Setting Your Business Apart Through Industry Certification

Transcription

1 Setting Your Business Apart Through Industry Certification Newark, N.J., August 24, 2016 Valerie Briggs Director, Marketing and Business Development North American Technician Excellence (NATE)

2 North American Technician Excellence We certify the professional competence of HVACR technicians who have successfully completed our exams and instill confidence in them, their employers and the consumers they serve. Our vision is a NATE patch on every technician s shirt.

3 Setting the National Standard North American Technician Excellence (NATE) is a non-profit, independent organization formed in 1997 to certify technicians in the field of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. The NATE program tests technicians on day-to-day knowledge and scenarios they encounter in the field, based on input by a committee of experts who develop the tests. NATE-certified technicians must also pass a specialty test in service or installation in: air conditioning, air distribution, furnaces, heat pumps, hydronics, geothermal, refrigeration or efficiency analysis. The NATE program seeks to develop a uniform standard of testing across the nation. So a NATEcertified technician in New Jersey has passed the same test as a technician in Ohio or Florida.

4 Our History Incorporated in February 1997 Manufacturers, trade associations and educators saw the need to strengthen our industry Grown from a single assessment to 21 exams More than 500 active testing organizations To date, NATE has given ~300,000 exams Over 34,000 technicians certified

5 Benefits to Industry Technicians More valuable to employers Higher income potential Raises stature to customers Contractors Gets it right the first time More productive than non-certified technicians Remains in the industry longer Manufacturers and distributors Encourages proper installation and service Fewer warranty returns and a better bottom line Educators and trainers Uniform testing standard Elevates skill levels for key industry requirements Utilities Correct installation and servicing of sophisticated HVACR equipment Save energy and money when operating at peak efficiency Consumers Seek knowledgeable, well-trained and highly experienced technicians Trust expertise will get the job done more efficiently

6 NATE Market Penetration

7 Programs That Recognize/Require NATE Manufacturer dealer programs: Carrier Lennox JCI/York Nortek Trane Daikin Mitsubishi Rheem Utility programs: Tennessee Valley Authority Xcel Energy Southern California Edison Nebraska Public Power District Portland General Electric Connecticut Light & Power and Yankee Gas Select state licensing programs in: Texas Iowa New Jersey Local municipality and select GSA operations and facilities management contracts

8 Annual Recertification Rate 45% 38% 40% 35.8% 35% 30% 25% 18.5% 18.6% 21.8% 22.7% 23.9% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% The current rate of industry change requires continuous training.

9 Emerson NATE-Recognized Training Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Basics Control Link Refrigeration System Controller Course Copeland Discus With CoreSense Diagnostics Copeland Scroll XJ Outdoor Refrigeration Condensing Module 1: Overview and Setup Copeland Scroll XJ Outdoor Refrigeration Condensing Module 2: Service and Troubleshooting Digital Controllers Module 2: XM660K and XM669K Digital Scroll Compressors Digital Scroll Compressors With E.V.I. Electrical Series Set of Two Module 1: Testing Tools Fundamentals of Compressor Operation Fundamentals of Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Module 2: Refrigerants Refrigeration Leak Detection System 1: Overview, Installation, Communication Networks and Maintenance Thermostatic Expansion Valves (TXV), Six-Program Set Module 4: TXV Sizing, Selection and Installation Thermostatic Expansion Valves (TXV), Six-Program Set Module 5: Troubleshooting Thermostatic Expansion Valves (TXV), Six-Program Set Module 6: TXV Product Overview Variable Frequency Drives Four-Module Set Module 4: Using VFDs With the E2, Part II For complete class listing, visit natex.org

10 NATE Professional Technician Exams Core (available in Spanish) Air Conditioning (service exam available in Spanish) Air Distribution Heat Pumps (Air-to-Air) (service exam available in Spanish) Gas Heating (service exam available in Spanish) Oil Heating Hydronics Gas (service only) Hydronics Oil (service only) Light Commercial Refrigeration (service only) Commercial Refrigeration (service only) HVAC Efficiency Analyst (Master level) Additional exams: Ground Source Heat Pump Installer HVAC Performance Verifier (for HERS Raters) EPA 608 Industry Competency Exams

11 Knowledge Areas for Refrigeration Exams Section area description Section percentage Installation 20% Service 50% Components 20% Applied knowledge 10% For more information on exam knowledge areas, visit: Study guide available for purchase at:

12 Contractor Input Improves NATE Exams NATE has designed new exams for technicians at early points in their career The Ready to Work certificate HVAC Support Technician certificate Recent survey found that 86% of contractors say they hire based on profile (work ethic, problem-solving skills, etc.) and later provide training, education and certification Potential to recruit from outside of the industry Exams are designed to guide technicians during their career development and a tool for contractors to gauge growth Introduce the concept of testing to technicians early in their career

13 Future Exam Structure Master Certification Efficiency Analyst Level 1 Ready to Work One exam covering basic knowledge and safety Certificate NATE-provided training guides Purpose: allow technicians to demonstrate they are ready to enter the HVACR technician workforce, regardless of educational background Level 2 HVAC Support Technician One exam Certificate Verifying normal operation Training guide available Fundamental skills, basic airflow, safety For technicians who have been in the field for six months to one year Can be used to see if technicians have skills to begin transitioning into an installation or service technician role Level 3 Current Exams Nine specialty exams Advanced skills in installation, service, components Those currently certified are automatically awarded this level One exam Advanced topics in service, design and efficiency

14 Certification Raises the Professionalism of the Entire Industry Connect with me at breaks and network reception this afternoon Consider how certification could help your business Visit natex.org to stay up to date Promote NATE to employees and customers

15 Thank You! Questions? DISCLAIMER Although all statements and information contained herein are believed to be accurate and reliable, they are presented without guarantee or warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. Information provided herein does not relieve the user from the responsibility of carrying out its own tests and experiments, and the user assumes all risks and liability for use of the information and results obtained. Statements or suggestions concerning the use of materials and processes are made without representation or warranty that any such use is free of patent infringement and are not recommendations to infringe on any patents. The user should not assume that all toxicity data and safety measures are indicated herein or that other measures may not be required.