What is the RV Technician Certification Preparation Online Study
Course?
The course is designed to help working technicians prepare for the
RVDA-RVIA RV Service Technician Certification Test. Seventy-nine
percent of RV technicians who completed the online prep course passed
the RVDA-RVIA Technician Certification test, compared to 61 percent of
technicians who did not use the course to prepare for the test. The
percentages are based on technicians who took the certification test
between July 1, 2008 and January 1, 2010. The course is completed
(passed) when the technician earns a 80% or higher score on the final
practice test.
Do I need any special computer skills to take
this course?
Not at all. You must have regular access to a computer with high speed
internet access and be familiar with routine computer skills, such as
Windows, e-mail, basic typing, and Internet browsing. If you have not
been involved with online discussion forum before, the mentors will help
you. Just be aware that if you are inactive too long in the course,
perhaps leave your computer and return to it several
minutes later, it's likely the Internet connection will 'time out.'
You must close your browser and log in again.
What kind of computer system and Internet Connection do I
need?
You can access the course 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You only need high-speed internet access in order to view the
multimedia. To make full use of the course materials, we recommend the
following:
• PC Only, Pentium II Processor or higher -
Mac not supported
• RAM: 256 MB of available RAM
• 1024x768 screen resolution
• High color setting (24 or 32 bit)
• Windows Media Player version 9 or higher
• Windows 98, 2000, XP, or Vista Operating System
• Sound card and speakers/headphones
• Internet Explorer 6.0 and higher for Windows
• Broadband internet connection (T line or other high-speed
connection)
Questions about your system requirements?
Helpful hints are provided below:
How can I tell if I have the right CPU or the proper RAM?
Press Start, then Settings, then Control Panel.(Windows XP may
bring up Control Panel directly). On the Control Panel double click
System. This will open the System Properties box with the tab marked
General displayed. Here you will find your operating system description,
your CPU type and the capacity of your RAM.
How can I tell what versions of Media Player and Internet
Explorer I have?
You can check your media player by opening Media Player from
your Start menu. Right click the title “Media Player” at the
top of the window. A drop down will appear, move your cursor to Help.
Another drop down will appear and you’ll want to open “About
Media Player”. This should bring up a window which displays the
version and ID of your Media Player.
This program was designed for use with Internet Explorer. You may
experience application and navigation issues using browsers other than
Internet Explorer. Earlier versions of IE may also cause some problems.
To determine what version of IE you are using, open Internet Explorer
and click on the Help menu. In the drop down that appears click
“About Internet Explorer”. This will open a dialog box
containing the version you have.
How can I tell the speed of my internet connection?
At www.pcpitstop/internet/bw.asp
you can run a test on the download and upload speeds of your connection.
You can also access pcpitsop by Googling pcpitsop. On the home page on
the left side of the page you will see a column marked tests and scans.
Browse down to internet speed and click. You will then click
“Measure Bandwidth”. Next you will be asked to choose a
server location. Choose Washington D.C... Start the test.
The results will give both download and upload speeds. Your results
should show something like:
Last Result:
Download Speed: 1498 kbps (187.3 KB/sec transfer
rate)
Upload Speed: 916 kbps (114.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 35 ms
below the test block. The lower the download speed, the longer and
slower the program will function. Ideally, a speed of 2800 kbps and a
transfer rate of 350kbps would have your program running perfectly. With
the spec’s listed in the test here, the program works with minimal
delays or speed issues.
What can I do if I don’t meet the requirements?
Most software issues such as updating Media Player or Internet
Explore can be done online. Internet access and speed issues must be
dealt with through your internet provider. Hardware issues such as RAM
or CPU upgrades can be handled by a computer sales and service
center.
Why do I need a personal email address to
register for this course?
All registrants must have a personal email address. This course is the
technician’s individual study program. Access to the program is
strictly personal. Upon the processing of your registration, you are
emailed your personally assigned username and password. Hotmail, Yahoo,
and lots of other places, can provide you with a free, unique, email
address.
Who can benefit from the RVST Certification
Preparation Online Training Course?
1. RV technicians preparing to take the RVDA-RVIA RV Service
Technician Certification Test
2. RV technicians seeking formalized training
3. Certified technicians needing recertification credit.
Technicians that complete the course (earn 80% or higher on the final
practice test), receive a Certificate of Completion.
Seventy-nine percent of RV technicians who completed the online prep
course passed the RVDA-RVIA Technician Certification test, compared to
61 percent of technicians who did not use the course to prepare for the
test. The percentages are based on technicians who took the
certification test between July 1, 2008 and January 1, 2010.
What does the course cover?
The chapters within the course correspond to the certification
test sections. These sections are propane, electrical, plumbing, brakes,
suspension and towing, appliances, generators, hydraulics, exterior,
interior, expandable rooms, and miscellaneous tasks.
How does a self-study online
course work?
