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4/20/2016

Certification - What's it all about?

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A recent survey posted on Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (BRAIN) asks the question “Retailers, do your mechanics have certification?”  Presently the US cycling industry does not have any formal certification process, nor is there any system in place that vets a mechanic into a certain class or skill set.

In the US, Barnett Bicycle Institute, United Bicycle Institute and others have training programs and issue certificates and diplomas. A number of manufacturers also offer ongoing training programs that provide certificates upon completion. However, none of these are actually certifying a mechanic, instead they are merely providing proof to an employer that the person has successfully completed the documented training. 

A major goal of the Professional Bicycle Mechanics Association (PBMA) is to help define what certificated training means to an employer and eventually issue professional certification levels as a member benefit.  In the U.K. there are cycle mechanic trade schools and those conduits are a major part of entry into the industry.  They have a government implemented system in place that is recognized by the cycling industry, the bicycle dealers but also, and most importantly, by the general public. We are hoping to create programs and systems that could eventually lead to a similar system for the cycling community here.

Does every mechanic need to be certified?  No, certification only simplifies the process of professional education. With time, many top level mechanics will want to hold certification, shop owners and industry professionals will recognize it as a significant checkpoint when interviewing or hiring.  It will mean that the mechanic is truly dedicated to their craft, makes time to better themselves through continued education, has acquired specialized skills (examples such as suspension service or wheel building) and is seeking to be associated with the very best in the industry.
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The PBMA is dedicated to promoting, developing and advocating for the Professional Bicycle Mechanic.  This will include not only focusing on each of these tasks within our industry but also educating the public on why utilizing a professional mechanic and a professional shop will be every more important in the future.

James Stanfill
​Professional Bicycle Mechanics Association

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Brent Williams link
4/20/2016 09:01:13 am

Times are changing. I spoke just this morning with a shop owner in Ireland that is heading up a group seeking certification for Irish bike mechanics...because, as he says, "We have a serious amount of idiots working in shops".

Ryan Kelley link
5/3/2016 09:36:38 am

I agree with every sentence in this press release/blog post. What I don't see is: Here is How We are Going to Implement this System--

I don't have an answer. I think our answer lies in the current thing that is working for us best: Facebook.

I have some ideas, but nothing panned out.

Facebook's biggest asset is "time". We are adding a lot to the page and our industry without spending a lot of "time or money" resources.

Since, I doubt my "do the tests on Facebook in front of everybody" is going to be taken seriously until we are out of ideas, I think we should propose the question as a brainstorm to the entire group: What are the ways and methods that we could implement a testing system that could rate the mechanics?"

Greg Archer
5/11/2016 02:26:47 pm

Barnett Bicycle Institute does give certificates of completion for all of its classes, but it also offers certification testing. The certification test consists of a four hour written test, and a four hour practical examination. There are seven levels of certification. The test is not easy, and could be an example for you to model your certification on.


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