What Do Consumers Understand About Certification?

[the dangling wrangler]

Some of my certifications include:

Getting burned with molten brazing alloy and flux certification

Getting shocked certification

Getting poked in the top of the head with a piece of threaded rod while climbing a ladder certification

Inhaling phosgene gas certification

Absorbing copious amounts of carcinogens and solvents through your skin certification

Being blinded by the sun on a white rubber roof in July certification

Getting stung by wasps and bit by spiders certification

Slipping and falling on a wet roof first thing in the morning and busting your @$$ certification.

Getting cut with sheet metal certification

Have to call the wife and let her know you’re working late because your job got rained on and now you’re 3 hours behind schedule so you won’t be able to make the dinner reservation you’ve had for a week certification.

[newoldtech]

Some of my certifications include:

Getting burned with molten brazing alloy and flux certification

Getting shocked certification

Getting poked in the top of the head with a piece of threaded rod while climbing a ladder certification

Inhaling phosgene gas certification

Absorbing copious amounts of carcinogens and solvents through your skin certification

Being blinded by the sun on a white rubber roof in July certification

Getting stung by wasps and bit by spiders certification

Slipping and falling on a wet roof first thing in the morning and busting your @$$ certification.

Getting cut with sheet metal certification

Have to call the wife and let her know you’re working late because your job got rained on and now you’re 3 hours behind schedule so you won’t be able to make the dinner reservation you’ve had for a week certification.

The scariest thing about your list is its all true.

This should be the list of questions on a job interview. If you haven't had all of these things happen to you, you probably don't have enough experience yet.

[hearthman]

You can state that you are certified, licensed, bonded, deputized or whatever but if you don't attach the name of the certification and certifying agency, it mean nothing. Now, there are a few certifications that are trademarked and defended so beware what you call yourself.

Should you get *certified*? Absolutely. In everything applicable to your scope of practice. Failure to get certified in what you do is unprofessional, poor business and a liability. Should you get sued, your credentials or lack thereof will certainly be considered as part of your credibility and veracity of your findings.

Whether or not you get any marketing lift from your credentials is up to you and what you do with it. For instance, if you have a website, you should post links to the certifying agencies so homeowners and look them up if desired. Most won't but seeing certs is reassuring and that has value.

[acwizard]

There is no doubt that our industry has become more complicated in recent years. IMO NATE does have its place , but I become agitated when they try to market themselves as the authority ,better educated and trained technicians. The unions once tried that scheme and we all know what happened there. Our industry does not need to be regulated by politicians but instead by good common sense. Anyone that has chosen this industry as a career should want to keep up with the technology, attend as many classes as possible and realize that there is a wealth of information out there and it is very difficult to know everything. NATE should get out of bed with the utilities and government and go back to teaching individuals how to be a better technician.

[Tech Rob]

The scariest thing about your list is its all true.

This should be the list of questions on a job interview. If you haven't had all of these things happen to you, you probably don't have enough experience yet.

The second question should be "How many times has one of these things happened to you?" If the answer is more than once, that would indicate that you don't learn from your mistakes!