Your Future Starts Now. Get the Skills to Grow Your Career in RV Service!
With RV sales increasing and more and more Americans taking to the road to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle, skilled RV technicians are in high demand. The RV Technical Institute’s hands-on training and instruction, created by top RV industry experts, will provide you with the experience and expertise needed by manufacturers, dealerships and repair shops nationwide.
Want to join the cadre of technicians who can diagnose and repair RVs and ultimately improve the RV consumer experience?
Your future starts now. Sign up for one of our upcoming training classes today!
The RV Technical Institute technician training program is a hands-on, competency-based program designed by RV Technical Institute staff, and subject matter experts from the supplier, manufacturer, dealer and independent technician realms of the RV industry. These industry experts have identified the key areas of required knowledge and expertise needed to develop a well-rounded, practical training and certification program.
The RV Technical Institute curriculum is divided into four levels of training and proficiency covering theory and application, specialties training and troubleshooting. The program mirrors a real-world workplace so you can learn in an actual shop environment. Each level of training builds on the foundation of the previous level, teaching you how to diagnose, maintain and repair RV systems and components. From here, you can move on to increase your proficiency through specialized training courses.
A technician will be deemed a Level 1, 2, 3, or Level 4 technician based on completion of the designated levels and the ability to successfully demonstrate the required knowledge and skills:
- Level 1: A pre-delivery inspector (PDI) technician with a proven skill set to prepare an RV for customer delivery by verifying the operation of all components. To achieve this level, you must successfully 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, you must successfully pass Level 1 and 2 written and skill-based (practical) exams.
- Level 3: A technician that has completed the supplier trainings 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, you must successfully pass Level 1 and 2 written and skill-based (practical) exams as well as attend and pass 24-hours of approved hands-on vendor trainings 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 Mater Technician: The Master Technician has completed all five designated specialties through vendor training’s and is proficient in troubleshooting and repair of all the major systems and components within an RV, 120 total hours of training within 5 years.
Is the new curriculum and certification career path supported by the industry?
The RV Industry Association and the RV Dealers Association contributed a combined $10 million dollars to create the curriculum, credentialing a career path for RV service technicians, along with an institute to deliver the new and improved curriculum. It is the only industry-wide supported path to certification.
Where is the RV Technical Institute located?
The new 18,000 square foot facility, located at 3333 Middlebury Street in Elkhart, Ind., and sits on 3.34 acres. There are currently seven classrooms in the facility, 10,000 square feet of shop/bay space with 17-foot ceilings to accommodate two to three RVs - enough space for learning, depending on RV type, as well as space for component trainings.
What does the new technician career path look like and how do technicians achieve each level?
The new technician career path is divided into four levels of proficiency. A technician will be awarded a Level 1, 2, 3 or Level 4 Master Technician credential based on successfully demonstrating the required knowledge and skills at each level. Each level builds on the foundation of the previous level and allows the technician to become a generalist or a specialist. The program will cover theory, application and troubleshooting.
Level 1: A pre-delivery inspector (PDI) technician with a proven skill set to prepare an RV for customer delivery by verifying the operation of all components. To achieve this level, you must successfully 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, you must successfully pass Level 1 and 2 written and skill-based (practical) exams.
Level 3: A technician that has completed the supplier trainings 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, you must successfully pass Level 1 and 2 written and skill-based (practical) exams as well as attend and pass 24-hours of approved hands-on vendor trainings within five years covering the minimum topics listed for each specialty.
Level 4: The Master Technician has completed all five designated specialties through vendor trainings and is proficient in troubleshooting and repair of all the major systems and components within an RV.
How long does each RV Technical Institute certification last and what do I need to do to re-certify?
Level 1: Good for life with no re-certification or continuing education requirements. A yearly information and employment verification check-in are needed to stay active.
Level 2: Good for five years. Over this period, the technician must acquire 24 hours of continuing education credits (CEUs) of approved hands-on or online training. No training older than five years will be counted and a yearly information and employment verification check-in are needed to stay active.
Level 3: Good for five years. Over this period, the technician must acquire 24 hours of continuing education credits (CEUs) of approved hands-on or online training. Eight of the 24 hours of CEUs must be directly related to the specialty held. No training older than five years will be counted and no trainings can repeat. A yearly information and employment verification check-in are needed to stay active.
Level 4: Good for five years. Over this period, the technician must acquire 24 hours of continuing education credits (CEUs) of approved hands-on or online training. These training can include participation in RV Technical Institute or other industry-approved activities such as curriculum development, train-the-trainer programs and leadership training No training older than five years will be counted and a yearly information and employment verification check-in are needed to stay active.
