Electrified vehicles are no longer a niche. Hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and battery electric vehicles now roll through dealerships, independent shops, fleet garages, tire stores, and body shops every day. That means more people in the automotive world need to know what high voltage looks like and how to stay clear of it.

The ASE xEV Electrical Safety Awareness Certification (Level 1) is built for exactly that. It is an accessible, low-cost credential that tells employers you understand the basic high-voltage hazards of electrified vehicles and know where your role ends. Below, we’ll cover who should take it, how to register, how long to study, what the career picture looks like, and where to go next.

Who Should Take the ASE xEV (Level 1) Exam?

ASE designed Level 1 for “anyone who may encounter an EV in the workplace,” including people in sales, service, repair, and related environments. In ASE’s standard, this person is called an Electrically Aware Person. You may be a good fit if you:

  • Work in a service or quick-lube bay: Lube, tire, brake, and general maintenance technicians regularly work under and around xEVs, even when they never touch the high-voltage system.
  • Are a technician early in your career: Entry-level techs, apprentices, and automotive students can earn Level 1 as a first step before high-voltage training.
  • Work in collision repair or towing: Damaged xEVs can hold stranded energy, so body techs, estimators, and tow operators benefit from recognizing post-crash battery hazards.
  • Move or sell vehicles: Porters, lot attendants, detailers, and salespeople drive and handle xEVs daily.
  • Supervise a shop: Service writers, advisors, shop foremen, and managers set up the bays, signs, and procedures the standard describes.
  • Manage fleets: Fleet maintenance staff increasingly handle electrified vans, trucks, and buses, where pack voltages can exceed 1,200 V DC.

Who might skip straight to Level 2? If you have already completed high-voltage electrical training and your job involves isolating voltage or working on de-energized high-voltage components, the ASE xEV Technician Electrical Safety Certification (Level 2) better matches your role. Many technicians still take Level 1 first because the content builds directly into Level 2.

What Are the ASE xEV (Level 1) Eligibility Requirements?

Unlike ASE’s traditional certification tests, which require passing a test plus documented hands-on work experience, ASE does not list any experience or training prerequisite for the xEV Level 1 test. If your job may put you near an electrified vehicle, you can take it.

Here’s how registration works, per ASE’s xEV Safety Certifications page:

  1. Create an account on ASE’s NetExam platform.
  2. Add the xEV test to your cart and check out. The Level 1 test costs $38.99. Purchases are non-refundable.
  3. Take the test within 90 days. Your purchase is valid for 90 days, and the 60-minute timer runs continuously once you begin.
  4. Download your certificate after you pass.

Policies can change, so check the ASE page for current fees and rules before you purchase. Some employers and training programs purchase xEV tests for their staff or students, so ask your service manager or instructor before you pay out of pocket.

How Long Should You Study for the ASE xEV (Level 1) Exam?

This 20-question awareness test is based on a short standard, so you don’t need months of preparation. Most candidates can be ready in one to three weeks of consistent study. Your timeline depends on your starting point:

  • Experienced technicians who already work around xEVs may need only a few focused sessions. Your challenge is learning the standard’s exact wording and numbers, which can differ from shop habits.
  • Newcomers such as students, porters, or salespeople should plan on two to three weeks, because terms like stranded energy, thermal runaway, and lockout/tagout may be new.

Sample Three-Week Study Plan

  • Week 1, Foundations: Read the Level ONE standard (Version 2.1) start to finish. Focus on Section A (definitions and the 30 V AC / 60 V DC threshold) and Section B (risks, emergency response, and barriers). Take a short baseline quiz.
  • Week 2, Core content: Work through Section C (Level One knowledge, restrictions, and employer responsibilities) and Section D (battery voltages, stranded energy, thermal runaway, orange cables, and labels). These are the largest sections, so give them the most practice time.
  • Week 3, Procedures and review: Cover Section E (securing the vehicle, key fob control, and lockout/tagout) and Section G (OSHA, NFPA 70E, SAE, and FMVSS references). Finish with mixed, timed quizzes and review every missed question.

Short daily sessions work better than one long cram session. If you can explain every “SHALL” rule in your own words, you’re in good shape.

What Careers Can the ASE xEV (Level 1) Support?

The Level 1 certification is most valuable as proof of safety awareness in roles that bring you into contact with electrified vehicles. It commonly supports:

  • Automotive service technicians and mechanics at dealerships and independent shops
  • Lube, tire, and express service technicians
  • Collision repair technicians and estimators
  • Fleet maintenance technicians
  • Service advisors and shop managers
  • Automotive technology students and apprentices

Many shops want every employee who touches an xEV to have documented safety training, and the ASE standard itself calls for training logs and records. A Level 1 certificate gives you and your employer a recognized way to show it.

What Is the Salary for Automotive Technicians?

The Level 1 certification doesn’t list a salary, but it often supports automotive service technician roles. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a median annual wage of $50,620 (about $24.34 per hour) for automotive service technicians and mechanics as of May 2025. Pay varies by setting; the BLS lists a median of $59,920 for technicians at automobile dealers.

BLS projects employment in this occupation to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 66,200 openings each year. Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics.

Keep in mind that a national median isn’t a promise. Your pay depends on your region, employer, experience, and the other certifications you hold. Level 1 is a starting credential; higher-level EV skills tend to open more doors.

How Do You Maintain the ASE xEV (Level 1) Certification?

ASE states that xEV certifications are valid for five years. ASE lists no continuing education hours for Level 1. Mark your certificate date on your calendar, and check the ASE xEV page well before it expires for the current process to stay certified. It’s also worth reviewing the latest version of the standard when you recertify, because ASE updates it periodically (the current version, 2.1, took effect January 14, 2025).

What Certifications Stack Well With the ASE xEV (Level 1)?

If you plan to grow in EV service, these next steps build logically on Level 1:

  • ASE xEV Technician Electrical Safety Certification (Level 2): The natural next step. It’s a 30-question, 60-minute online test ($49.99) for technicians who have completed high-voltage training and can isolate voltage, verify isolation, and work on de-energized high-voltage components.
  • ASE A6 Electrical/Electronic Systems and A8 Engine Performance: Core ASE certifications for diagnostic technicians. Both are prerequisites for the L3 test.
  • ASE L3 Light Duty Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Specialist: An advanced-level certification focused on hybrid and EV diagnosis and repair. ASE requires you to pass A6 and A8 before you register.
  • Manufacturer (OEM) high-voltage training: Most automakers require brand-specific training before a technician services their high-voltage systems, and the ASE standard repeatedly directs technicians to follow OEM procedures.
  • ASE Entry-Level certifications: For students, entry-level tests in automobile service areas pair well with Level 1 to show a broad foundation.

Start Preparing for the ASE xEV (Level 1) Exam With Pocket Prep

Pocket Prep’s ASE xEV (Level 1) practice questions include 200 questions across all six sections of the Level ONE standard, and every question comes with a detailed explanation. Use Question of the Day and study reminders to build a daily habit, then run Timed Quizzes before test day.