montreal Agreement and Kyoto Protocol
• Global Warming Potential
• Basic knowledge of the relevant provisions of Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 and Directive 2006/40/EC
• Applicable current EC regulations to the proposed market (i.e. UK)
• Health and Safety
• First Aid
• Refrigerant state temperature/pressure/conditions
• Identification of various AC systems
• Working practices pre and post
• Air Conditioning refrigerant handling
• Contamination of refrigerant
• EC waste regulations
• Transportation of refrigerants
• Refrigerant documentation activity records

To gain a pass, the applicant will be required to achieve a mark of 60% or above.