MECPCertificationExaminationContents

Note:AllMECPexamsrequireapassingscoreof70%orgreaterINEACHSECTIONoftheexam
tosuccessfullypassthewholeexam.Onefailedsectionwillresultinafailedexam.

Thisdocumentisintendedtoprovidetestparticipantswithadequateknowledgeofhoweach
sectioniscomprisedsothatacommensurateamountofstudyeffortcanbepartofthetest
preparationinanysectionsthatmayrequireadditionallearning.

BASICINSTALLATIONTECHNICIANCERTIFICATIONNoExperiencePrerequisite

TheBasicInstallationTechnicianCertificationexaminationwasrevisedin2010andstillcontains
150multiplechoicequestions.Theexamisnowbrokendownintofivesections.Thesections
canbefurtherbrokendownintothecategorieslistedbelow,eachwithapercentageofquestions
withinthatsection.Thisexamisintendedforentryleveltechnicianswithlittletonoprofessional
experience.ItshighlyrecommendedtousetheMECPBasicInstallationTechnicianstudyguide
asastudyresourceforthisexam.

BasicElectronicsandAutomotiveElectricalSection(40Questions)
1)OhmsLaw(25%)ThesequestionsrequirebasicknowledgeandunderstandingofOhms
Law,therelatedcomponents(voltage,current,resistance,power,series,parallel,etc.)as
appliedinacircuitandthemathinvolvedtosolvespecificproblems.Sincecalculatorsare
notallowedontheMECPBasicInstallationTechnicianExam,theactualmathisconsidered
tobeatabasicgradeschoollevel.
2)ElectronicComponents(52%)Thesequestionsdealwithphysicalelectronicscomponents,
suchasresistors,capacitors,relays,diodes,batteries,powerwire,fuses,etc.aswellashow

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orwheretheyapply.Thesectionalsocoversrelatedunitsofmeasure,suchasOhms,
Farads,andHenries.
3)AutomotiveElectricalSystemComponentsandApplications(23%)Thissectiontestson
thecomponentsandapplicationoftheautomotiveelectricalsystemitselfwhattheparts
doandwhytheyarethereaswellashowaftermarketinstallationsmustconsidervarious
aspectsofanautomotiveelectricalsystem.

EntryLevelInstallationTechnique&ShopSafetySection(40Questions)
4)ComponentsApplicationsandUsage(20%)Thesequestionspertaintothewaythata
componentorinstallationaccessoryisappliedorusedinaninstallation.Alsoincludes
wiringdiagrams,symbols,andterminologyrelatedtoinstallation.ManyMECPbest
practicesforgeneralinstallationarecontainedinthissection.
5)Troubleshooting,Measurements,andAnalysis+DMMuse.(62%)Thissectioncoversthe
identificationanddiagnosisofcommoninstallationerrorsandcomponentsthatdont
operateproperly.Thissectionalsoincludestheuseoftoolsthataidindiagnosis,most
notablytheDigitalMultimeter(DMM).
6)PowerandHandTools(9%)Thesequestionspertaintotoolsthatarenotconsideredtobe
measurementandtroubleshootingtools.
7)SafetyIssues(9%)Thissectionincludesquestionsdirectlyrelatedtoshopsafetyand
properuseofsafetyequipment.

IntroductiontoMobileAudio/VideoSystemsSection(30Questions)
8)BasicAudioTheoryandAnalysis(26%)Thesequestionsdealwithbasicacousticand
electricaltheoryasitrelatestoaudioentertainmentinthemobileenvironment.Some
questionsinvolvebasicmathematicalcomputation.
9)Components(31%)Thesequestionsincludeallthatpertaintotheequipmentfoundina
mobileaudioinstallationsuchassubwoofers,speakers,amplifiers,crossoversandOEM
interfacedevices.
10)InstallationPractices(43%)Thissectioncoversquestionsdirectlyrelatedtothe
installationofamobileaudiosystemincludingplacement,connection,andconfiguration.
TheinstallationquestionsfollowMECPrecommendedpractices.

IntroductiontoSecurityandConvenienceSystemsSection(25Questions)
11)Components(42%)Thesequestionsdirectlyrelatedtothecomponentsofmobilesecurity
andconvenienceproducts,suchassensors,sirens,switches,controlunits,andother
primarycomponents.
12)InstallationandTroubleshootingPractices(58%)Thissectioncoversquestionsdirectly
relatedtotheinstallationofmobilesecurityandconvenienceproductsandfollowsMECP
recommendedpracticesaswellascommontroubleshootingissuespresentedintheguide.

