New member with certification questions

[maddog355]

First off, Happy Thanksgiving everyone,
This is my first post so bear with me if I screw up, I did a search and didn't come up with anything. I'll try to keep this short so if you want more info just ask. I made the jump to small engines about 2 years ago working at a small (1 tech in the winter 2-3 in the summer) family owned "service center" . We don't have room to carry any lines but we do service and warranty for Husqvarna, Troy-Bilt, B&S, Kohler, Honda, and some Toro. I have my Kohler cert and B&S MST, I can get Husqvarna, Honda, and Toro as well but are they worth it? My boss says just make the updates on everything so we can keep our warranty work. I thought more certs might improve my opportunities. However I have been told by someone else in the industry that as long as you show up and work, Who cares what certs you have.

I am thinking long term and want to do whats best for my family. But at this point I am wondering if it is worth taking the time away from them to get the certifications. I was working on my Husqvarna certification but now I don't know if it is worth it or not. Should I just maintain what I have or get all I can in the hopes they will serve me well?

[bgsengine]

When it comes to certifications - *SOME* of them will count for a dealership's discounts and warranty status - others are more of a "personal pride" thing, and lend legitimacy to your job prospects at another dealership you might apply for work with. Certifications do not prove your real world skills in the least, but they do show you understand the materials well enough to pass the tests (and some are actually pretty tough to pass from just "book learning" and do require some real world experience in the industry)

So beyond any "minimum requirements" for a shop, further certifications are more of a personal pride thing (and also help pad your Resume` ) so those are more "technician optional" - if you want to make a career out of working in this business and be able to get a job at just about any shop you apply to (Assuming all else is equal) Many employers will see those additional certifications as adding a great deal of weight to your prospects - it shows you are serious about the work, and not just a "parts changer" doing just enough to take home a paycheck.

The better run, more professional shops will definitely be willing to pay more for a fully certified tech than they would for someone who "just shows up to do the work"

[Mek-a-nik]

I would think that the more certs you have, the better. What can it hurt?

[RoyM]

It can be a double edged sword. I have my Briggs MST, the distributor I worked for insisted on it but I wanted it for my own knowledge anyway. I am now retired and doing some work for a local shop, the owner takes the same attitude as your boss. As long as I have it and do the updates to maintain the dealer status, he doesn't have to. Still, I want to have access to the dealer site and keep up with product changes. I agree with Brian, the larger professionally run shops will view them favorably, here is a guy who is willing and able to learn and takes his job seriously.

[Luffydog]

i agree with both having and not having them. they dont really pay more for them because most shops have a set hourly rate. if your pay goes up rates go to. then custmers then go shopping your fault no. because if they really knew what kind of shade tree shops are out there they would pay the extra just to have a cert to work on it because they know its going to get done right. i have certs like mst,kohler,efi kohler,scag university gold,silver and bronse and the dealer just looks at u like ok when u show them they are not really looking for the higher qulified techs of have them although we do benieft them to their fullest. like a shad tree goes to work and works 9hrs. the certified ones go to work 8hrs but has put a 12 hr day in there a big money and time difference. do we still have to asks ?'s about things yes i do because i never have claimed to know it all and never will. alot of it is because we get frustrated with things. plus if u wanted to do on the side stuff u can show off your certs and say here i am certified with all this and not just your shade tree go to guy. so my answer to both yes and no is yes it helps you but still have to stay within your limits. this dealer i work for now offered me a 10/hr i couldnt help but laugh and i said ok ill just change blades all day nothing else. buts thats me. i told him up front no engine rebuilds i just dont like doing them and for the most they are not worth it better to repower. the cost of it just cost to much compaired to repower and much faster to you and the costumer. its not out of my limits at all i just like to get paid for what i am and my work is worth. so my opinion dont cut yourself short. sorry for going on....... didnt mean to steal your topic and run. thanks

[KE4AVB]

And here I have no professional training in small engine repair at all just got the natural ability to do the repairs and do them correctly. Everything in this area is self taught. The only formal training I have is two years of electronics at our local high school tech center. Believe or not they didn't even want to accept at first and had to prove that I could do repairs even at 15 years old.

So my 2 cents on this subject is probably worthless at the best but certifications are only as good the one that got them can apply their knowledge in actual repairs.

[maddog355]

I think I will go ahead get all I can, But I won't be in a hurry or stress about them. Like I said I have my MST and Kohler , Which I think would be the most beneficial to a shop actually looking for someone with certs. Or to a new shop just getting started.


Just for curiosity sake is there anyone here that is husqvarna bronze, silver, or gold certified? just wonder if there were benefits to those levels other than personal pride?