How can I become AppleCare?

August 11, 2006 3:19 PM

AppleTechFilter: What would it take to become an Apple Authorized Service Tech?

Over the past year, I've done a couple of repairs on out of warrantee Apple laptops (i.e. hard drive replacements, hinge mount/cluth cover swaps on old TiBooks), and I found that despite my totally anxiety, they went without incident. this, combined with an existing skill at wintel desktop internal work and whatnot, have driven me to this question.

What would it take to become Apple certified?

From what I understand, this offers a few benefits:
1) Any repair I do is covered for 90 days, plus warantees that exist on the computer (if applicable)
2) I can order my replacement parts from Apple (less reliance on ebay)
3) I could probably get an apple tshirt
4) Discounts on apple products (i think, I can't be sure)...

My google-fu brought up Apple's 300 dollar training course, which prepares me for their exams, but apparently that still does not give me the right to make repairs in Apple's name, so to speak.

How does one go about this?

(this would not be a regular storefront/online business, just me doing repairs in my house, essentially)

posted by weaponsgradecarp to computers & internet (4 comments total)

Apple Service Provider Program, found by googling for "apple authorized service certification site:apple.com".
posted by mendel at 4:37 PM on August 11, 2006

Being Apple certified means you can work on Apple products at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. It doesn't mean you can do warranty work out of your house.

The requirements for being an AASP would also seem to exclude you, as they require a storefront, 2 years of operation, and a decent credit line.

So, the short answer is "you can't."
posted by jeversol at 8:05 AM on August 12, 2006

Oh, Balls!
posted by weaponsgradecarp at 11:01 AM on August 12, 2006

When I worked for an AASP, I was doing repairs and upgrades on Mac hardware without any training beyond what I already knew, and certainly no certification in my name.

The AASP thing, I think, basically indemifies everyone involved against muckups.
posted by armoured-ant at 1:55 PM on August 12, 2006