Certification, Who needs it?

“Should I get certified?” I hear this question a lot from technicians that are just starting in the industry. It is actually a difficult question to answer. There are many successful windshield repair technicians with thriving companies that have absolutely no certification or hands on factory training. In the past, with equipment manufacturers charging hundreds of dollars for training, and the inconvenience and cost of taking the National Glass Association Certification Exam, many technicians have chosen to ignore the process. But times are definitely changing.

Now that the first US windshield repair standard, the Repair of Laminated Automotive Glass Standard (ROLAGS), is complete, both the National Glass Association (NGA) and the National Windshield Repair Association (NWRA) are developing online certification programs. Both are scheduled to be available very soon. Using the Internet to educate technicians and to administer the certification process is a very welcome change for our industry. I would encourage any technician to take a look at the new programs. Taking away a few of the hurdles to become a well educated windshield repair technician will hopefully result in better repairs being performed and a better image for our industry.

Speaking of removing hurdles, did I mention that the Delta Kits Factory Certification course is now FREE? The one thing that both the NGA and NWRA certifications are missing is hands on training. Knowing about the new standard, professionalism, and safety concerns is very important, but to me the most critical part of building a successful repair business is being able to perform great windshield repairs. Once a month, here in Eugene, we offer a full day of hands on repair training that will give you a great foundation of skills to build your business on. Just give us a call to sign up.