It’s a serious inconvenience when an appliance breaks down. Food may get spoiled when the refrigerator isn’t working properly. A malfunctioning AC leads to discomfort in your household, while the breakdown of the laundry machine causes clothes to pile up. Consumers don’t hesitate to call a repair service provider when their appliance needs repair or maintenance.
Not all appliance repair jobs are created equal. Authorized service providers are trained to handle particular brands and models. These have specialized knowledge to work on the parts, access technical information, and software to fix issues with the appliance.
Certified service providers also repair parts and equipment that have been tested to meet safety and reliability standards specified by the manufacturer. If you’re thinking of starting a certified appliance repair business, this is what you must know to get started.
What Is An Appliance Repair Technician?
Appliance repair technicians install, adjust, and repair all issues with home appliances. Appliance manufacturers realized the importance of consumer flexibility and started offering tools and resources to allow them to get their appliances repaired or repaired. According to IBS World, there’s a network of about 70,052 appliance repair technicians.
Nearly 90% are local businesses with 10 or fewer employees. The technicians are trained by manufacturers and bound by state or federal certifications and licensing to handle and repair appliances safely. Safety is critical since appliances are complex and use gas, electricity, flammable refrigerants, and high-speed motors.
Given their complexity, their repair must meet laws, regulations, building codes, and safety standards. Only professionals and certified technicians must handle appliance repair and maintenance. Although manufacturers sometimes provide informational materials and troubleshooting guides to allow owners to repair or replace some parts, some require specific expertise.
Do You Need A License To Repair Appliances?
State registration is necessary when planning to start an appliance repair business. The requirements vary by state and region. Some states may require obtaining appliance installation certification or home appliance repair business license to begin operating.
In California, businesses conducting repairs on appliances such as washers, dryers, and ovens, and electronics such as smartphones, satellite systems, radios, and TVs, need registration. For contractors with a license from the State Licensing Board to handle satellite systems, there’s no need to get a Service Dealer License or Electronic Repair Registration. The Bureau of Electronic Repair covers repairs for ignition interlock devices, and there’s no need to get registration for ignition equipment installs.
Individuals acting as independent subcontractors handling the repair of appliances and electronics and are hired by a licensed company need registration. It’s also necessary when a separate company or an individual operating a repair business isn’t an employee of that company.
How To Become An Appliance Repair Technician
Appliance repair technicians fix people’s problems with their appliances. Understanding the steps to become an appliance repair technician determines what it takes to become a professional in the trade.
Appliance Repair Certifications?
General appliance repair technicians don’t need certification apart from handling particular appliances such as refrigerators or HVAC. Specializing in particular appliances makes you a more desirable technician. You need the National Appliance Service Technician Certification (NASTeC) to specialize in home appliances.
A state-level exam is also good if you wish to get an appliance repair license. You also need a driver’s license with a clean record since you’ll always be driving to the customer’s premises. Certification shows employees and potential customers that you know your stuff.
According to Zippia, these are the eight best appliance repair certifications today.
- HVAC Master Specialist
- Master Certified Electronics Technician
- Transit Bus Technician: Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Certified Appliance Professional Master Technician
- Air Conditioning Service Certification
- Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Professional
- Master Oil Heat Specialist Certification
Appliance repair technicians usually hold a combination of certifications, including Transit Bus Technician: Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Professional, and HVAC Master Specialist.
Appliance Repair Technician Training?
Continued training is essential to get appliance repair technician certification. Apart from acquiring the fundamental basics of appliance repair, potential customers expect that you’re well-educated and up-to-date on the latest technology. Besides online appliance technician training certification or earning an associate’s degree, consider additional training to prove that you’re a professional and knowledgeable.
Here’s appliance repair technician training to consider.
International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET)
The body is recognized internationally for providing professional testing, scoring, and analysis of anyone hoping to obtain a certificate of excellence in the appliance repair field. This organization processes exam applications, schedules an exam in your area, and reports the scores to everyone who sat the exam.
NASTeC Exam
ISCET administers the NASTeC exam, although it’s voluntary. It tests the technician’s ability to do a professional job while maintaining excellent customer service. NASTeC is aware of the sophisticated parts and components in electronics and appliances. The exam prepares technicians to repair and maintain appliances safely and up to standard.
The body helps technicians advance their careers in the industry. Employers and potential customers will know they can depend on your services when they notice that you hold NASTeC appliance technician certification. It proves that you hold the highest level of knowledge and professional conduct.
Universal Technician Exam
The ISCET network organizes this exam and secures an exam administrator or proctor in your area to administer it to ensure you do the exam. You may do the test on paper or online. All tests are administered in the presence of an administrator. The four levels of certification of this exam include:
- Refrigeration
- Air Conditioning
- Cooking
- Laundry and Dishwashing
Alternatively, you may take a Universal Technician Exam with 200 questions covering all specialties. The exam fee varies by area, but a basic test of all specialties may cost about $185.
