Qualified Remodeler helps independent remodeling firms to survive, become more professional and more profitable by providing must-have business information, namely best business practices, new product information and timely design ideas.
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REMODELER SURVEY SERIES Education and Certification — Each Valuable Education Is Valued; Certification Is Harder; But Neither Means Much If You Don't Tell Someone By Kenneth W. Betz T he majority of remodelers value education, according to a Qualified Remodeler reader poll, but smaller numbers have made the commitment to become certified under programs offered by the major industry associations, correctly emphasizing that education and certification are not the same thing. Most remodelers (84 percent) have taken some type of continuing education course related to the industry, but the survey reveals the signature professional organizations are not as well represented as one might have expected. The responses do indicate, however, there is a variety of educational opportunities available — and a great deal of interest in continuing education. Respondents reported taking courses as follows: National Association of Home Builders, 18.4 percent; National Kitchen and Bath Association, 11.8 percent; and National Association of the Remodeling Industry, 9.5 percent. More than half report taking courses from other associations, private educational organizations (such as sales consultants and business coaches) and groups that don't fall into any You can't just get a designation and sit back and wait for the phone to ring. —Jeff Hunt, CGR, GMB, CAPS, CGP, Heritage Construction Services 24 March 2013 QR ForResidentialPros.com of the other categories. The courses this half of the survey respondents took included: state licensing courses, manufacturers and building material distributors. Certification numbers closely mirror where remodelers are taking courses, suggesting that those who take associationsponsored courses are most often doing so to gain certification. Respondents report certifications from: NAHB, 10.6 percent; NKBA, 7.8 percent; and NARI, 7.6 percent. More than a third are EPA lead certified, and 23 percent have no certification. Not the Same Thing Certification and education are not the same thing, points out NARI director of education Dan Taddei, which suggests an explanation for the divergence between the number of survey respondents who have taken courses but who are not certified. Education and training are highly valued — and perhaps more accessible — than certification. "One of the challenges for me is that [some people] view certification as education, and it's not," he says. "Certification demonstrates knowledge or skill, depending on the certification you're seeking. Education is the acquisition of knowledge to change behavior, to gather information to run a company better or to use a particular product. That's education and training." Taddei also notes the current economic climate has had an effect on remodelers seeking certification. NARI has dropped prices for most of its certifications by $200, recognizing the challenges remodelers are facing financially. CERTIFICATIONS/ DESIGNATIONS National Association of Home Builders CAPS – Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist CGA – Certified Graduate Associate CGB – Certified Graduate Builder CGR – Certified Graduate Remodeler CGP – Certified Green Professional GMB – Graduate Master Builder GMR – Graduate Master Remodeler MCGP – Master Certified Green Professional National Association of the Remodeling Industry MCR – Master Certified Remodeler CR – Certified Remodeler CRS – Certified Remodeler Specialist CRA – Certified Remodeler Associate CKBR – Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler CRPM – Certified Remodeling Project Manager GCP – Green Certified Professional UDCP – Universal Design Certified Professional CLC – Certified Lead Carpenter National Kitchen and Bath Association AKBD – Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer CKD/CBD – Certified Kitchen Designer/ Certified Bath Designer CKE/CBE – Certified Kitchen Educator/ Certified Bath Educator CMKBD – Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer CMKBE – Certified Maser Kitchen and Bath Educator CKBP – Certified Kitchen and Bath Professional (nondesign) NARI certification candidates generally participate in study groups to prepare for exams, although participating in one is not an absolute requirement. "But they're usually not successful unless they participate in a study group of some sort. There have been people who have done it on their own, but usually they get frustrated after six months or so," Taddei says. "Our test is