NWRA Re Certification Fee

[SGT]

For those that are NWRA certified, have you ever paid to renew your certification?

If not it is coming folks. I just recieved a bill for 79.00 today. Being a person whos life is pretty much centered around certifications I am a strong advocate for them. Especially when they carry some weight. I am not so sure that this NWRA certification does other than giving you professional credibility. I am am not currently an NWRA member and I am undecided as to weather I will renew my cert. at this point as well. The price is not the factor for as it is cheap enough. Sure it is nice to say you have it but I am sure my customers just dont care. I wish that were different but it just is not.

So I am curious what others CERTIFIED technicians have to say on this.

Oh by the way the NGA cert. is a lifetime cert.

[candyman]

SGT: I didnt know the NGA was a one time certification. is there a requirement oto take classes each year? I just renewed my NWRA membership. Iam still waiting for the answer as to who or where the classes are that we need to attend for the recertification. I know how many I need but no one has informed me yet as to where I get this training and what is considered training. I have to have this done by Dec of 2011 or retake the exam. Korey was checking o this for me as well.
Do you Know the answer.

[SGT]

I have an email from Michael Rodriguez at NGA that states NGA cert is lifetime. Who knows that may change as well for new certifications. As for NWRA all I recieved was a bill for 79.00 and it did not indicate retesting was needed. I think they just want the cash to keep your existing certification current. I cant imagine that there are a lot of certified techs out there as I think most just dont give a ratts a--! Sad but true. I would think that if NWRA noticies they are loosing the very few that are certified they would follow the NGA lead on this one. I think the loss of the few certified tech's out here in repair land would be a giant step backwards in the world of industry progress. Hey but who the hell am I. I more than likely will renew just becuase of how I feel about certifications. We will see.

[Kgobin]

Below is the only information I have seen in regards to re-certification from the NWRA. I am unsure what a continuing education units (CEUs) is.

[SGT]

The insurance industry is big on CE( continuing education ) as I am sure other industries and now apparentlt the . Based on what I read I should have recieved more than just a bill. It appears since this would be my first renewal I need 2 units of CE. I would think NWRA better let us know the How What Where Why And When of all this.

So if a renewal fee costs 79.00 How much does each CE cost or is that included? When I get a chance I will call the NWRA unless someone else who may care beats me to it. Stay tuned.

[SuperGlassDave]

Hey Brian,
I am surprised that you got a bill with no information about CE courses. I am not on the certification committee but I am not aware of any CE courses or classes that are in effect. I too would question getting an invoice without getting the means to keep my certification intact and current.
I am certified too and will call the NWRA next week to find out about CE.
Also, the question of the need of re-certification or CE. Is it necessary? Let's ask ourselves. Would certification from 15 years ago still be applicable? If so, then what is the need? If there have been enough changes in the windshield, the repair technology and training and the safety issues, then CE and recert would be applicable. It's a good question and not one that I have the answer to myself, yet.
Either way, the way to improve the industry, including certification programs, is to discuss it, refine it, bring it to the trade association if possible. As long as people are learning, as they do here and through cert, that is the biggest key. Making sure that is recognized, and respected, by our customers is also key. Someday it will be more important than it is now, like most things. It would be good to have a solid program in place when it is, 10-4?
Thanks for initiating the issue and pushing it towards improvement and acceptance. Hope your year is going good with cars and planes
Have a pleasant weekend - David Casey - SuperGlass, Inc.

[DryStar]

I thinks it's great for anybody taking the time to get A NWRA certification. Here's the problem though, Lynx and our other networks don't recognize or accredit NWRA certifications. Why that is, I have no idea. Maybe somebody knows and would like to share.

[SGT]

Nice one Drystar! You are right and have a valid point and certainly one worth discussing but I do not want this to become a "What the NWRA should be doing for us" bashing session. Maybe open another thread for the things techs would like to see the NWRA do for us so we can keep this topic as virgin as possible and get clear answers on this topic.

Sorry do not want it to seem like I run this forum, just thought it would be best for us all if it did not get clouded other chatter.

[GLASSTIME]

Brian,

Like you I value my certification and feel it is without question a very important asset to my company along with any other certifications I may encounter or thus said training or extensive training I receieve! However I do feel that instead of just sending a invoice to you for $79.00, there should have been some explanation of what all that $79.00 includes. Does it just mean your still entitled to boast the patch and remain certified within thier system or is there another invoice on it's way seperate from this one on it's way for the "CEU"???

Regardless of the situation I am eager to hear what N.W.R.A has to say about this one! Please keep us posted to your findings!

[SGT]

I briefly spoke with Deb Levy so I will summerize the conversation we had...

Apparently there are a large group of certificate holders coming due. It appears that the certification committee has not reached a verdict on how they will move forward with re certifying current cert holders outside of a renewal fee. (ie: CE’s or other practicle measument). So the NWRA opted to send out a bill only at this point to prevent a certification lapse . Renewal will be good til 2012 without the need for CE’s. I know that does not really clarify the whole CE issue but that is still in work. I did take the opportunity to mention the NGA cert is a lifetime cert. so maybe that will grow legs. Again my conversation was brief so hopefully Dave will share his findings as well and correct me where needed.