Inspection and Repair Industry: Inspection Stations
Inspection Stations
Station Certification & Renewals
Station Notices
Information for Inspectors
All inspection stations and inspectors are required to be licensed by the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to conduct vehicle inspections. The Massachusetts Vehicle Check program is rapidly approaching a full compliment of public light-duty inspection stations. Licenses are still available for fleet, mobile and heavy duty public inspection stations, as we anticipate an increased need for this class of station.
An applicant for a class M motorcycle inspection station license must be a Motorcycle Dealer licensed pursuant to M.G.L. c. 140, § 58 or a motorcycle repairman who possesses a license required by law to carry on a repair business and who has received factory training or equivalent training approved by the Registrar.
For more information about inspections and licensing requirements, please see the inspection station rules and regulations posted at http://www.mass.gov/rmv/inspect/540cmr400.pdf or call the station support hotline at 877-834-4677.
If you would like to be considered for a fleet, mobile, or heavy duty public inspection station,
please e-mail Mark.LaFrance@state.ma.us Please include the following information:
- Station Name (if applicable)
- Contact Person
- Address
- Telephone
- Class of station you are interested in applying for (Class C, D, E, or F)
Alternately, you may send you request via U.S. mail to: Mark LaFrance, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, RMV Division, P.O. Box 55892, Boston, MA 02205-5892.
Please note: The RMV does not anticipate utilizing stations on the “waiting list” for a public light-duty inspection station except under extenuating circumstances, such as areas of the Commonwealth that are deemed to be underserved. If you have previously placed your name on the waiting list for a Class A or Class B station license, we will contact you if a license becomes available.
Station Certification and Renewals
Station certification occurs through the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). To learn more, visit their website.
Station Notices
In addition to your workstation messages, the Massachusetts Vehicle Check team will update this page with notices important to you and your staff. Check back often!
October 3, 2008
Download this message
to Inspectors regarding unusual test data.
.doc
(36 KB) or .pdf (24 KB)
Information for Inspectors
As the primary communicator with the motorists, the inspector is a vital component of the emissions and safety program. To ensure a high level of proficiency, a prospective inspector for the Massachusetts Vehicle Check Program must:
- Complete specific training
- Be issued a license by the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)
An inspector can be licensed for non-commercial, commercial, 7D and/or motorcycle inspections. Non-commercial and commercial training includes emissions and safety components, while 7D and motorcycle training is for safety only. The commercial training also includes additional material that meets the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements for commercial motor vehicle inspectors.
RMV provides inspectors who have received a certificate, met other RMV requirements, and paid appropriate fees if applicable, with an Inspector’s License. An Inspector license is valid for one year unless it is suspended or revoked. People who have not been licensed by RMV or whose Inspector license has been suspended or revoked are not be allowed to perform inspections.
If you are already a licensed Inspector:
- You will need to complete Parsons’ training that is appropriate for your class of Inspector license.
- Then you may continue to perform inspections in the new program until your license expires. At that time, you will need to renew it if you want to continue to perform inspections.
- You must complete recertification training every two years. When you have done this, Parsons will provide the recertification training that you will need for your class of Inspector license.
How to become an inspector
Interested in becoming an inspector? To start the process, download
and complete the Inspector Training
Application or
contact Parsons at 877-834-4677 to request that an application
be mailed to you. You will be required to successfully complete a
state-approved inspector training course at one of the Parsons training
facilities. To learn more about becoming an inspector, contact Parsons
at 877-834-4677.
To learn more about becoming an inspector, contact Parsons at 877-834-4677.
Inspector Training
The Massachusetts Vehicle Check program has established regional training locations
across the state: Pocasset (Bourne), Braintree, Shrewsbury and West
Springfield. An additional location will be set up north of Boston.
Each training class has three components, with separate grades provided for each:
- Classroom attendance and participation
- A written exam
- A hands-on practical demonstration
At the end of the classroom and hands-on sessions, the instructor will determine whether individual students pass or fail each of the sessions. Students who fail a session, must repeat the training class. Students must pass both the classroom and the hands-on sessions to advance to the written exam.
In order to pass, a minimum score of 80% is required on the written exam. Students who pass all three components will receive a Certificate of Completion for the training.
Once the training is complete, the RMV will determine if the inspector meets the remaining licensing requirements, collect the appropriate fee and issue an inspector license (with photo ID). Your license, which is valid for one year, will be mailed to you.
Commercial Vehicle Inspector Training
Qualifications of Inspectors
If you want to become licensed to inspect commercial vehicles, you will need to:
- Have at least one year of of experience:
- In a truck manufacturer-sponsored training program or similar commercial training program designed to train students in truck operation and maintenance; or
- As a mechanic or inspector in a motor carrier maintenance program; or
- As a mechanic or inspector in truck maintenance at a commercial garage, fleet leasing company, or similar facility; or
- As a commercial motor vehicle inspector for a State, Provincial or Federal Government; and
- Have successfully completed a non-commercial and commercial motor vehicle inspection training program that consists of 8 hours of in-classroom training, 2 hours of hands-on training, and a 50-question written exam. The inspector must achieve a score of 80% or better in the written exam.
- Hold an RMV license to operate a vehicle in the GVWR that you want to inspect;
- Hold an RMV inspector’s license for the vehicle class that you want to inspected; and
- Be employed by an inspection station licensed to inspect commercial motor vehicles.
Commercial motor vehicle inspector must renew their training every two years by completing a computer-based training course and passing an exam. Massachusetts Inspector Licenses must be renewed annually.
Recertification Training
The Inspector Training Certificate expires two years after the date on which the Certificate was issued. RMV notifies inspectors by mail 60 days before their training certificates expire. The Recertification training courses are taken online, and not in the classroom. Recertification training will be provided by Computer Based Training methodologies. Inspectors will be provided with a website address and login instructions to complete their online training.
Fees
Initial Training
Fees for training courses are:
Non-commercial: $157.50
Commercial: $105.00
7D: $105.00
Motorcycle: $ 84.00
An inspector who needs to reschedule a confirmed class must provide 48 hours advance notice that s/he cannot attend. Due to class size restrictions, a student who fails to provide 48 hours cancellation notice will still be charged the appropriate fee for the missed training session. Fees must be paid before rescheduling for another training session.
Fees for Recertification training have not been determined yet. When they are established, they will be posted here.