Independent Technicians Given Access To Apple Parts And Repair Manuals

Apple is extending the reach of its Independent Repair Provider program to technicians in more than 200 countries, which is roughly Cupertino’s entire market. This means that independent facilities and repair service providers, after receiving the necessary certification, will have access to genuine parts, tools, repair manuals and diagnostics.

The program was initially launched in 2019, and now there are more than 1,500 Independent Repair Provider locations serving customers across the US, Canada, and Europe. Apple already has a network of over 5,000 AASPs (Apple Authorized Service Providers) scattered throughout the globe.

They are tasked with helping customers with both in- and out-of-warranty service for all Apple products. To find a location, visit support.apple.com/repair. However support coverage should improve tenfold now that the company’s independent repair program is in full swing.

This is big news because anyone can join Apple’s Independent Repair Provider program at no cost. To qualify, they need to have an Apple-certified technician to perform the required repairs. The certification process is said to be “simple and free of charge”. If you want to know more about the IPR visit support.apple.com/irp-program.

Here’s the gist of it according to Apple: “Becoming certified to repair Apple products requires passing exams through an online Authorized Testing Center. Certifications are updated on a per product basis annually. The certification exam fees are waived for businesses that have been approved to be an Independent Repair Provider.”

Later this week, independent technicians and repair facilities in the following countries, can apply to join Apple’s repair program:

Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.

Later in the year the following countries will have the same access to the program:

Albania, Algeria, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Israel, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sint Maarten, Somalia, South Sudan, Spanish Virgin Islands, St. Barthelemy, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Pierre and Miquelon, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, US Virgin Islands, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Wallis and Futuna, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.