The National RV Training Academy (NRVTA) celebrated the first anniversary of completing its inaugural class at the newly constructed Big Red Schoolhouse in Athens, Texas.
The first class, a basic RV maintenance course, started Oct. 29, 2018, with 19 students and wrapped up Nov. 2, 2018.
Since then, 419 students have completed training at the academy, of which 71 chose to take the test and passed the exam to become registered RV technicians with the RV Industry Association and RV Dealers Association.
Another 13 students completed all five weeks of training and passed the exam to become RVIA/RVDA-certified technicians.
Here is the breakdown of students attending various one-week classes:
- RV basic maintenance and service – 236 students
- Air conditioning and heat pumps – 53 students
- RV refrigerators – 38 students
- Water heaters and furnaces – 47 students
- RV exteriors and hydraulics – 45 students
“We are pleased with our first-year results,” said NRVTA Director Terry Cooper. “With the RV industry clamoring for trained technicians, we feel our courses are helping alleviate the critical need for technicians.”
In addition to the registered and certified RV technicians, the Big Red Schoolhouse trained 157 Level 2 Advanced RV inspectors.
“That’s a sizeable number, but it doesn’t come close to meeting the demand for trained inspectors among RV buyers, extended warranty companies, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),” said Cooper. He is pleased that some RV dealers are utilizing inspectors to evaluate new RVs coming onto their lots from manufacturers.
The inspectors are able to pass along a punch list of items that need to be addressed to ensure the RV is in proper working order, which allows dealers to keep a technician in the shop rather than doing inspections.
“I believe the tide is turning and America is waking up to the need for trained technicians and the myriad of opportunities available to people who complete that training,” said Cooper.
He noted that with the absence of industrial education classes in many school districts, a number of men and women are graduating from high school without knowing about careers available in the trades. As a result, they often go deep into debt to get two- and four-year degrees and wind up working in jobs that aren’t ideally suited to their skills and abilities, said Cooper.
“A number of our students who completed five weeks of training were hired right out of school to become RV technicians at dealerships, while the rest opted to go into business for themselves as mobile RV technicians,” he added.
Many of the mobile technicians are earning at least $75,000 per year, and some are earning twice that depending upon the area of the country where they set up business, Cooper explained.
Campgrounds are also hiring trained technicians to serve customers who need minor repairs completed without having to check out of the campground and seek service at an RV dealership.
RV manufacturers and component suppliers are also looking to hire trained technicians, said Cooper.
The academy also offers a week of training for RV owners to help them better understand the systems aboard their motorhomes and travel trailers. They also learn how to fix about 80 percent of the problems they have with their RVs.
Cooper is encouraged about the first-year results, but he believes it is possible to double the number of trained technicians in 2020.
“We’re waiting for RVIA to certify our training center so that our students can use military education benefits to become RV technicians,” he explained. “Being located in Texas, there are a number of large military installations within eight hours of The Big Red Schoolhouse. We’re in an ideal location to capture military personnel who are separating from service and looking to begin new careers.”
The National RV Training Academy is a 15,000-square-foot facility with five classrooms and three service bays with overhead observation areas for students to view work performed on RV roofs. It is adjacent to the 37-acre, 89-site Texan RV Park, which allows students to live in their own RVs or rent a cabin while taking classes.
Class sizes usually range from 12 to 25 students, which allows for experienced instructors to provide classroom and hands-on training in a rather intimate environment, said Cooper.
A student can complete training and take the certification test after just five weeks of intensive study. Classes take place Monday through Friday.
“Because the academy is situated next to an RV park, students have the opportunity to see multiple rig configurations and components to get a well-rounded experience in troubleshooting problems,” said Cooper.
Tuition at the National RV Training Academy is $7,644 for five weeks of training or pay-as-you-go based on the type of classes needed.
The first week of basic instruction – called RV Maintenance and Service – only requires an investment of $1,644. These students are also given the opportunity to return anytime in the next 12 months for a redo or refresher at no additional cost.
Tuition does not include the cost of a campsite or cabin. Books are provided, but students need their own tools. The Academy can provide a list of tools used in classes and on the job.
Students who cannot attend the live, hands-on training course may take classes online, although it is not the best option for people wanting to work as professional technicians, Cooper explained.
Online training costs $397 and includes a curriculum that students can complete at their own pace in their own homes. People who purchase the online course receive a $300 credit to be used within the next two years toward the cost of attending any of the technical courses that are part of the five-week program.
People who complete the online training or first week of a hands-on class are often able to secure entry-level jobs performing maintenance, pre-delivery inspections and other support functions at RV dealerships, according to the organization.
In addition to training RV owners and technicians, the center also trains missionaries to set up and maintain solar electrical systems and absorption refrigeration to bring those modern conveniences to remote parts of the world.
“The Big Red Schoolhouse in Athens is the only RV tech training facility west of Elkhart, Ind.,” said Cooper. “Our facility serves students from across the nation but will be especially helpful to people living and working in the nine-state southwest region.”
Registration is currently open for 2020 courses.