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High School

What high school courses should you take if you're interested in this career? Get your answers from the Transportation, Distribution and Logistics cluster Facility and Mobile Equipment Maintenance pathway.

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Not all car stereo installers have formal training. Some start out by installing stereos in their own cars and in their friends' cars.

Then they might get a job -- any job -- in a car stereo shop. That way they can learn by watching.

As with so many professions, it helps if you already know somebody in the business.

"If they could possibly just go to work in a car stereo store, that would be the best way," says Ian Walls. He owns a car stereo store. "But that's hard because you need some credentials to get in, or [you need to] know somebody to get your foot in the door."

If you don't know anybody in the car stereo business, it's best to get some formal training.

"If a person doesn't have [connections], then a certificate shows someone has gone to the effort and expense to get some training," says Walls. "It shows commitment."

Vince Edwards agrees. He's an installer and sales manager at a car stereo shop. "Realistically, the best way to do it is not just to say, 'I've installed a stereo in my car,' but having some other experience," says Edwards. "So having a certificate, having gone to a car audio course, definitely helps."

"Right now, I'd say everybody that works here has had some amount of [formal] training in the past," says Walls. "That includes salespeople who've learned about installing so they can do a better job advising customers, and that includes myself."

You can get formal training at a number of car stereo installation schools across North America.

One such school is Mobile Technical Training in New Jersey. The school's mobile electronic installation and fabrication course can take between 10 and 26 weeks (depending on whether students are part time or full time).

Carlos Zambrano was a car audio installer and now works as an admissions representative for the New Jersey training school. He says previous work experience isn't necessary.

"We teach from the ground up -- what a speaker is, what it does," Zambrano says. "So even if you don't have experience, you can still do it. The introductory segment is basically an introduction to the whole field."

Once students complete their training, they are encouraged to take the Mobile Electronics Certified Professional (MECP) exam.

The MECP program is the national certification standard in the U.S. Many companies require certification, but it is not a legal necessity. It allows installers to demonstrate their skills by passing a written exam.

The increasing complexity of car stereo technology means that installers need to keep learning.

"Automakers are continuing to integrate more features into their vehicles," says Theresa Hephner. She's the national accounts director for a car stereo manufacturer in Arizona.

"They often tie security systems, climate control and door controls to the factory stereo," she explains. "This makes it difficult to replace the factory stereo with an aftermarket one, or to add aftermarket equipment like amplifiers or video screens. This complexity forces the installer to actively seek new information about vehicles coming on to the market.

"Most of the wiring information and product details are offered online now," Hephner adds. "So today, installers not only need a strong knowledge of automotive electrical systems, they also need to be computer and web savvy."

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