The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has added a
Self-Adhesive Products Specialist Exam to its battery of installer
certification tests.
 
The new SEMA test, known as Z6, will measure real-world knowledge and
skills of industry professionals who install self-adhesive products on
passenger cars and light-duty trucks. The exam covers a range of
product categories, including graphics, pinstriping, window film,
body-side moldings, rocker panel moldings, vinyl wraps, body cladding,
dash overlays, deflectors, chrome portal covers, fender flares, paint
protection film, and door handle and mirror covers.
 
The other exams in the SEMA Installer Certification Program – Z1 for
electric sunroofs, Z2 for truck accessories and body exterior
components, Z3 for leather interiors, Z4 for roof treatments and Z5 for
custom wheels and tires – assess competency and knowledge regarding the
installation of various specialty auto products.  
 
The Z6 test will be launched this fall. It will be administered, along
with the Z1 thru Z5 exams, on Nov. 13 at more than 700 testing
locations in the United States and Canada. Registration closes on
September 22.
 
SEMA worked with ASE, the National Institute for Automotive Service
Excellence, to develop all six tests. For the Z6 test, the association
relied upon a cross-section of industry experts to formulate the test,
including manufacturers, warehouse distributors and installers  

The SEMA certification program is a voluntary process which recognizes
individual achievement on a national level and enhances the stature of
the industry. Certification also serves as an impartial, third-party
endorsement of an installer’s knowledge and expertise, thereby helping
to boost consumer confidence and demonstrate a company’s commitment to
quality, excellence and customer satisfaction.
 
SEMA has granted certification credentials since 2001 to specialists
who meet the work experience requirements and successfully complete
written exams. To earn SEMA’s Self-Adhesive Products Specialist
designation, an installer must have at least two years of hands-on
experience and must also pass the written exam. All SEMA credentials
are valid for five years, and certified professionals receive a
certificate suitable for framing, a wallet card and sleeve insignia.
 
“The market for self-adhesive products is steadily growing,” noted
Ellen McKoy, executive director of the Specialty Equipment Warranty
Alliance, a SEMA subsidiary, who also administers the  SEMA
certification program. “A credentialing program for installers of these
products will likely enhance that growth and further elevate the level
of professionalism within this market segment. The program also opens
the door to cross-marketing opportunities within other market segments
where many companies specialize in fleet graphics, vehicle wraps and
window tinting.”
 
For more information, visit www.sema.org/certification or call (909) 396-0289, ext. 158.