Promoting Pride, Passion and Professionalism at the HVACR Service Counter
HRAI is pleased to offer a Canadian version of HARDI’s Certified Counter Specialist Program to HRAI Wholesaler members. This program was developed to recognize the professionalism and technical expertise of the men and women employed at the wholesale counter. Trained personnel are fundamental to the success of the wholesale business and recognition of the expertise of Counter and Inside Sales personnel enhances their self-esteem and value to customers
Objectives of the program are to: establish industry recognized standards; encourage training and education; increase awareness and value of entry level counter sales positions.
Counter people will benefit from the industry recognized credentials as well as advancement in their career; opportunity for financial gain and increased customer respect and dependency.
Wholesale Company Benefits:
- Opportunity to place a test proven professional at the counter
- Drive down costs by processing fewer returns
- Reduce warranty expenses
- Decrease customer wait time
- Reduction in customer’s unapplied labour cost
- Produces greater customer dependency and repeat business
- Increased job satisfaction leads to reduced employee turnover
Four-Level Recognition
To accommodate different stages of people’s career development, the counter program offers four levels of recognition for specific education and training achievements:
- Assistant Counter Specialist (for the person starting out)
- Associate Counter Specialist
- Senior Associate Counter Specialist
- HARDI/HRAI Certified Counter Specialist (the highest achievement)
How Can Members Get Started
- Advise employees you are starting “The Program”
- Gather existing counter employee training histories
- Assign a company Training Coordinator to manage the program
- Submit employee data to association
- HARDI staff evaluates to uncover missing requirements
- HARDI staff provides summary report to company training coordinator via Excel Spreadsheet
- Company plans/schedules needed training session/s
- Company submits additional training material as completed by participant
Counter Specialist Requirements for Each Level
Assistant
Employed at least 6 months in wholesale-distribution
Core competencies Sections I through III completed (See separate worksheet)
Completed HARDI’s Counter Service & Sales training course
EPA refrigerant certified (or provincial ODS training)
Participated in one OSHA training session on MSDS
Participate in at least one manufacturers’ product training session
Plus acquired 20 hours of additional recognized training/education and/or industry credentials
Associate
Employed at least one year in counter position
Core competencies Sections I through IV completed (See separate worksheet)
Completed HARDI’s Counter Service & Sales training course
EPA refrigerant certified (or provincial ODS training)
Participated in one OSHA training session on MSDS
Participated in one DOT HazMat training session
Participate in at least two manufacturers’ product training session
Plus acquired 20 additional hours (total 40) recognized training/education and/or credentials
Senior Associate
Employed at least two years in counter position
Core competencies Section 1 through V completed (See separate worksheet)
Completed HARDI’s Counter Service & Sales training course
EPA refrigerant certified (or provincial ODS training)
NATE certified in one category (Service or Installation)
Participated in one OSHA training session on MSDS
Participated in one DOT HazMat training session
Completed one customer service seminar
Participate in at least three manufacturers’ product training sessions
Plus acquired 20 additional hours (total 60) recognized training/education and/or credentials
HARDI Certified
Employed at least three years in counter position
Core competencies Sections I through V completed (See separate worksheet)
Completed HARDI’s Counter Service & Sales training course
EPA refrigerant certified (or provincial ODS training)
NATE certified in two categories (Service or Installation)
Participated in one OSHA training session on MSDS
Participated in one DOT HazMat training session
Completed one sales training seminar
Completed one customer service seminar
Participate in at least four manufacturers’ product training sessions
Successfully completed on line 100 question counter service and sales examination
Plus acquired 20 additional hours (total 80) recognized training/education and/or credentials
Administrative fees (in U.S. $’s) :
HARDI and/or HRAI member organization: $200.00 registration
Employee participant: $50.00 per participant
Two-year recertification: $15.00 per applicant
Late fee on recertification: $40.00 per applicant
Advancement in levels: $25.00 per applicant
For further information on the program or to receive an implementation CD that contains a detailed overview and the necessary forms, please contact Heather Grimoldby-Campbell (Manager, Wholesalers Division) at 1-800-267-2231 ext. 238 or by email at hgrimoldby@hrai.ca