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RV Tech Training Program Offered Online Northampton
Don
Bray, the college’s director of automotive technology programs, said
the new internet-based training will prepare students for careers as
certified RV technicians, a field that has seen a constantly increasing
demand for over a decade. The online program will make it possible for
anyone in the country to learn about the RV industry from the
convenience of their own home. Bray said the demand for certified RV
technicians is high, with the RV industry growing by up to 10 percent
per year in recent years. Working
in conjunction with the National Recreation Vehicle Technical Institute
and the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, The
college will also help students in the online program get hands-on
training at RV businesses near their homes to supplement the courses,
Bray said. With the high demand for certified techs, Bray says many RV
businesses are happy to assist students in completing their education,
thereby giving these same businesses a pool of well trained potential
employees. Web-based
learning fits perfectly with peoples’ busy lifestyles, allowing
students to work on their own time, at their convenience from the
comfort of their own homes. Students can log onto the internet 24 hours
a day to study. Using
reading assignments, quizzes, web research, discussion forums, exams,
and field exercises, students will gain a fundamental understanding of
all phases of RV repair. Upon completion of the program, graduates will
be able to function as entry level technicians at any RV dealership or
service facility in the country. The
course includes weekly assignments, mandatory discussion forums, and
hands-on field exercises. Each phase of the program consists of three
individual courses, and each course has its own certificate. Students
who do not want to complete the entire program can sign up for just the
courses that interest them. However, to gain certification, students
will need to complete all courses in the program. The
online RV training program was developed and is taught by Gary Bunzer,
well known for his RV Doctor columns in industry publications. Bunzer
has taught technicians the intricacies of RV maintenance and service at
dealerships, service centers, and industry-related events all across
North America. Graduates
of the program will be qualified to seek work as pre-delivery
inspectors, service technicians, RV service writers, parts managers,
service managers, factory field technicians, and factory service
representatives. With more than 7 million RVs on the road and more
rolling off assembly lines every day, the National Recreation Vehicle
Technical Institute (NRVTI) says the ratio of one RV technician for
every 590 RVs in the country ensures job opportunities nationwide. NRVTI
training prepares students to take and pass the certification test and
students are given experience credit toward certification. The NRVTI
says graduates of RV technical training programs characteristically
start at a 20 percent higher wage than untrained technicians, and
continue to earn more over the course of their careers. Graduates also
obtain promotions on a faster basis. The Recreational Vehicle Industry
Association (RVIA) says that a recent study conducted among existing RV
service technicians indicates that 84 percent of respondents would
select the same career again. The
online RV tech program has drawn interest from students across the
country. “I received a call from a guy in For
more information on
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