Certification programs

Scott Stone

Scott Stone

New member
This is more of a question than a poll. This is conserning a national certification program that would be broader in scope than anythign the PWNA is offering right now, and it would cover areas of expertise different from the PWNA. Keep in mind the idea of possible efforts to make it nationally recognized so that you could get some of the major accounts in you area.


If you were to participate in a certification program, what would you expect from it?

What areas would you like to see a certification program in?

What would you expect to be covered?

How much would you be willing to pay to get this certification, along with manuals, etc.?

How far would you be willing to travel?

What kind of experience level should be expected in order to get this certification?

Any other comments that you might have about certification programs?
 
If you have an interest in developing certification programs, I'm sure the PWNA would love to have you on board to develop and/or teach another certifcation program...................why reinvent the wheel?

I know that doesnt answer the original question, but we are looking to expand our certification programs in the future, and of course are open to suggestions.
 
Please take a look at the following link and post your suggestions there:

http://www.pwnabbs.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=441

If we can get the responses together in this one area, it might help to evaluate them and build a consensus as to what people feel are the most beneficial programs and what aspect they feel are most important.
 
Mike,
I know that the PWNA would love to have me write a certification program. There would be alot of things that I feel that would need to be included in order for me to feel that it would justify my time. I just want to know what everyone would like to see if I, or someone else, were to write a certification program. There does not appear to be a whole lot of interest.

Scott
 
Don't let this post die out. I haven't had time to come up with idea's as of late but I will try to bang out a few within the next couple of days....if I don't forget.

How about some others who might have some great idea's..step up to the plate.
 
What kind of experience level should be expected in order to get this certification?

Scott asked as one of his numerous questions the above.

This is a tough one as the new guy on the block might want to get certified ASAP so he can grow and have something to tell prospective accounts.

At the same time it could be said you need a certain number of years before you could take a class and be certified.

3, 5, 7 who knows what number would be fair and non-discrimatory.

THREE years gives the guy or gal enough hands on to understand what the job is like and which part of pressure washing he or she would want to specialize in.

FIVE years is the make it or break it year, you either have or will very soon fail and close shop OR you are on your way to many years of being in business.

SEVEN years is a long time to wait but by then you will know it all, right? WRONG as laws continue to change and we all need to stay up with things like that.

So what is a fair number of years, anytime once you establish your business, 1,2, or more?

What about the person who does not own a business yet wants to take the class, say an employer of an unrelated business that has their own pressure washer needs one or two employes certified? can they take the class?

Enough, I am stepping off the stump.
 
I think being actively engaged in the industry should be enough for a basic certification. Requiring a specific number of years might discourage people from joining the organization and trying to learn as much as they can before they make costly mistakes.

Down the road, it might be a good idea to have different levels of certifications that take into account years of experience, Association participation, etc.
 
Although what I am contemplating is a loose organization, it would not be formal. I am talking about a recognizable certification program that would be promoted so that major sorporations and entities would recognize its' value.

In order for that to work, I would think that there should be a minimum experience level. If I was a major corporation, I would not want a brand new guy that just bought his pressure washer yesterday to rollup and wash what ever.

Scott
 
To actually be on and approved vendor list of a major corporation this is one of the requirements of the customer. Years operating, it’s important to them and it should be a requirement in any certification program. I see the different levels being a smart idea.
 
I think we all seem to agree that certifications are a good thing and there needs to be a few more specialties addressed, but I haven't seen anyone coming up with a game plan for creating them.

If you guys are serious, why not start putting something on the table that can be discussed and organized into a workable plan?

Ron, do you train your employees? Do you have an outline of what you want them to know before they start working your customers' properties? If so, that could be a very good start to a Flatwork Certification Program.

Other here do Fleet Washing and Mobile Car Washing. Do you guys want to help shape the direction of a certification program that could help market your business?

I am working on a Roof Cleaning Certification Program right now. Will it be perfect? No. Will it encompass all areas of Roof Cleaning entirely? No. Will it give Contractors a basic understanding of what's involved and help them to be more productive and less destructive? Yes.

It's too easy to say that whatever programs are available right now are not adequate, don't address enough areas, aren't credible, and so on. But the fact is that the programs that are currently available are only available because someone decided to put forth the effort to get the ball rolling.

If we don't have enough people willing to put in some time and effort to get things started, this same discussion will be going on 10 years from now.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how we move forward? If so, let's go!

http://www.pwnabbs.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=441
 
ARC I think that is what Scott is asking for the ideas for, to put things down and start formating some sort of plan.

