So you've been in the business for 20 years and know the ins-and-outs. You've been taught everything you know. You're confident in your abilities. Who needs a patch to sew on their sleeve, anyway, right? Wrong. You can't understate the value of a trained technician.
Trained techs are in demand
People want to know that they're getting quality for their money. Eighty-eight percent of consumers prefer someone who is certified. Just ask yourself who you'd rather have show up at your door - someone in jeans and a t-shirt, or someone in a uniform showcasing his certifications?
Trained techs get paid more
NATE certified techs are paid an average of 12 percent more than their non-certified counterparts. This is because, as I mentioned earlier, professionally certified techs are more desirable and because certification allows you to move into other leadership positions.
Just like people need a college degree or a master's to advance their careers, HVAC techs need professional training and certification to prove to themselves and their employers that they can put in the work, have discipline, and know the industry inside and out.