IntroductiontoInVehicleInformationandSafetySystemsSection(15Questions)
13)Location,SafetyandNavigationComponents(20%)Thesequestionsincludeallthat
pertaintotheequipmentfoundinanavigationorsafetysysteminstallation,includingGPS
basedrouteguidanceandreversecameras/sensors.
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14)CommunicationComponents(40%)Thesequestionsincludeallthatpertaintowireless
communicationsequipmentfoundinamobileinstallation,includingBluetooth,satellite
radioandHDRadio.
15)InstallationPractices(40%)Thissectioncoversquestionsdirectlyrelatedtothe
installationofinvehicleinformationandcommunicationsystems,suchasantenna
placementandwiredconnections,andfollowsMECPrecommendedpractices.

RequirementsforMECPBasicCertification
TherearenoprerequisitesfortakingtheMECPBasiclevelcertificationexam.Itsintendedfor
entrylevelindividualswithlimitedworkexperience.Itsanapprenticelevelcredential.

ADVANCEDINSTALLATIONTECHNICIANCERTIFICATIONMin.oneyearsworkexperience

TheAdvancedInstallationTechnicianCertificationexamhas200questionsandisbrokendown
intofivesections.Eachofthefivesectionscontainsquestionsspecifictothecorresponding
chapterofthestudyguideinadditiontootherrelatedexperiencedbasedquestionsinthat
topic.Eachsectioncontainsvariousquestionscoveringthegeneralrangeoftopicsindicated
below.Thesectionscanbefurtherbrokendownintothecategorieslistedbelow,eachwitha
percentageofquestionswithinthatsection.Thereisanonscreencalculatorprovidedforany
mathematicalcomputation.
AdvancedElectronicsandVehicleElectricalSystems(45Questions)
1) OhmsLaw(21%)Thesequestionsrequiretheactualknowledgeandunderstandingof
Ohm'sLaw,Watt'sLaw,electricalcircuitelements(voltage,current,resistance,coulombs,
electrons,etc.)andthemathinvolvedtosolveaspecificproblemordetermineanunknown
value
2) ElectronicComponents(33%)Thesequestionsdealwiththephysicalelectronic
componentssuchasresistors,capacitors,relays,diodes,transistors,batteries,fuses,power
wire,etc.ThesectionalsocoversrelatedunitsofmeasuresuchasOhms,Farads,Henries,
CCA,Ah,powerhandling,etc.thatarepartofthecomponentitself

3)MeasurementsandApplications(46%)Thesequestionsrelatetosituationswhere
knowledgeoflearned/appliedvehicleelectricalsystemprinciplesistested.Thesectioncan
includeunitsofmeasuresuchasvolts,amperes,watts,ohmsandhowitappliestothegiven
expectationoroutcomesuchasaudiosystemdesign,functioningalternators,adding
batteries,connectingtoadatabus,etc.

AdvancedInstallationKnowledge&Technique(45Questions)
4) ComponentsApplicationsandUsage(11%)Thesequestionspertaintotheactualwaythat
acomponentisappliedorusedinaninstallation.Anexampleistheappropriatesize/typeof
wire,thecorrectmethodsofinstallingbothnewandreplacementspeakers,thebest
practicesofconnections,wireruns,fusing,etc.

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5) Troubleshooting,Measurements,andAnalysis+DMMuse(36%)Thesequestionsdeal
withthediagnosisofcommoninstallationerrorsandcomponentsthatdonotoperate
properly.ThissectionalsoincludestheuseoftoolsthataidindiagnosissuchastheDigital
Multimeter(DMM),HallEffectcurrentclamp,Oscilloscope,etcandtheabilitytodiagnose
andresolvecommoninstallationerrorsthroughIdentifyIsolateEliminatetroubleshooting.
6) ToolUseandShopSafety(12%)Thesequestionsdirectlyrelatetoshopsafety,properuse
ofsafetyequipment,correctuseofhandandspecialtyinstallationtools(suchascrimping,
soldering,panelremoval,etc.)
7) WiringDiagramsandSchematics(27%)Thesequestionsrelatetotheabilitytoreadand
understandwiringandelectroniccomponentschematics(suchasAllData,Mitchell,OEM
schematics,etc.)

8)InteriorAssemblyandFasteners(14%)Thesequestionsrelatetogeneralknowledgeand
familiarityofvariousfasteners,clips,hardware,etc.forequipmentmountingandthose
encounteredduringremovalinteriorpanelswithregardtotheoriginalintegrityofthe
vehicleandsubsequentinstallation.