Before anyone can do things you need to gather up what people expect and want out of it.

Then what is the starting point, meaning experience before being allowed to become certified.

I think Dave Olson has an employee book and that they must read it then sign off after they understand it all.
 
1-If you were to participate in a certification program, what would you expect from it? I would expect to feel confident enough when I complete this program that I can now apply what I learned immiediately.

2- What areas would you like to see a certification program in?
Flat work that also incorporates reclaiming the water and how to do this. Also I would like to see a class on exterior bldg. cleaning and how to clean different type of bldg. surfaces.

3-What would you expect to be covered?
Anything and everything that can be deemed important to what it is that you are trying to get certified in.

4-How much would you be willing to pay to get this certification, along with manuals, etc.?
It depends how long the class is and do you get any demonstrations included. If yes then a few hundred dollars maybe even more. Demonstrations to me are the key. Similiar to on the job training in a sence which is priceless. A video also should be included in a certification class also. Maybe a video of the actual class itself that one gets a few weeks after they completed the class so they can see themselves applying what they and others learned in this class. This also would be priceless.

5-How far would you be willing to travel?
If it is worth it then anywhere in the continental USA

6-What kind of experience level should be expected in order to get this certification?
Tough question. You don't want to allienate potential newcomers but then again you don't want a newbie that knows much of nothing to be considered completely qualified with ZERO experience. So I don't know the answer to this.

7-Any other comments that you might have about certification programs?
Yes. When completed there should be some documentation that they get that can be added to there website or wherever they want to add it that a potential customer can actually look up real easily that shows that this person is
CERTIFIED
 
I understand that we are not expecting to have anyone gain the knowledge to perform surgery! But!


How about an apprentice program?

Who is training the trainer?

What level of education should the trainer/trainee have? Grade school, high school some college?

Just because some of us have worked in this industry for X number of years does not necessarily qualify us to be a trainer and certifier!

A third party should do the testing. That third party should be in the business of testing and certifying service personal.

I had a company replace the windshield in one of my trucks about a year ago. The technician that did the work had several patches on his uniform and diplomas on the wall reflecting schooling and certifications!

My $02,

Dave Olson
 
great idea

That's a good idea Scott.

To be certified, I feel that there should be some requirements in order to be certified. Here are a couple that I have thought of in the past.

First, in order to be certified I feel there should be a requirement of setting and writing down realistic goals for the business being certified. This may take a bit so maybe it should be completed prior to certification training or a part of the training.

Second. Maybe there should be some required documentation that everyone has to keep. With documentation I mean something similair to ISO certification. Tracking different aspects of the business and documenting things that can later be used to calculate different statistics in this field.

Third but very important. I feel every company or person certified should have a mission statement. That is an edge over the competition and it provides what large corporations are looking for. Not many large companies do not have a mission statement.

I also think there should be some requirements to maintain certification. Continuing education being one of them. Having the input of some of the larger companies being washed by outside vendors would be very helpful.

Great idea and I'd be willing to participate.
 
I am curious about this too. I originaly didn't want to wash hoods but I thought why limit myself its another way to utilize my machine and be more productive.

I agree with Dave on the thought of having a third pazrty doing the testing. But as far as years of experience as a determining factor may not be a good Idea. There are many out there that have been cleaning kitchen hoods for 3 or 4 or 5 years through trial and error and over time has gotten pretty good at it however the guy that is in his first year of business went to Delcos hood cleaning school and has done a few hoods now has an equivalent amout of knowlege in the field. What I'm suggesting is maybe a precertification exam to determine ones knowlege, like an entrace level exam. This may or may not be a good idea but just a thought.

My main question though is how would it be nationaly recognized?
If it is possible to do so why hasn't Delco or the PWNA who have been on top of the game for years done this yet?
 
is that a nationaly recognized cert? do restraunt Ass. accept it? Suff like that. What make a cert. nationaly recognized?
 
I used to be a member of the National Restaraunt Association:
http://www.restaurant.org/

I have asked them to review the PWNA Hood Cleaning Program, grant the PWNA Allied Membership, and help promote our organization and Certified Hood Cleaners to their members.

While their is really no criteria I know of for being nationally recognized, if the National Restaraunt Association recognizes the program, you really can't ask for much more.
 
You're right that sounds pretty good. Can I take the cert. test if I don't go to the boot camp? Oh yeah and I'm not currently a member either but I do plan on joining in the future. Is ther any study material? I know Delco sells Phils manual for like $60 or something like that. I was up there Tuesday and asked about it. Does his manual cover about everything; is it worth the $$$.
 
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