Professional Service Association/Certified Master Technician
The Professional Service Association has a certified program to prove your expertise as a Certified Master Technician. You need two years of relevant industry experience to take this exam. Passing the exam requires scoring at least 75%, and certification is renewed every four years.
The certification costs about $130 and covers eight fields, including:
- Consumer Relations Skills
- Cooling Equipment
- Core Technical Knowledge
- Convenience Equipment
- Gas Cooking Equipment
- Cleaning Equipment
- Microwave Cooking equipment
- Electric Cooking Equipment
The exam has 300 questions and is online-based, and results are instant.
CFC Certification
Containing chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) certification is essential for anyone interested in repairing refrigeration and cooling systems, according to EPA. Type 1 certification is for technicians handling refrigeration systems and small appliances. Repairing heating and cooling equipment may require obtaining additional certification. The certification deals with managing the effects of refrigerant released in the atmosphere on the ozone layer.
Appliance Repair Apprenticeship?
Technicians learn by doing. An apprenticeship improves appliance repair technician skills exponentially to ensure success in the industry. You need to be knowledgeable about various aspects of appliance repair and maintenance. Choosing whether to work on small appliances in homes or in larger commercial settings is essential.
Working as an apprentice will hone your skills, including:
- Listening
- Troubleshooting
- Making wise decisions
- Time management
- Making precise repairs
- Handling customers
- Opening and handling tools properly
- Staying organized for optimum efficiency
An apprenticeship offers an opportunity to showcase what you have learned and to learn more from seasoned technicians. There are various ways to find internship opportunities, including:
School-Arranged Programs
Some appliance repair training schools organize programs to connect students with business owners who need help. Business owners may request training schools to connect them with students to join apprenticeship programs. These programs may or may not offer any compensation apart from the experience you’ll gain.
Working With Local Repair Businesses
You may also become an apprentice by looking for local technicians who need assistance. Alternatively, you can look for more prominent organizations that need help in various departments. These may offer compensation, and there’s a benefit of working for a reputable company.
An apprenticeship program may last for a few months or more, depending on your advancement level. It may take you more if you become confident in your abilities. The rule of thumb is to soak in every information as much as possible from an experienced technician to ensure success.
Having an apprenticeship will look good on your resume. Big companies often require experience to hire appliance repair technicians.
Brand-Specific Resources?
You need additional training to handle large appliances and electronics for a particular brand. Fortunately, they usually have apprenticeship programs where trainees can be retained. Often, they will give you extra instructions on their premises to introduce you to their product, its installation, and its repair.
Big brands often organize training seminars for their affiliated technicians, especially when introducing new models. This allows the technicians to stay up-to-date with the latest trends.
Online Learning For Appliance Repair Technicians?
Training is essential when considering a career as a certified appliance repair technician. Considering an online school is a good option for its convenience. You can learn at your own pace while keeping your regular schedule.
Finding an online repair school is a bit challenging despite the job being hands-on. You can join a certification program from an online institution, although some are available to particular groups of people. Here’s how to choose an online learning school for appliance repair certification.
Consider Course Content
You must compare the content provided by different schools and their presentation methods. Some schools may also offer repair classes for kitchen appliances, while others may offer lessons for repairing various appliances, including washing machines, ovens, and other small household appliances.
The rule of thumb is to choose an institute whose course content aligns with your work.
Program Delivery
Online training programs for appliance technicians are convenient and delivered in a flexible format allowing students to complete the course and exams at their pace. Exam dates and assignments are flexible, although learners are given a suggested schedule date to ensure course completion in a given timeframe. Learners must participate in class forums and message boards.
Instructors can communicate with learners in real-time through video chat, instant messenger, video conferencing, and telephone. Alternatively, learners may communicate with instructors through email. Close contact with instructors’ help and demonstration videos help ease learning and minimize the difficulty of traditional learning techniques.
Level Of Experience
Technicians must be familiar with appliances’ components and how to repair them. So, your choice of online learning institute should match your experience in the field. People without a background in the field need to learn the basics of appliance repair to enrich their knowledge. Rushing to respond to service calls leads to frustration and limits long-term success.
Those with experience need a learning institute that offers specialized training, such as deep dives into the electrical components of particular appliances.
Should I Get My Appliance Repair Certification?
You benefit a lot from getting appliance repair certification. Certified technicians get an edge over non-certified technicians. You’re also likely to get hired by people and large companies who need more specialized repairs and pay more. Displaying your certification on your website or office gives potential customers confidence to hire you.
Use Appliance Repair Business Software
After learning how to start an appliance repair business and how to get certified, you must streamline its management. Using appliance repair software is very useful in simplifying scheduling with accurate, easy dispatching software. Join other happy teams to set your new business up for success.
✅ Conclusion
Becoming an appliance technician is a promising career, but getting certified increases your success rate in the industry. Hope you’ve got what you’ll need to get certified from our guide. However, you must embrace Field Complete to streamline operations in your business. The software has features including job management, invoicing, and reporting to make managing your business easier.
