Education & course terms
- Continuing education (CE)
- Ongoing learning used to maintain or update professional knowledge. Miami-Dade’s mechanic licensing guidance requires 16 hours each year. In Spanish, the common term is educación continua.
- 16-hour course
- A course advertised as providing 16 hours of education. The subject, approval and documented completion still need to fit the intended renewal.
- 32 hours
- The education total listed on the county application for a two-year renewal. Confirm the combination of records that applies to your application.
- Self-paced learning
- Study that lets a learner move through material according to the provider’s rules. It does not mean that required learning, assessment or time conditions disappear.
- Assessment
- A test or other evaluation of learning. Passing criteria and retake rules are set for the particular course; check them before enrolling.
- Course completion certificate
- The provider’s record that a learner met the course requirements. Keep it with the other education evidence needed for renewal.
County & permit terms
- MVR
- Motor Vehicle Repair. You will see this abbreviation in Miami-Dade’s repair-business and mechanic licensing information.
- Mechanic / technician permit
- The county-issued record for the applicable mechanic or technician category. A course-completion record is a separate document.
- Renewal
- The county process for maintaining an existing permit for another period. Review the current record, application instructions, education evidence and applicable fees.
- Initial application
- An application for a new permit. Its requirements can differ from renewing an existing permit.
- Apprentice
- A category the county distinguishes from certified mechanics and technicians. County guidance addresses supervised work and the applicable permit process.
- CSS / Citizen Self-Service
- Miami-Dade’s online portal used for license applications and renewals. Use the current county instructions to access or link the relevant record.
Terms to check when comparing courses
- Approval
- Recognition of a provider or course for a defined purpose. Ask which authority approved what, and confirm that the claim applies to the exact course and your renewal.
- One-time course price
- A price for a particular course purchase. Confirm what it includes, whether it renews automatically and which optional or separate charges may apply.
- County fee
- A charge related to the county application or permit. It is separate from the amount paid to a course provider.
- Certificate verification
- A process for checking a provider’s course record. It is distinct from checking the status of a county permit.
- ASE / AATI certifications
- Certifications referenced in the county’s mechanic permit application. These credentials and continuing-education evidence have different roles in the application.
Sources & further reading
Reviewed October 22, 2026. Check the linked county and provider pages for subsequent changes.