If a technician's RVDA/RVIA certification has expired, are they grandfathered into the new RV Technical Institute program?
Valid certifications as of December 31, 2019 were transferred into the new program.
Any technician due for re-certification between January 1, 2020 to June 29, 2020 will be extended to December 31, 2020.
Technicians can visit the website, to log-in and record their trainings and attach their certificates. The RV Dealers Association and RV Technical Institute's staff are working together to transfer past certified technician data and creating new records and credentials in the new website portal. Technicians will receive emails (to their email on file) once their account has been created and their credential has been transferred. If there is no email or no unique email on file, a letter will be sent to the technician.
How do I transfer my RVDA/RVIA certification to the new RV Technical Institute certification?
Certifications under the previous RVDA/RV Industry Association Technician Certification Program were automatically transitioned to the RV Technical Institute. RVDA/RVIA certifications transitioned to the following designations under the new RV Technical Institute’s program:
Registered technicians were re-designated as a Level 1 Certified Technician. Level 1 Certification is good for life.
Certified Technicians were re-designated as a Level 2 Certified Technician
Certified Technicians with proof of required supplier trainings completed within the past five years will be granted the corresponding RV Technical Institute Level 3 specialty and re-designated as a Level 3 Certified Technician and/or a Level 4 Master Certified Technician, as appropriate.
Master Certified technicians were re-designated as a Level 4 Master Certified Technician
Current registered, certified or master certified technicians can expect to receive their new RV Technical Institute credentials, at no charge, during the 2020 transitional year. All expiration dates remain the same for current certifications.
Is the TnT supplier component training going away?
While it will no longer be branded as TnT, supplier component training will continue to be a major focus for the institute; the institute will be keeping the pieces that are currently working in the TnT program and fixing the things that don’t.
The reimagined program incorporates the feedback RV Technical Institute has received from suppliers, technicians and dealers about the areas that are working the best and the pieces of TnT that have not been performing as well. Supplier stakeholders are excited about revamping technician training because the current system can be adjusted and corrected.
Where can I get trained and find a schedule of classes?
All RV Technical Institute classes are held at either at its headquarters facility in Elkhart, Ind., or provided through one of RV Technical Institute's Authorized Licensed Partners.
Sign up for an upcoming class here!
How long is each class and what are the costs?
Level 1 is one week, plus a two-hour practical test time to be assigned the following week. The class is FREE for 2020 if you currently work in the RV industry, $1,000 if you do not.
Level 2 is seven courses, and each course is about a week- long with practical testing included. The class is $500/week or $2,500 for all seven weeks if you currently work in the RV industry, $1,000/week or $5,000 for all seven weeks if you do not.
How do I become an authorized licensed partner?
The RV Technical Institute’s Authorized Licensed Partner program is a network of regional training partners approved to deliver RV Technical Institute’s standardized training on a local or regional basis. Licensed Partners have access to the Institute’s full curriculum, training materials, and soon to be launched learning management system (LMS) and testing, as well as training from the Institute’s staff on how to track student progress and deliver the curriculum. To become an RV Technical Institute Authorized Licensed Partner, you must:
Use the LMS to track and register students, receive curriculum updates and deliver the curriculum to students
Ensure course instructors are Level 2 Certified RV Technicians who have completed the week-long RV Technical Institute’s Train the Trainer Course
Classes will be held in Elkhart on April 13 and June 29.
Attend the Annual RV Technical Institute’s Trainer Conference in Elkhart, Ind., ($300 fee/instructor)
Ensure proctoring of exams are not done by dealer employees
Meet minimum national average student completion and pass rates
Submit to program audits
Interested in becoming an Authorized Licensed Partner? Find out more here!
How do I register and pay for a single seat in an upcoming class?
Go to www.rvti.org
Click on “Training” in the menu and select “Upcoming Classes”
Scroll down to see available classes and click “view details” beside the appropriate class
Leave the drop-down menu at one seat (see Register and Pay for Multiple Seats in a Class)
Click on “Enroll Now”
View your basket and verify its accuracy
Click on “Checkout”
Accept the cookies at the bottom of the page (only happens on initial account creation)
Create your account by filling out the requested information
Click “Enter payment information”
Check the box to “Agree to Terms and Conditions”
Order confirmation will appear on screen and an email will be sent to you
Click on the “Complete Registration/Go to Dashboard” box in the bottom right corner to finish your account set-up
Fill in the information to complete your account set-up and click “Save and Continue” to return to your account dashboard
Course will appear in your “My Courses” section and additional classes available will appear below in the catalog
