The RV Technical Institute (RVTI) team and Bisk Education are working on creating new, online level 1 RV technician training that the association said will be immersive. Unlike the current live classes offered by RVTI, the new program will be self-paced, so technicians can complete it at a pace and time that best fits their schedule.
The new self-paced program will be available this fall with more details to come.
“We are just weeks away from the start of the RV industry’s fall training season,” said Curt Hemmeler, RVTI executive director. “With the introduction of the all-new, self-paced, immersive, online level 1 training, we will be able to reach significantly more RV technicians from across the country and meet our goal of training 1,000 students in our first year.”
Due to the new partnership with Bisk Education, RVTI is planning to accelerate its previous endeavors, according to RVIA.
RVTI is on track to train 1,000 students in 2020, despite unexpected early events 2020.
In the first few months of the year, RVTI trained 80 students at its Elkhart, Indiana campus. With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the Institute quickly pivoted to online webinar classes. The classes were well attended. The first live online class had 70 students attend.
After listening to feedback from RV dealers and prospective students, the first evening class took place in July. The class sold out within days of announcement. To meet student demand, two additional classes are scheduled for late August. An evening and daytime class are now available for registration.
Through July of 2020, RVTI trained a total of 220 students between the in-person classes and live online classes. All 220 students are now able to sit for the certification test—something many have already completed.
A technician is deemed a Level 1, 2, 3, or Level 4 technician based on completion of the designated levels, demonstrating required abilities and mastery of required knowledge and skills:
- Level 1: A pre-delivery inspector (PDI) technician with a proven skillset to prepare an RV for customer delivery by verifying the operation of all components. To achieve this level, the student must pass level 1 written and skill-based (practical) exams.
- Level 2: A technician that has theoretical knowledge of all the systems and components within an RV and a proven skill set to be able to perform basic diagnostics, troubleshooting, and repairs on those systems and components. To achieve this level, a student must pass level 1 and level 2 written and skill-based (practical) exams.
- Level 3: A technician that has completed the supplier training on specific types of components and increased their skill set to be able to perform advanced diagnostics, troubleshooting, and repairs on those systems and components. To achieve this level, a technician must pass level 1 and 2 written and skill-based (practical) exams, as well as attend and pass 24-hours of approved hands-on vendor training within five years covering the minimum topics listed for each specialty.
- Electrical Specialist: Demonstrates skill and expertise in converter, inverter, transfer switches, management systems, batteries including lithium-ion, surge protection and solar.
- Chassis Specialist: Demonstrates skill and expertise in stabilization, leveling, electric steps, braking system (hydraulic and electric) and vehicle weights.
- Electronics Specialist: Demonstrates skill and expertise in satellite systems, multi-plexing and control area networks (CAN)
- Appliance Specialist: Demonstrates skill and expertise in furnaces, air conditioning, refrigerators, water heaters (including traditional, instantaneous and hydronic).
- Slideout Specialist: Demonstrates skill and expertise in cable slide-outs, above floor slide-outs, through frame slide-outs (including screw-type, rack-n-pinion, hydraulic and flush-mounted).
- Level 4 Master Technician: The Master Technician has completed all five designated specialties through vendor training and is proficient in troubleshooting and repair of all the major systems and components within an RV, 120 total hours of training must be completed within 5 years.
