RV Technical Institute (RVTI) is making waves with a new program that enables technicians to get Level 4 certified in a year or less.
In March, the first ripple surfaced when 24 RV technicians completed a Level 3 electrical specialty track training session at the RVTI headquarters in Elkhart, Indiana.
The training was the first of five sessions participants need to achieve Level 4 certification in a year or less. Level 4 certification requires Level 3 specialty training sessions in electrical, chassis, slide out, electronic and appliance specialties.
For the first time, RVTI is hosting all five specialty tracks in Elkhart. The Level 3 workshops are an alternative to finding various trainings through RVTI or suppliers to comprise the certification requirements. RVTI is streamlining the process by consolidating the method.
RVTI Vice President of Operations and Academics Sharonne Lee said, “We are just trying to help make it easier for the technicians to get it in a one-week event.”
She said going through individual suppliers to achieve all five Level 3 achievements would take longer.
RVTI Executive Director Curt Hemmeler said the notion of becoming fully certified in one year “is no longer a dream.”
The program is part of RVTI’s efforts to bring more technicians into the industry.
According to RVTI, as of April 11, 3,489 Level 1 technicians, 590 Level 2 technicians, 84 Level 3 technicians and 11 Level 4 technicians have been certified directly through RVTI programs.
Ten RVTI-certified technicians work at Parkview RV. RVDA Chairman and Parkview RV Vice President of Fixed Operations Ryan Horsey has worked closely with RVTI.
Horsey said he has impactful relationships with RVTI and appreciates the applicable way the institute instructs.
According to Horsey, the new initiative could be a big undertaking.
“I think it is nice to have somebody driven to do that,” Horsey said. “Realistically, though, it would be like drinking water out of Niagara Falls. It can be obtainable but it requires a combined effort from all stakeholders. Stakeholders being: the technician, dealership and industry support. While it is an undertaking, it is obtainable. ”
He said the program requires a highly motivated technician to complete the courses in one year. Dealers would need to have the capacity to support the training as well.
Horsey said, “Curt’s team is probably the best team that we could have at this present time to go ahead and get us through that way.”
Forward Thinking
According to Lee, RVTI is considering adding more tracks this year to enable more technicians to participate. With a 12-person capacity in each track, she said between 24 and 125 technicians could be certified by year’s end.
Hemmeler said more Level 3 Workshops could commence at RVTI partner locations across the nation. Lee said these full workshops would likely occur beginning in 2025.
Since RVTI was formed in 2018, the institute has certified 4,184 technicians, adding to the 5,814 who were grandfathered in from the RVDA/RVIA program.
Lee expects 10,000 technicians will be certified in the next five years.
The 2024 Level 3 Workshops schedule includes the chassis specialty session June 4-5, the slide out specialty July 9-10, the electronic specialty Sept. 17-18 and the appliance specialty Dec. 4-6.
