ASE A5 · exam facts · checked Oct 23, 2026
ASE A5 passing score and test rules
There is no published passing score for A5: ASE releases neither a cut score nor the questions you missed. Below is every other rule of the test, from format and timing to retakes, experience and recertification, each with its source and the date we checked it.
- Not publishedpassing score
- 55questions
- 75 mintesting time
- 30 daysbefore a retake
All A5 facts
| Fact | Detail | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passing score | Not published by ASEASE releases neither a cut score nor the questions you missed | ASE: FAQs · ASE Certification: Need to Know (Jan 2026) | |
| Results | Score report emailed when you finish the testmyASE shows results later: within 24 hours in most cases (FAQ); the Need to Know guide says within 5 days | ASE: FAQs · ASE Certification: Need to Know (Jan 2026) | |
| Questions on the test | 55 questions in all | ASE Automobile Study Guide 2026 (A1–A9) | |
| Scored questions | 45 scored questions | ASE Automobile Study Guide 2026 (A1–A9) · ASE: A1–A9 tests page | |
| Unscored research questions | 10 unscored research questions, not markedanswer every question: you cannot tell which ten are unscored | ASE Automobile Study Guide 2026 (A1–A9) | |
| Testing time | 75 minutes | ASE Automobile Study Guide 2026 (A1–A9) · ASE: A1–A9 tests page | |
| Language | English with a side-by-side Spanish version and a pop-up glossary | ASE Automobile Study Guide 2026 (A1–A9) · ASE Certification: Need to Know (Jan 2026) | |
| Where you take it | First attempt at a Prometric test center only; remote testing is for recertification | ASE Certification: Need to Know (Jan 2026) | |
| Offered in | United States, U.S. territories and Canada; some overseas military bases | ASE: FAQs | |
| Registration windows | 2026: Jan 10–Mar 31 · Apr 10–Jun 30 · Jul 10–Sep 30 · Oct 10–Dec 31 | ASE: test fees and registration (2026) | |
| Time to take the test | 90 days from purchase to schedule and take the test; no changes within 3 days of the appointmentuntaken, unexpired tests canceled within 90 days of purchase are refunded | ASE: test fees and registration (2026) | |
| Retake wait | 30 full days before you can buy and schedule the same test again | ASE: FAQs | |
| Work experience required | 2 years of full-time hands-on work (or the part-time equivalent)you can test first; the certificate waits until the experience is approved | ASE: work experience requirements · ASE Certification: Need to Know (Jan 2026) | |
| Certification valid for | 5 years, then a recertification testa recertification resets the expiry to five years from the recert date | ASE: FAQs | |
| Recertification test | 23 questions, 30 minutesno research questions; open only to those who passed the certification test once | ASE Automobile Study Guide 2026 (A1–A9) · ASE: A1–A9 tests page | |
| Ways to recertify | Test center, remote proctoring (Prometric ProProctor) or the ASE Renewal App | ASE Certification: Need to Know (Jan 2026) · ASE: Renewal App | |
| Master status | One of the 8 tests (A1–A8) required for Master Automobile Technicianeach certification must stay current to keep Master status | ASE: A1–A9 tests page · ASE Automobile Study Guide 2026 (A1–A9) | |
| What changed in 2026 | No change from the 2025 guide: same 45 scored questions, areas and task list | ASE Automobile Study Guide 2025 V2 (archived copy) · ASE Automobile Study Guide 2026 (A1–A9) |
Passing score and results
Passing score
ASE emails a detailed score report but publishes no cut score to compare it against. Figures such as “70%” that circulate online are not published for this test, so do not plan your prep around one.
When results arrive
The score report is emailed at once when your appointment ends. The report reaches myASE later, and ASE’s own FAQ and its Need to Know guide give different delays (see the table), so watch your inbox rather than the account.
Format and timing
You answer 55 questions. 45 of them are scored, spread over four content areas: 19 on hydraulic, power assist and parking brakes, 11 on disc brakes, 10 on ABS, traction and stability control, and 5 on drum brakes. The other 10 are research questions you cannot spot, so answer all of them.
Time
The clock is 75 minutes for all 55 questions.
Changes in 2026
Set against the 2025 guide, the 2026 edition has unchanged question counts, areas and tasks, so a 2025 copy of the A5 pages still matches.
Where and when to test
A first A5 attempt is test center only: a Prometric center in the US and Canada. Orders open in four 2026 windows. Open now: Oct 10–Dec 31 (fall 2026).
Once you buy, your 90 days start: book and sit the test inside them; the table has the rule on late changes. If your plans change, a refund is possible: untaken, unexpired tests canceled within 90 days of purchase are refunded.
If you fail: the retake rule
After a fail, you wait 30 full days before you can buy and schedule the same test again. A retake is a new purchase at the full test fee; what it costs with the registration fee is on the cost page.
Work experience
The A5 certificate needs 2 years of hands-on repair work behind it, full-time or the part-time equivalent. The order is flexible: pass A5 first, and the certificate is issued once myASE has your experience approved.
Schooling can cover part of the requirement; ASE’s work experience form lists each substitute and how much of the two years it counts for.
Recertification and Master status
A5 is valid for 5 years, then a recertification test; a recertification resets the expiry to five years from the recert date. The recertification test is 23 questions, 30 minutes, no research questions; open only to those who passed the certification test once. You can recertify by any of three routes: test center, remote proctoring (Prometric ProProctor) or the ASE Renewal App. The app costs $52/yr for every A1–A9 certificate you hold; how it earns extensions is in the table above. Which route costs less over five years: A5 cost. All routes compared: ASE recertification.
Master Automobile Technician
A5 is one of the 8 tests (A1–A8) required for Master Automobile Technician: each certification must stay current to keep Master status. What Master status takes.
More on A5
- ASE A5 Four content areas with question counts, test rules and fees, sample questions
- ASE A5 practice test Brake questions from all four content areas, every option explained
- ASE A5 cost A5 alone or paired, the retake bill, A5R vs the Renewal App
- ASE A5 study guide A study order by question count, the 68 tasks by area, what the guide’s samples test
- ASE A5 brake diagnosis Pedal pulsation, sinking, spongy or hard pedal, pull, grab and drag, sorted by system
A5 test rules, quick answers
What is the passing score for ASE A5?
It is not published: the score report ASE emails shows no cut score. Any percentage you see quoted for A5 is not from ASE.
Can I take the A5 test online?
Not the first time: test center only. Recertifying is where the remote option and the Renewal App come in (recertification).
How long is A5 certification good for?
5 years. Recertify before it expires with the 23-question test or the Renewal App.
Can I take A5 without two years of experience?
Yes. You can test first; the certificate is issued once your experience is approved, and some training can replace part of it (details).