NATE

Ranger

Ken,
I'm an ol'skoll RSES guy myself (20yr.member,18 as a CM)And I will say RSES still has alot to offer.I admittedly was not a big NATE fan at first,But I was lucky enough to meet w/Pat Murphy and NATE allowed me some input and see the inner workings of that orginization and I will continue to do so if Pat asks me and I can allow the time.NATE is a work in progress and thay are always looking to improve there testing proceedures.As someone posted it's not the patch,It's the person that wears it.Twenty-five years ago all you needed on the truck were two-dozzen or so componants to make just about anything work.Now with technoligy being the way it is you have to specialize within your specialty.It's mind boggleing sometimes just to keep up technically with everything going on out there in the field.

Ken D.

NATE

Any thoughts from the Wallies about NATE? Our company is pushing it through RSES. Each test is $80 some dollars and recertification is required after only a few years. Obstensibly it is to guarantee basic trade skills to prevent rip- offs, but there are certain companies in our area that were ripoffs before NATE and are still ripoffs after NATE certification, so that reasoning appears flawed.. Nothing really changed. Looks good on paper, but.....

maine rick

IF THATS THE ONE THAT YOU GET A GOLD,BRONZE CERTIFICATION THE STATE OF MAINE INSPECTOR TOLD ME IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STATE,BUT IF YOU LIKE THE PATCH FOR YOU JACKET GO FOR IT.
I CHOOSE NOT TO.

RadPro

NATE

NATE is being pushed by Carrier and the other big manufactiurers. Was told by old boss that we were going to have to be nate certified soon. That's good, my grandfathered certs were out of date in 2004.

I am sorry but unless you care about your quality of work, no certification will do it for you!!! You can be licensed and certified untill the cows come home but that will not change low bidders and slackers from being in business!!

My personal opinion is licensing thru the wholesalers. If you do not have the proper license or certifications you can't have the materials to do the job!! That in my humble but assurdidly wrong opinion would stop more slackers than "jurisdictional" licenseing and inspections.

(Please do not allow spelling licensing!!)

Don moving Wed to MO

Weezbo

education comes in handy.....

do not simply knock eduaction without making up your own mind on its value.

i have never read a book that i did not get something out of.....and i have read the book with the blank pages. i realize that may be a bit Blavaskyish

didnt mean to go metaphysical on you

A.J.

Nate certifcation

Nate is being pushed by alot of manufactures becuase of the misdiognosis or inproper isnstalls that go on in the field. It's cheaper to support NATE than to keep eating it on misinstalled or misdiagnosed equipment.
I just took my air distrabution test two weeks ago and I learned quite a bit. I beleave that if you are in this buisness you will be learning for life.
That being said there is nothing like pride in one's work

John R. Hall

My 2-1/2 cents

Any certificate of completion, like a high school diploma or college degree is only worth the paper it is written on unless the person receiving the certification APPLIES what he or she learns. To rely on a piece of paper to get a good job or support a family is wrong. Learning comes from inside and the desire to get ahead. I don't agree that NATE is simply another patch on a jacket. It is a learning tool that supports one's desire to get ahead and become a professional. Are there people who just wear the patch because their boss is impressed? Sure. But I've met many people who wear the patch proudly because they want to better themselves.

Don't paint a broad stroke over a valuable learning tool.

Josh_10

You know I like the idea personally. Atleast it isn't a certification that you can "buy" like most of the other certifications from the radiant heating associations. I also think that more home owners recognize NATE over any other certification body.

Do you really want the customers that go for the low bidder anyhow? Most of them are a pain to work for and they are not very interested in energy savings and want million dollar quality for a nickel. Good customers appreciate quality and certifications.

Ken D.

NATE

I do seriously believe in education. been going to seminars and schools my whole professional life. The NATE testing will assure basic competentcy, but I don't think it will stop people from being cheated by known cheaters, regardless of the NATE P.R. claims. With the costs, it kinda smells like a money grab. But then again I'm a hopeless skeptic.

Rich W

Ditto Ranger

I earned certification in several categories all the same day. The other guys from our shop took the core and one specialty. None of them passed even the core. I was under the impression NATE was to show what you already knew. That was six years ago. Not one employer here in W. MI was impressed by NATE- most I applied to after the fact hadn't even heard of it!!! I can only assume they don't read the trade mags. on their coffee table at the shop. I know that I know a lot. I also know there is a lot more to know- so I keep learning. For me, NATE was just an expensive set of patches. I did not renew.