certification?

[desertstars]

Assuming that meaningful tech certification is desirable, and, I think it is, can we take a look at some of the thorny problems in that regard?

(In their defense, perhaps one of the reasons the NWRA hasn't solved that certification goal is the major reason nothing fruitful has been accomplished so far)

Obtaining a hands-on certification shouldn't involve anything more than a trip within a 100 or 150 mile radius and should be relatively inexpensive. $100 is plenty.

Working within those parameters, can we accomplish the goal?

Let's start from there.

Let's assume that the NWRA would be the ultimate arbiter as to whether or not the test is passed and regardless of whether the testee is a member of that organization. Those members can sew a NWRA patch along with a certification patch if they so wish.

At this point I can't suggest who might actually administer the test, but I can suggest who should not.

Suppliers or manufacturers of windshield equipment.

Individual repair and repair/replacement shops.

Both of the entities above will only open a can of worms involving charges of paternalism, favoritism and expediency. The administrator must have no ax to grind; must be beyond reproach; must be objective.

Leaving aside the question of WHO would administer the test for now, we can consider the question of how one would receive certification.

Before and after pictures sent to the NWRA for analysis.

The pictures would be signed by both the tester and the testee.

Attached would be a brief description of the procedures the testee used to effect each type of repair. Since there is no universally accepted method or methods, the certification wouldn't hinge on "how" the repair was made but on "how" it looked after. However, the written explanation could indicate how much analysis or thought was applied before approaching a bullseye, half-moon, star, combination, etc.

Setting up the actual certifier is easy enough. The NWRA already exists and already meets the yardsticks I previously outlined.

Because this a tech REPAIR certification, there should be NO replacement members on the certification board even if they also do repairs. Without questioning their honesty, let's keep this pure and uncomplicated from the onset.

As to who or what entity actually administers the tests, I have no suggestions at this stage. The combined IQ's on this board can address (and I am confident) eventually solve that problem.

[GlassStarz]

I have often been told that I am CERTIFIABLE and from reading his posts I think that coiter guys a little off too.

[Coitster]

Hey I fully admite to being certifiable. Just ask Jeff and Matt when they met me at MTE. I think they thought I was a little nuts. If you ask my wife she will just tell you I am totaly insane.
David
Coitster

[desertstars]

Anyone with bad breath is also Certs-ifiable as well.

But, you guys don't qualify because you are already in the "bidness".

[glassdoctor]

You know what came to mind today? Not much.

No, really... I was thinking aoobut this whole nwra certification thing. As desertstars said, there are conflicts of interest with many of the logical would be "testers". So, who could do it?

I think a real workable solution may be to have an independent wsr-only entrepreneur... one of us... with no ties to the "industry", create a "testing company". Use the reasonable test fee to fun the enterprise. I think the $100 mark would be a goal, but maybe it would have to be a bit more to keep it profitable, depending upon the success of it.

I was thinking about an independant training school for wsr techs. Someone not on the salary of an wsr supplier. Someone with real experience and success in the business. Maybe someone who is ready to get out of the elemnets and off the pavement, and inside to hang out and teach people his trade.

Someone with a enterprise like this would be the perfect entity to provide fair, effective, unbiased testing for an nwra certification.

Am I nuts? Is there a shortage of old... cough... wsr techs out there?

[desertstars]

In fact, I had already thought about and discounted the retired techs you suggested, WD.

The element of paternalism or favoritism or vested interest will still enter the picture.

But, how about approaching the SBA association and offering this to a local retired ex-executive of whatever company is un-related from the w/s industry?

That association already exists and is set up in every major city in the country.

Those retired seniors presently offer their time to people like us for no charge and their expertise and business-savvy is not something to be ignored or discounted.

What do they really need to know concerning the differences between a qualified or unqualified repair?

Give the selected and objective proctor $50 to admininster the test; give the NWRA $50 to evaluate and certify the test.

The matter of "profit" shouldn't even be considered.

