Right Column

Course Descriptions

Effective February 1, 2000

To apply for a Smog Check technician license, applicants shall use the new form (form T-6, 10/99). Listed below is a description of BAR certified courses:

Basic Clean Air Car Course
Advanced Clean Air Car Course
Citation Training Courses
BAR (ASE Alternative) Training Courses
Update Training Courses
Smog Check schools

Basic Clean Air Car Course

All Technicians wishing to become state licensed smog inspection technicians, must take the Basic Clean Air Car Course to partially satisfy the education prerequisite for either of the license technician categories currently available. Students entering the course must have one year experience/education in the automotive engine performance area prior to entering the course. The course instructor shall determine if the student has the required automotive knowledge to enter the course (e.g. pretest).
The course is a minimum of 68 hours in length, and covers the following topic areas:

• Operation of the BAR 97EIS emission analyzer system for the Basic Area Program
• Bureau rules and regulations
• Smog Check Program 2003 and 2005 Update Course
• Vehicle emission testing procedures for the Basic Area Program
• On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD II) systems operation

To pass the course the student must complete the laboratory assignments, and pass the final examinations with a score of 70% or better. Bureau certified Basic and Advanced instructors and institutions may provide this course. Bureau certified Basic and Advanced instructors and institutions may provide this course.

Advanced Clean Air Car Course

Technicians wishing to become licensed as an "Advanced Emission Specialist" smog inspection technician, must take the Advanced Clean Air Car Course to partially satisfy the education prerequisite for this license.
The course is a minimum of 28 hours in length, and covers the following topic areas:

• NOx emissions diagnostic and repair procedures.
• Set-up and operation of a Digital Storage Oscilloscope (DSO), and oxygen sensor waveform analysis
• Loaded mode emissions baselining techniques, and application of BAR's diagnostic flowchart
• Catalytic converter theory, operation, and efficiency testing procedures.
• Vehicle emissions testing procedures for the Enhanced Area program using the BAR 97 EIS.

To pass the course the student must complete the laboratory assignments, and pass two final examinations (70% or better). Only bureau certified Advanced instructors and institutions may provide this course.

Smog Technician Citation Training Course

Certified schools may provide remedial training to licensed smog technicians who have been given a citation by the bureau. There are three levels of citation classes:

• Level I (8 hours)
• Level II (16 hours)
• Level III (complete Basic Clean Air Car Course - 68 hours).

Basic certified schools/instructors may only train Basic licensed smog technicians. Advanced certified schools and instructors may teach both Basic and Advanced licensed smog technicians.

BAR (ASE Alternative) Training Courses

These courses are designed to satisfy the professional certification prerequisites when applying to take a Smog Check technician licensing examination.
Note: ASE certification in the areas of A6, A8, and L1 are acceptable in place of these courses.

There are three alternative training courses:

• Electrical/Electronic Systems (20 hrs. min.)
• Engine Performance Systems (24 hrs. min.)
• Advanced Engine Performance/Emission Systems (28 hrs. min.)

There are no prerequisites to enter any of the above courses.
To pass each course, the student must complete the laboratory assignments, and pass a written examination (70% or better).

Bureau certified Basic and Advanced instructors and institutions may provide these courses.

Update Training Courses

Smog technicians (Basic and/or Advanced) may be required to take an update training course, as new automotive technology or program issues emerge that may affect emissions testing, diagnosis, or repair.

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Bureau certified Basic and Advanced instructors and institutions may provide this course.

BAR-certified Smog Check schools

BAR-certified classes may only be given by BAR-certified schools and BAR-certified instructors. Not all schools give all classes all of the time; class schedules are based on demand. Check our searchable database of BAR-certified Smog Check schools to find the training facility nearest you.  Contact the school directly to determine class scheduling and pricing.