How to Get a Smog Specialist Certificate in Washington

To ensure that you can earn the income you need to live comfortably and provide for yourself and your family, it is essential that you continue to improve your skills and knowledge. Automotive technology continues to evolve, as do the laws regarding how these technologies should work. A very good example of this is outlier testing. By becoming a Washington D.C. Certified Smog Technician, you can take advantage of additional automotive technician jobs and increase your income.

How to Become a Certified Smog Specialist

If you are interested in becoming certified to test for smog and become an Authorized Emissions Specialist (what Washington calls Smog Specialists), you need to be tested at the APPPLUS Technologies Test Facility. There are several testing and certification sessions each year in the counties mentioned above.

Become an Authorized Test Center

The State of Washington requires that any facility that conducts emissions testing must also have a permit to do so. To receive a permit, an object must meet certain requirements. Here they are:

• Hire at least one authorized emission specialist with current credentials
• Use only equipment obtained from APPLUS Technologies.
• Complete all Indoor Challenges
• Have internet access
• Be authorized by the Department of Ecology
• Allow testing only by authorized emission technicians

Automotive center managers, owners and operators can learn more about becoming an Authorized Test Center in Washington DC.

Where in Washington state is smog testing required?

Emission testing is not required for most of Washington state at this time. The state government requires it in most of Clark County, as well as Spokane, King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties. Other areas may eventually be affected as their population grows. However, these are the only counties currently required to test light vehicles for smog.

Which vehicles require a smoke test?

Currently, there are only certain vehicles that must pass emissions testing in Washington State. If your license expires in 2016, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007 vehicles must be tested in the counties listed above. If your license expires in 2017, you need to check 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 models.

Note that 2009 and newer models do not need to be tested. Motorcycles are also not required to pass smog tests. Finally, the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius (both hybrids) never need to be tested. Passenger cars with a diesel engine weighing less than 6,001 pounds will never require inspection, and vehicles made since 2007 (regardless of weight) will never require inspection. You can learn more about whether a vehicle requires testing from the Washington State Department of Licensing.

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