AdvancedMobileAudio/VideoSystems(45Questions)
9) BasicAudioTheoryandAnalysis(22%)Thesequestionsdealwithacousticandelectrical
theory,aswellasmediasourceformatsasrelatedtomobileaudio/videoentertainment
systems.Somequestionsmayinvolvebasicmathematicalcomputationandknowledgeof
acceptedterminology.
10) MobileAudioInstallation(40%)Thesequestionsincludeallthatpertaintotheinstallation
andconfigurationofequipmentfoundinamobileaudioinstallationsuchasheadunits,
subwoofers,componentspeakers,passivecrossovers,poweramplifiers,portablemedia
adaptorsandOEMinterfacedevices.Bothknowledgeofapplicationandtheactualnon
productspecificinstallationknowledgeapplytothesequestions.

11) MobileVideoInstallation(17%)Thesequestionsrelatetoinstallationknowledgeof
mobilevideoandrearseatentertainmentsystemcomponentsandhowtheyinterconnect
(includingOEMvideosignalsforindashscreens).Alsoageneralknowledgeofhowdirect
replacementheadrestandoverheadvideoscreensinstall.

12) Troubleshooting(21%)Thesequestionsarenonproductspecific,experiencebased
troubleshootingrelatedtomobileaudioandvideosysteminstallation.

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AdvancedSecurityandConvenienceSystems(45Questions)
13) SecuritySystemsandComponents(30%)Thesequestionsidentifyknowledgeofsecurity
systemcomponentsandadvancedfunctionality(includingbrain,siren,sensors,
input/outputs,programmablefeatures,etc.),includingwhenrelays,diodes,resistors,etc.
arerequired.

14) RemoteStarters(21%)Thesequestionsidentifyknowledgeofspecificremotestarter
installationconcerns(suchashighandlowcurrentignitionwiring,vehicletransponder
integrationmethodology,hoodpin/brake/neutralsafetyswitchsafety,common
programmablenonproductspecificfeatures(tach,voltage,cranktime,etc.)andtheability
toinstall/connectthesedevices,includingwhenrelays,diodes,resistors,etc.arerequired.
15) CircuitTestingandAnalysis(26%)Thesequestionsidentifyknowledgeoftestingand
verifyingthevehiclecircuititself,includinghighandlowcurrent12voltcircuits,variable
voltage/lowvoltagecircuitsanddatabuscircuitsastheyrelatetodeterminingproper
securityorremotestarterinstallation,includingwhenrelays,diodes,resistors,etc.are
required.
16)Troubleshooting(23%)Thesequestionsarenonproductspecific,experiencedbased
troubleshootingquestionsrelatedtosecurityandremotestarterinstallation.
AdvancedInVehicleInformation&SafetySystems(20Questions)
17)MobileCommunicationandLocationDeviceInstallation(50%)Thesequestionsrelateto
theinstallationofcommunicationantennasforAM/FM/HDRadio,GPS,SatelliteRadio,
TelematicsSystemsandothermobilecommunicationdevicesaswellasanypower,ground
orotherdiscreteconnectionsnecessarytoinstallthesedevicesthatsend/receivesignals,as
wellasanypower,groundorotherdiscreteconnectionsnecessarytoinstallthesedevices
thatsend/receivesignals.Includesanyrelatedtroubleshooting.
18)BluetoothandSafetyDevices(29%)Thesequestionsrelatetotheinstallationand
configurationorsafetydevicessuchasreversecameras,Bluetoothhandsfreekitsor
telematicsdevices.Alsoincludesanyrelatedtroubleshooting.
19)TechnologyKnowledge(21%)Thesequestionsrelatetoageneralknowledgeofthe
technologyinvolved(includingterminology),suchasGPSsystems,Bluetoothprofiles,
wirelessnetworktypes,satelliteandterrestrialbroadcasts,etc.

RequirementsforMECPAdvancedCertification
TakingtheMECPMasterexamrequiresatleastoneyearofhandsonindustryexperience.You
candownloadandfilloutanexperienceverificationformattheMECPwebsiteat
http://www.mecp.com/downloads.aspandchooseVerificationofExperienceandfollowthe
instructionsontheform.

