PDR Nation is proud to announce the long-awaited Certification is here. The board members have been working hard for over a year to bring this Certification to life. We have had our ups and downs, road blocks and detours, and debates and adjustments during what has been, at times, a tedious task. It has been an honor working with everyone on the PDRN Board. These guys are full of passion for the PDR industry and have given up precious time out of their busy lives to do something for the betterment of our industry.

The PDR Nation Certification begins by verification of the applicant’s ability as a technician. This is done by verifying the applicant’s Vale certification number and level. We know that Vale is not a logistical option for many technicians. This is where a series of references come into play. If the applicant is not Vale certified, the applicant must list a series of references that will be thoroughly checked and verified individually. References that are allowed are body shop owners/managers, automotive dealers/managers, insurance adjusters, other PDR company owners, brokers, or technicians with good reputations. Relatives, friends, and those with no knowledge of proper repair procedures will not be accepted as references. All references must be verified in order to continue to proceed in the process of certification.

Once the applicant signs up and payment is verified, the applicant will gain access to the certified tech portion of the website. There the applicant will be able to begin filling in information for their tech page, provide us details about their references or vale certification, and gain access to the online courses and testing. The initial classes will consist of a course in ethics and a course in corrosion protection. The testing will begin after completing each class and an 80% or better score will be required to pass. In the event the applicant scores below 80%, he/she will be allowed one retest. There will be continuing education and classes that will be added as we progress and as new procedures/requirements evolve.

Once the applicant has completed the testing with a score of 80% or better and references are verified, they will receive a membership package and will have their tech page and CSI published on the website. This allows for the CSI portion of PDR Nation Certification to begin. The CSI page is a major aspect of the certification as it brings real-time accountability to the technician. A certified technician’s tech page can be customized to the technician’s market. The CSI ratings will be visible to consumers, clients, and potential employers to learn about what previous clients say about the technician. Reviews will be verified for authenticity and the technician will have the opportunity to dispute or challenge any negative reviews.

The cost of the certification will be $299 per year. Payment must be accepted before verification will begin. If for any reason the applicant cannot be certified a refund will be issued. PDR Nation is a non-profit organization, so be assured the yearly dues will go to marketing the Certified members to the marketplace, developing continuing education, betterment of the industry, and marketing the Certification to the automotive repair industry. For more information on PDR Nation and to sign up to get certified, visit us at www.pdrnation.org.

It is time that we all unite and take control of the PDR industry. We, the technicians, are the experts. We, the technicians, need to have the final say-so in the direction of OUR industry and the PDR Nation Certification is here to take us in the right direction. If you are serious about bringing a positive change to our industry, get Certified, get involved, and let’s take our industry back!

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