This online program combines text, audio, graphics, animation, and
video that helps facilitate student learning. You can access the program
and learn at your own pace – whether it is 15 minutes or an hour
at a time! The program "remembers" where you left off, so you can return
to that lesson later. It integrates a simulated test environment with
questions distributed proportionately to those on the RVDA-RVIA RV
Service Technician Certification Test. Immediate feedback is provided
following each quiz. You can review all questions and practice quizzes
as many times as you desire before moving to the next chapter. Each
section of the course is completed, in order. You cannot skip sections
or take the final test until you score 100% on each section’s
quiz. There is a community forum – a network of technicians and
experts available to provide you with help along the way. Just be
aware that if you are inactive too long in the course, perhaps leave
your computer and return to the course several minutes later,
it's likely the connection will 'time out.' You must
close your browser and log in again.
What if I need help during the course?
Support is available Monday-Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm Eastern, through
the RVDA Dealer Hotline at 1-800-336-0355, x113 or email info@rvda.org.
Does the course take twelve months to complete, or is that just
the enrollment time?
The answer to this question depends on each student. This is a
self-paced course based on the individual’s time and motivation.
The time to complete the course is not dependent upon the availability
of an instructor -- the instructor is "built into" the course! You can
take up to one year – although the estimated time to complete it
is about 40-50 hours. Once you log on and start the course, you can come
back in and start where you left off. The course is designed to be
taken in sequential order – you cannot advance to the next section
until you successfully pass the preceding section’s
quiz.
Is there a final exam?
Yes. It works like this: After completing all of the lessons in
this course you will be able to take the final practice test. When you
finish the practice test (which takes about three hours to complete),
your score will automatically be calculated. You will see a prescription
training report – a report that explains which sections of the
course you should probably re-review before taking the RVDA-RVIA RV
Technician Certification Test.
If you receive at least an 80% or better, you will be
emailed a Certificate of Completion. You may retake the final test as
often as you like within your one-year enrollment period to get the
passing score. The test is modeled after the real RVDA-RVIA RV Service
Technician Certification Test.
If I take this course and pass the final test,
does it mean I am a certified technician?
No. Registering for the and passing the RVDA-RVIA RV Service Technician
Certification Test is separate and at an additional charge. Visit www.rvtechnician.com for
complete information about technician certification.
Does this course count toward the
recertification credit requirement for Certified
Technicians?
Yes. Completing this study course fulfills your 40 hour recertification
requirement. You just need to provide a copy of the Certificate of
Completion with the recertification application. A Certificate of
Completion is earned when you score a 80% or higher on the final
practice test.
How much does the RV Technician Certification
Preparation Training Program cost?
The registration fee $249 per technician. Quantity discounts are
available when four or more technicians register and pay at the same
time.
Quantity Discounts:
1 to 3 users - $249/user
4 to 9 users - $199.75/user
10+ users - $159.99/user
What Does Enrollment Include?
Upon enrollment you will be given a full year of access to the course.
For example, if you register April 1, 2010, you can access the course as
many times as you like, as often as you like, for as long as you like,
until March 31, 2011. Course extensions are not available. Access to the
course will begin immediately following registration processing, about
two business days from the receipt of your registration. You will
receive an email that confirms your registration and provides you with
instructions about how to get started.
Course Refunds or Cancellations
Before you decide to register, be sure you have the time to
commit to the course, and are comfortable with online learning.
Refunds are not given.
How is taking this online course different
from preparing for Certification by reading the RV Service
Textbooks?
We believe people like choices. The RV Technician Certification
Preparation Online Training Course provides you with another option for
preparing for the certification test. Like the RV Service Textbooks,
much of the information in this course is conveyed to you in writing.
Educators agree that people learn in different ways, including hearing
it, doing it, and seeing it. This course couples written material,
illustrations, audio, and video to enhance learning and the acquisition
of skills and knowledge. This course comes complete with quizzes at the
end of each section. The quizzes are carefully designed to reinforce the
material just covered. Each quiz is instantly evaluated. You receive the
information you need to self-evaluate your work and assess your own
strengths and weaknesses.
How is taking this online course different from classroom
instruction?
In today’s fast-paced world, many of us find it difficult to take
time away from work and family to attend an off-site training program.
One of the primary advantages of distance learning is that you can work
and gain skills in the comfort and convenience of your own home or place
of business. All you have to do is log into your online classroom when
you are ready to learn. Distance learning fits into your schedule. You
can log-on before breakfast, during lunch, late at night, or at any time
you find convenient. The choice is yours!
Will I be able to talk about what I learn with
others?
The course features a Community Forum where you can discuss your
reaction to course content, share your perspectives with others, and
read what other course takers have to say. Industry experts, including
Master Certified Technicians, monitor the Forums to answer your
questions about what you are learning.
I have a lot of test anxiety; what can I
do?
Don’t worry; this course has been designed with you in mind. As a
self-paced course you can go through each section at your own pace. In
addition, one of the best ways to overcome “test anxiety” is
to be familiar with the format of the RVDA-RVIA RV Service Technician
Certification Test before you take it. All of the quizzes and the
end-of-course practice test are formatted to follow the actual
certification test. Each quiz is automatically scored. You get immediate
feedback. After completing this course you will have had plenty of
experience with test questions and the intimidation of taking the
RVDA-RVIA RV Service Technician Certification Test will have subsided to
a great extent if not altogether.