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MASTERINSTALLATIONTECHNICIANCERTIFICATIONMin.threeyearsworkexperience

TheMECPMasterInstallationTechnicianexamwascomprehensivelyupdatedinlate2007to
reflectadditionaltopicsrelevanttotodaysMasterTechnician.Theexamhasalsobeen
restructuredsothatafull20%ofits200questionsareexperiencebasedtroubleshooting
questions.Withover55newimagestosupport70ofthe200questions,theMECPMaster
examisveryvisual.ThisismadepossiblebythemodernizationofMECPtestingtothe
supervised,computerbasedformat.Thereisanonscreencalculatorprovidedforany
mathematicalcomputation.

Section1Electrical(40Questions20%ofthetotalexam)
TheMECPMasterstudyguideandexamassumeyouwillhavereadandmasteredthecontent
presentedintheMECPAdvancedguide.Assuch,thereareadditionalelectricalquestionsfrom
thoseAdvancedleveltopicsaswellasthemorecomplextopicscoveredintheMECPMaster
guide.TheMECPMasterexamhasanonscreenscientificcalculatorsoyouneednotworry
aboutmathproblems.IfyouareconfidentwithOhmsLaw,electricalcomponents,reading
vehiclewiringdiagrams,andmodernvehicleelectricalsystemsthissectionisagreat
validationofyourknowledge!

Section2InstallationKnowledgeandTechnique(40Questions20%ofthetotalexam)
Thissectionistherealhandsonknowledgeofthingstechniciansworkwithdaytoday.
Everythingfromtoolsandbestpracticestohardware,determiningenclosurevolumes,and
multispeakerwiringconfigurationsarecovered.Thissectiontestswhatyoureallyknowabout
itemsyouareincontactwithonadailybasis.

Section3MobileAudio/VideoSystems(40Questions20%ofthetotalexam)
Thetopicsinthissectionarerelevanttothecorebusinessofaftermarketmobileelectronics,
whichisaudio(nowA/V)entertainmentinthecar.Everythingfromspeakersandenclosure
typestoOEMintegrationandaudiosignalsarecovered.Thisisthesectionwherepeoplewho
aresystemdesignersandnotjustpartschangerswilldothebest.

Section4VehicleSecurity,Convenience,andCommunications(40Questions20%ofthe
totalexam)
Itisdifficulttodevelopquestionsthatarenotproductspecificbecausesomuchofthe
securityandremotestarterinstallationproceduresfocusonbrandspecifictechniques.Still,the
applicationofcertainelectricalbehaviorofvariousinputsandoutputsinsecurityandremote
startersiswellcoveredinthissection.Alsoincludedisinformationaboutwireless
communicationsrelatingtoBluetooth,trafficdata,andotherrelatedapplications.

Section5Troubleshooting(40Questions20%ofthetotalexam)
Everysingletechnicianwhohasyearsofexperiencewillagreethattheirabilitytotroubleshoot
effectivelyenhancestheirabilitiesevenwhileplanningtoinstallsomethingforthefirsttime,let
alonetheunexpectedeventswheresomethingdoesnotfunctioncorrectly.Thissectionis

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dedicatedentirelytotroubleshootingandutilizesmanyvisualimagesaswellassomequestions
withthesameTechnicianA,TechnicianBtypequestionsfoundontheASEA6electrical
exams.Ifyouareagreattroubleshooter,youwillreallyenjoythissectionoftheexam.

RequirementsforMECPMasterCertification
TakingtheMECPMasterexamrequireseitheranexistingAdvancedlevelcertificationor(ifyou
arealreadyaMaster)itrequiresthatyourcurrentMastercertificationdoesnotexpirebefore
takingtheexamtorecertify.Italsorequiresthreeyearsofhandsonindustryexperience.You
candownloadandfilloutanexperienceverificationformattheMECPwebsiteat
http://www.mecp.com/downloads.aspandchooseVerificationofExperienceandfollowthe
instructionsontheform.

MOBILEPRODUCTSPECIALISTCERTIFICATIONNoexperienceprerequisite

TheMobileProductSpecialist(MPS)certificationexaminationisMECPscertificationformobile
electronicssalespeople.The150questionsoverfoursectionsaredesignedtotestdaily
workingknowledgeofmobileproducts,systemdesignprinciples,anddetailsofinstallations
relevanttoasalesprofessional,ratherthantotesthandsonapplicationsofphysically
installing.

ItshighlyrecommendedtousetheMECPMobileProductSpecialiststudyguideasastudy
resourceforthisexam.

RequirementsforMECPMobileProductSpecialistCertification
TherearenoprerequisitesfortakingtheMECPMPSlevelcertificationexam.Itsintendedfor
salesprofessionalswithmoderateknowledgeofthe12vaftermarketelectronicsbusiness.

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