The Definition Of Certification

As most of you know, Delta Kits offers a free monthly training and certification class here in beautiful Eugene Oregon. These classes are not limited to Delta Kits customers, but are open to windshield repair technicians of all skill levels, as well as individuals interested in entering the windshield repair profession. We supply the equipment, the glass, the resin and the best trainers in the industry.

Recently there has been some question to our use of the word certification, so I think this is an appropriate time to clarify exactly what a Delta Kits certification means. I think it best to start with a description of the word certify, as printed in Webster’s New World Dictionary.

Certify: 1. to declare (a thing) true, accurate, etc. by formal statement. 2. to guarantee (a check, document, etc.) 3. to grant a certificate to –certifiable adj. –certification n.

I would also like to point to common synonyms of the word certify as printed in Webster’s New World Thesaurus.

Certify: v. swear, attest, state; see declare, testify 2.

A Delta Kits Certified Windshield Repair Technician is an individual that has successfully completed a Delta Kits Windshield Repair Training and Certification Class, and passed the final written exam. Successful students are issued a Certificate of Achievement that states, “This certificate is awarded to TECHNICIAN NAME for successfully completing the technical and educational requirements of the Delta Kits windshield repair training program. Arm patches are also made available.

Is this a misuse of the word certification? As someone who has been certified by a variety of organizations over the years, I think not. However, to ease the minds of anyone thinking a certification means something more than Webster’s definition, I will attempt to clarify the reason Delta Kits began offering certifications in the first place.

Delta Kits has offered training classes for many years without a certification, but found that not all technicians were taking the class seriously, especially those attending on their employer’s dime. So in 2002 a course was developed, which included a written test and a physical demonstration of windshield repair skills. Now technicians were taking the course seriously, but occasionally one day of training was not enough to develop the skills necessary to properly repair a windshield, so Delta Kits begin issuing a certificate of achievement to those technicians that could demonstrate proper windshield repair skills and pass the written exam upon completion of the training course. Not every technician attending the course receives a certificate of achievement!

The length of the Delta Kits training and certification course is also scrutinized from time to time. We currently limit training to one day classes for the following reasons:

1) Delta Kits windshield repair systems are very easy to use and we feel that “most” technicians who complete the free one day training class are capable of consistently performing repairs that are superior to industry standards. Those that are not are not awarded certification. We have also found that once technicians are consistently performing excellent repairs, they lose interest in practice and are anxious to put their skills to work in the real world. It should be noted that many other windshield repair systems require more training to achieve the same results which would explain the variety of supplier classes offered.

2) Longer courses = fewer trained technicians. Delta Kits wants every technician to receive training, and our studies have shown that for each additional day added to a training course the class size shrinks significantly.

3) More expensive courses = fewer trained technicians. It costs hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars to administer a high quality training and certification class. Delta Kits absorbs the cost for a one day course, but we would be forced to charge a fee for longer courses.
4) The Delta Kits training and certification course is an equipment specific course. Although many of the techniques we teach are transferable to other systems, we highly recommend that technicians receive training from their equipment provider.

5) The Delta Kits training course is a hands-on program. Although we touch on insurance billing, marketing, and business start up, our training courses focus mainly on safety, repair identification, technique, and proper use of Delta Kits equipment. For more in-depth education on the history of the windshield repair industry, and general windshield repair related information, Delta Kits highly recommends the NGA Windshield Repair Certification Course, which is a home study course also requiring a satisfactory score on the final exam.

Currently there is no requirement to take either the Delta Kits certification course, or the NGA certification course, however, that may change in the near future. In an effort to raise industry standards, there are a number of groups trying to legislate training requirements for windshield repair technicians. For this reason, Delta Kits recommends a practical training course that teaches hands-on skills, and the NGA course to improve your general windshield repair knowledge, and gain industry recognition.

Delta Kits supports many of the efforts to improve industry standards, and we continue to do our part, but we do not support legislation to force technicians into licensing. With that said, we feel it is very important to look toward the future and be prepared for changes in the windshield repair industry. If you hold a Delta Kits certification, and an NGA certification, we are confident that you will meet any requirements that will be presented for many years to come.

Delta Kits continues to refine our training and certification program, and strives to meet any and all qualifications that will be required by industry associations and government agencies. Please continue to check the Wise Crack for training related updates.
 

-Brent Deines