ASE Parts Specialist Certification (P1, P2)
ASE offers two parts certifications: P2 Automobile Parts Specialist (75 scored questions) and P1 Medium-Heavy Truck Parts Specialist (70). Both give you 90 minutes and require 2 years of parts counter experience. ASE retired the General Motors Parts Consultant test (P4) after January 1, 2026 (checked October 20, 2026).
Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Test | Scored questions | Time allowed | Recert questions | Recert time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1 Medium-Heavy Truck Parts Specialist | 70 | 90 min | 36 | 45 min |
| P2 Automobile Parts Specialist | 75 | 90 min | 38 | 45 min |
Source: ase.com, checked October 20, 2026.
Which parts test fits your counter
P2 is the car and light truck test and is the usual choice for dealership and retail parts counters. P1 is for counters that serve the medium and heavy truck side, such as truck dealers and fleet suppliers. If you serve both, nothing stops you from holding both.
The parts tests are longer than most technician tests, with 70 and 75 scored questions, because the job spans catalogs, vehicle systems, inventory and customer service rather than one system.
Experience is counter work, not repair
ASE asks for 2 years of work experience specifically related to parts counter work, not hands-on automotive repair. Technicians who move into parts therefore start the clock when they begin working the counter. Document your start date and employers so the form is easy to complete.
The retired GM test
ASE has noted that the General Motors Parts Consultant test, P4, is no longer available after January 1, 2026. If an older job posting or study guide mentions it, treat that as out of date and look at P2 instead. Manufacturers may run their own parts training, and the details vary.
- Parts advisors and parts managers both use the same ASE tests.
- Knowing the vehicle systems helps you find the right part from a description.
- Accurate fitment, returns and inventory habits matter as much as test knowledge.
Renewal
Parts specialists retest every 5 years. The recertification tests are about half the length of the first-time versions: 36 questions for P1 and 38 for P2, each with 45 minutes.
Preparing for the parts tests
The parts tests are the longest of the standard ASE exams by question count: 75 scored questions for P2 and 70 for P1, in 90 minutes. That is about 1.2 minutes a question on P2, so steady pace matters more than on a short test.
The job rewards three kinds of knowledge at once. You need to know the catalog and how to look a part up from a vehicle identification number. You need enough understanding of vehicle systems to ask a customer the right follow-up question. And you need the business side: inventory, returns, core charges and accounts. A strong counter person is usually better at one or two of these than at all three, so use the exam to find the gap.
If you came from the technician side, you probably know the systems well and can spend more of your preparation on catalogs, fitment and counter procedures. If you came from retail or logistics, the reverse is likely true.
- Practice finding parts from a vehicle identification number and a short symptom description.
- Review how supersessions, interchange and fitment notes work in the catalog you use.
- Learn why wrong-part returns happen at your counter and how to prevent them.
- Ask your parts manager which tests the store prefers its counter staff to hold.
ASE Parts Specialist (P1 and P2): common questions
What is the difference between P1 and P2?
P2 is the Automobile Parts Specialist test and P1 is the Medium-Heavy Truck Parts Specialist test. Pick the one that matches the vehicles you sell parts for.
How many years of experience do parts tests require?
2 years of work experience related to parts counter work.
Is the GM Parts Consultant test still available?
No. ASE says the P4 test was retired and is not available after January 1, 2026.
How long is the P2 test?
75 scored questions in 90 minutes.
How often do I recertify?
Every 5 years, using the shorter P1R or P2R test.
Should I take P1 or P2 if my store sells to both cars and trucks?
Take the one that matches most of your daily counter work first. Nothing stops you from adding the other later, and each has its own recertification test.
Do parts tests require technician experience?
No. ASE asks for experience related to parts counter work, and hands-on repair time is not what it counts for these tests.
Where these facts come from
Test lengths, rules and fees are taken from the ASE pages listed under Sources and were checked on October 20, 2026. ASE can change them at any time, so confirm on ase.com before you register. ASE certification is a credential from a nonprofit, not a government license. AutoHire is not affiliated with ASE. Calculated totals, where shown, are AutoHire sums of ASE's published fees.
Sources
- ASE: Parts Specialist tests P1 and P2 (data as of October 20, 2026)
- ASE: Work experience requirements (data as of October 20, 2026)
Data as of October 20, 2026.
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