Certification should not be considered as a profitable enterprise.

I enjoyed the levity heretofore and contributed toward it myself.

I also know that in the background, those same people are giving this question some serious contemplation.

Just as you did.

[glassdoctor]

desterstars, you have a good idea about the SBA administering written tests... curious to see if they would be able to do something like that. But hands on needs someone with a good knowledge of wsr, whether from past experience or proper training and education.


About the wsr tech-turned-certifier issuse... Maybe there would be some bias, but hopefully bias toward wsr and qualified wsr techs. Even if you take a farmer out of the corn fields and educate him so he can manage a certification school, he is human and industry folks will try to influence him for their own interests. Anyone with good motives I think could work. As long as humans are involved, this is an issue.

The reason I mentioned "profitable" is, I think it has to be a business for profit entity. That's the only way I see an unbiased, meaningful, hands-on certification process becoming a reality. Funding has to come from somewhere. For obvious conflict of interest reasons, the funding shouldn't come from the industry's suppliers or manufacturers. No individual is going to provide this type of thing on their own dime. The nwra and wsr industry would have to support the certification. If this happened, then there may be a market for someone to create a "business" to serve this purpose. If such an entrepreneur had the backing of the industry and worked with the nwra to create acceptable standards and testing procedures, I see it entirely possible. Who actually runs the business shouldn't matter if they are not in bed with anyone.

And, I don't mean someone starting a "certification school" just to get rich off wsr techs or charge unreasonable fees. This would probably need to be addressed and proposed fees written in stone before the NWRA would endorse such a project.

It may have to be separate from the nwra as well, although would need it's blessing to gain legitimacy. An independent certification school. Maybe the NWRCS... National Windshield Repair Certification School.

It's a complicated and messy endeavor, for sure. 'nuf outta me for now..

[DaveC]

Perhaps things can be simplified (or more complicated) if we followed some of the models of other Trades/Professions....

Doctors, Plumbers, Electricians, (Even Boy Scouts), etc. . . all have certain "levels" of "certification." Be it intern/apprentice, resident/journeyman, etc. . .

I believe, that the purpose/goal of WSR certification is a "two-pronged" fork:

1. to provide the consumer with some confidence/assurance that their WSR technician ascribes to certain practices/standards of professionalism/perforrmance and:

2. To encourage WSR techs to adhere to those practices/standards, to continue to gain proficiency through practical/hands-on experience as well as continued education AND to promote WSR in a professional and positive manner.

While "newbie" WSR techs could not be expected to posess the experience/knowledge of an "old pro." A desire to "be all that they can be" (oops, did I still some trademark?;) and to "learn all that they can" should be recognized and promoted.

To simply establish a combination of goal oriented written/hands-on tests, without providing access to resources to afford a WSR tech to meet these goals, would only serve (IMO) to create some sort of "class" distinctions.

Naturally, I have some ideas as to how this type of "Mentor and Monitor" process should go, but I would love to hear the thoughts of others along these lines.

[glassdoctor]

You know what? Maybe the whole issue should be left alone anyway. I don't have a problem with the way things are. I've never had a desire or felt the need to be certified or have a patch that may as well say boy scout as far as most customers care. More influencial certifications may just invite more unqualified techs to try get it. If it can't be truely done right, it shouldn't be done at all. Is this the most logical view? Just a different way of looking at the situation. If it ain't broke...

[desertstars]

Some real thoughtful posts concerning certification and much to consider.

I appreciate the input.

I agree, glassdoctor, about not having a problem with the way things are now.

But, sooner or later certification is going to be seriously considered if not implemented just as repair standards are being developed as we speak.

If we can hammer out some details now or in the near future that exclude the IGA and manufacturers from poking their fingers in the pie, I'm all for it.

We haven't managed to accomplish that when it comes to repair standards.

It is still unclear to me as to why the IGA is involved in setting up those standards in the first place. That must be a pretty good comparison to the fox in the henhouse analogy if I've ever seen one.