The new technician training program was rolled out to RV technicians and dealers, including the new program requirements and curriculum, during the inaugural RVX event in Salt Lake City. Under the RV Technical Institute’s new program, technician training and proficiency will be based on four levels of training ranging from pre-delivery inspection training to master technician. Each level serves as a foundation for the next level and will be achieved through practical application and skills-based assessments.
The new program focuses on continued education over the course of a tech’s career that emphasizes being up to date on new technologies and products as they become available in the RV market. The Level 1 training credential will be good for life and does not require any recertification or continuing education as it establishes the foundation for the technician to become well-versed in the basics of RV repair and diagnosis.
Levels 2-4 will require continuing education within five-year periods to ensure that technicians remain up-to-date on the newest products and technology in RVs and ensure that technicians are able to easily diagnose, troubleshoot and repair issues to a varying degree of expertise.
The new technician career path is:
- Level 1 – A pre-delivery inspector (PDI) technician with a proven skill set to prepare an RV for customer delivery by verifying the operation of all components.
- Level 2 – A technician that has theoretical knowledge of all the systems and components within an RV and a proven skill set to be able to diagnose, troubleshoot and repair those systems and components.
- Level 3 (Specialties) – A technician that has completed vendor trainings on specific types of components increasing their proficiency in troubleshooting and repair. (See requirements for each specialty).
- Level 4 (Master Technician) – This technician has completed all five designated specialties through vendor trainings and is proficient in troubleshooting and repair of ALL the major systems and components within an RV.
Levels 1 and 2 will be offered over the next year to support the new career path and credentialing system. Level 3 training, specialties, will continue to be available over the next several months and in a similar form under the new program. They are already being offered under the current Technicians in Training (TnT) program and will continue to be available at the RV Technical Institute.
Technicians obtaining specialty training now will receive credit for completing it under the new program. The RV Technical Institute will be offering multiple training formats such as instructor led live/hands-on classes, independent learner online training and hybrid classes that use a mix of on-line and live/hands-on. Courses will be delivered through the institute’s faculty and licensed partners across the country.
The new curriculum has been broken out into seven courses and 38 modules giving the most flexibility for delivery and the learner. This flexibility will allow the learner to focus on one area at a time or take only the courses needed.
Technicians who have already completed training or achieved certifications will be grandfathered into this new program. All expiration dates will remain the same for your current certification. Below is a chart of what level you will be granted.
