A survey of HVAC contractors and technicians conducted by NATE reported that two-thirds of technicians surveyed are NATE-certified, and nearly all contractors surveyed provide financial assistance for certification of their techs, noted John Lanier, NATE’s COO at the 2023 AHR Expo Feb. 6 in Atlanta.
“Certified technicians are more prepared, more productive, and have fewer callbacks,” he said. “Certification provides better contractor-tech relationships, and gives technicians more confidence and job satisfaction.”
NATE’s Certified Heating Professional program allows techs another path to certification that is less intimidating, he noted. Instead of a core exam and various specialty exams, the exam is divided into five topics.
“We talked to contractors, and the CHP-5 exam is taken in the order that techs learn on the job,” Lanier explained. “It doesn’t mean techs are less-qualified than those who take the traditional route.”
More than 75% surveyed noted that training and certification assistance from employers encourage technician retention. “Four out of five techs expect contractors to pay for training,” he said.