Apple Updates Service Tech Training and Certification Program

Apple has updated its Apple Certified Macintosh Technician (ACMT) Certification, making it easier for individuals to get their initial certifications and for existing techs to keep theirs without yearly recertification exams.

The company is making its AppleCare technician certifications permanent as of June 23rd, making it so technicians will not need to go through a yearly recertification process. Additionally, exams of all kinds will be performed online rather than in a testing center.

However, individual product qualifications -- certifications to repair more complicated products like the iMac -- will still need to be performed.

Changes include the following:

No more ACMT recertifications: All service technicians with existing ACMT certifications as of June 23 will be granted a new ACMT certification that eliminates yearly recertification exams. This new certification will allow the same ordering of service parts as the preceding ACMT certification and will not expire.

New exam resources: The following Apple service exams will be available solely from a new online resource:

- 9L0-010 - Apple Macintosh Service Certification Exam
- 9L0-064 - OS X v10.8 Mountain Lion Troubleshooting Exam
- 9L0-E04 - iOS Qualification Exam

Notes:

- All other AppleCare online exams are not affected by this change. You will still access other exams at ibt.prometric.com/apple.
- Details on the new exam resource will be provided in other communications.

No more testing centers: All AppleCare Service exams will be available online. You will be able to take these exams without the need to travel to a testing center.

No more proctored exams: Initial ACMT certification exams will no longer require exam proctors for exams taken at training centers.

Apple has posted a knowledge base article outlining the program, and has also provided an email address for technicians to ask further questions.

It's not clear if the changes are related to a rumored update to Apple's AppleCare support program, or simply an unrelated streamlining of the technician certification process.