The Bureau of Automotive Repair has very specific training requirements for Smog Check Inspectors and Repair Technicians. Here's how F.A.S.T. courses map to each requirement.
The Bureau of Automotive Repair always has the most up-to-date licensing information. This page is a summary to help you find the right class — the Bureau's website is the authority.
To qualify for the California state licensing exam as a Smog Check Inspector, candidates must complete BAR-approved training in two parts:
Fundamental knowledge of engine and emission control theory, design, and operation. This is the first step of the Bureau's training requirements for inexperienced or minimally-experienced candidates. 68 hours.
Required before you can take the state licensing exam. Hands-on inspection procedures, BAR-97 and OIS operation, and the inspection workflow used in BAR-licensed stations. 28 hours.
Administered by the Bureau of Automotive Repair. Combined Level 1 + Level 2 training qualifies you to sit for the exam. Our students pass at better than a 90% first-attempt rate.
The Bureau provides several pathways to qualify for the Smog Check Repair Technician licensing exam — you need one of the following, plus two years of qualifying experience. See the Bureau's own requirements at BAR.CA.GOV/get-licensed. F.A.S.T. supports the BAR Specified Training: Diagnostic and Repair pathway.
| Education / certification option | F.A.S.T. supports? |
|---|---|
| ASE A6, A8, and L1 certifications | External — held with ASE |
| Associate degree or higher in automotive technology | External — held with school |
| Certificate of completion from an accredited automotive program | External — held with school |
| BAR Specified Training: Diagnostic and Repair | ✅ FAST-BSDR |
Candidates with at least two years of engine-performance repair experience may complete BAR Specified Training: Diagnostic and Repair to qualify for the state licensing exam. This training is valid for 5 years.
Inspector renewal is a 4-hour online update class offered directly through the Bureau of Automotive Repair. F.A.S.T. does not offer this class — take it at BAR.CA.GOV.
Repair Technicians need 16 total update hours every two years. Four of those 16 are the inspector update, taken online through the Bureau. F.A.S.T. offers the remaining 12 hours as BAR Certified Repair Technician Update Training.
Class topics are updated every two years — so every time you need an update, you get fresh material that meets the BAR update training requirements. Current topic: UT079 — Transmission Diagnostics.
| Repair Technician 2-year update | Hours | Where you take it |
|---|---|---|
| Inspector update component | 4 | BAR.CA.GOV — online |
| Repair technician update component | 12 | F.A.S.T. · FAST-UT079 |
| Total | 16 | — |
If you've received a citation from the Bureau and are mandated to complete corrective training, F.A.S.T. provides remedial coursework calibrated to your specific citation. Training is a minimum of 8 hours, which may include a 4-hour online component. Actual training hours could vary depending on the conditions of the citation issued by the Bureau.
| Required training hours | Tuition |
|---|---|
| 8 – 27 hours | $280.00 |
| 28 – 71 hours | $895.00 |
| 72 hours or more | $1,495.00 |
Have your citation paperwork ready. Phone: (760) 840-7954. Email: fastsmogtraining@gmail.com
| Where you are | Hours | F.A.S.T. course |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out — Inspector, step 1 | 68 | Level 1 Smog Check Inspector Training |
| Ready for the Inspector exam — step 2 | 28 | Level 2 Smog Check Inspector Training |
| Repair Technician qualification (ASE alternative) | 72 | BAR Specified Training |
| Inspector renewal | 4 / 2 yrs | Through BAR.CA.GOV |
| Repair Technician renewal | 12 of 16 / 2 yrs | BAR Certified Repair Technician Update Training |
| Reactivating after a citation | Min. 8 | BAR Citation Training |