The AED Foundation has launched a technician certification program aimed at improving the skills of technicians in the construction equipment industry. The program offers an objective assessment that allows technicians to demonstrate their expertise and provides dealerships with a standardized evaluation method. Participants who pass receive certifications along with various recognition items, enhancing both their confidence and marketability in the field.

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2. By Megan Mattingly-Arthur
The AED Foundation Technician Certification
Program is off to a great start. Officially launched
in September, the certification program provides
dealers with an objective way to gauge their technicians’
qualifications, while providing technicians who pass
with a third-party certification that shows they have the
professional knowledge and skills needed to get the job
done.
While such assessments are common in other
industries,TheAEDFoundationTechnicianCertification
Program is the first of its kind in the construction
equipment industry, according to AED Foundation Vice
President of Foundation Operations Steve Johnson.
“Until now, there haven’t been certification options
available for technicians who work on construction heavy
equipment or an objective way for dealers to measure
their technicians’ proficiency,” Johnson said. “The
Foundation felt that a technician certification program
had the potential to benefit technicians, dealers and even
the industry itself.”
Equipment Corporation of America (ECA) Vice
President David Hyland concurred. In fact, the potential
benefits to dealerships and the construction equipment
Second Batch of
Technicians Certified
Through the Newly
Launched AED Foundation
Technician Certification
Program
CERTIFIED
CONGRATULATIONS!
24 | www.cedmag.com | Construction Equipment Distribution | December 2017

3. Jason Church, left, presents the certificate to Chris Horne.
industry overall is one of the main reasons
ECA wanted to be among the first companies
to put technicians through the Foundation’s
new technician certification program.
“Having a standardized evaluation program
will provide companies and technicians with
an objective way to measure their skill set,” said
Hyland. “It also provides folks who are new to
the industry with an objective or goal to work
toward.”
Hyland, along with CEO Roy Kern,
immediately recognized how certifying
technicians through The AED Foundation
Technician Certification Program could be
beneficial to ECA, a 75-year AED member
dealer that boasts six branch locations in
eastern North America.
“We are dedicated to improving our ability
to help customers solve problems and improve
the quality of the work done by our service
departments,” Hyland said. “Training and
education is the basis for ECA’s improvement
plan. The AED Foundation Technician Certification Program
will help us evaluate our technicians and help us get them
the specific training they need to improve their individual
capabilities. Our largest service department has just nine
technicians, and in one case, we have just two. With a lean
workforce,youhavetobeveryeffective.HavingAED-certified
technicians will help us be more efficient and effective.”
ECA put three of its technicians through The AED
Foundation Technician Certification Program shortly after
the September launch. All passed and were eager to share their
experience with the program, which includes a 160-question
technical assessment focused on the core construction
equipment technical standards of diesel engines, electric and
electronics, hydraulics and hydrostatics, power trains, air
conditioning and heating, and safety and administration.
All of the ECA technicians who completed the certification
program were grateful to have a way to showcase their skills,
findoutwheretheystoodinrelationtotheirpeersandincrease
their value to the company.
“Achieving a certifiable grade on this assessment has given
me confidence,” said Chris Horne, a technician in ECA’s
Toronto branch. “Academically speaking, prior to taking this
assessment, I did not know where I stood, but thanks to ECA
and AED, now I do! Thank you!”
Doug Lindauer, a technician in ECA’s Philadelphia
branch, agreed: “Having this certification will show where
I stand among my peers, therefore showing my ability to be
competitive and useful on more than one level. I feel that all
technicians should eventually take this test to see where they
stand, and anyone who is managing technicians should also
take it just to expose themselves to the information that their
technicians have.”
Technician Chris McCune was particularly honored to have
been one of the first in the program. “It made me proud to
be one of the technicians that were selected first to do this
program, and I believe that having this certification will make
me a more valuable part of ECA,” he said.
One thing on which all three ECA technicians agreed: The Doug Lindauer, right, with ECA Service and Parts Manager Chris Recke.
December 2017 | Construction Equipment Distribution | www.cedmag.com | 25

4. 160-questionassessment,whichcoversabroad
range of technical knowledge, is difficult and
may require certification program applicants
to study in advance.
“The test is no joke,” said Lindauer. “It
covers a very wide range of knowledge that
some younger technicians will not have been
exposed to.”
McCune agreed: “This is a tough, well-
rounded assessment and it really tests your
knowledge.”
For Horne, the experience was both
challenging and rewarding, “The opportunity
was a challenge. I used up every second of
the allotted 120 minutes to complete this
assessment. My favorite part came as soon
as I clicked on that submit button and that
little pop-up screen saying that I had passed
appeared. It was pretty rewarding.”
Lindauer and Horne also offered some
valuable advice and encouragement: “My
advice to other technicians who are thinking
about taking this test is to relax, as most
mistakes made will be because of being
nervous,” Lindauer said.
Horne added: “Try not to get hung up on
a single question...and do not underestimate
the assessment, but most of all, do not
underestimate yourself. If I can do it, so can
you. Good luck!”
As for dealers who may be thinking
of putting technicians through The AED
Foundation Technician Certification
Program, Hyland had this to say: “Do it! It will
help you evaluate your current technicians’
capabilities and also help you focus on what
additional training is required. Even the
technicians that pass the test and do get the
certification can learn from their assessment
what areas they can improve upon.”
The certification program is available
for $150 per technician for AED members
or $300 per technician for non-members.
Those who have already passed The AED
Foundation Technical Assessment can
purchase an application for certification for
$85 per technician. Technicians who pass
receive a certificate in a wooden frame, as
well as a wallet card, hat, lapel pin, two shirt
patches and two tool box decals.
For more information on The AED
Foundation’s Certified Technician Program,
visit aedfoundation.org/certified-technician-
program. The AED Foundation is also on
Facebook and Twitter.
To learn more about Equipment
Corporation of America, visit
www.ecanet.com.
Untitled-2 1 11/3/2017 11:09:00 AM
26 | www.cedmag.com | Construction Equipment Distribution | December 2017

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