NSM Launches Technician Certification Program

• By Laurie Watanabe
• Jul 24, 2019

Complex rehab technology (CRT) technicians are among the industry’s unsung heroes. They’re the professionals who help to keep wheelchairs and seating systems operating well to support their clients’ everyday activities and needs.

Now, National Seating & Mobility (NSM) is recognizing those professionals by launching a career path and certification program especially for technicians.

In a July 22 news announcement, NSM said the program is designed to “advance the profession.”

Bill Mixon, NSM’s CEO, said in the announcement, “We value the integral role our technicians play in keeping our clients moving through life. Our new career path and certification program is designed to support the professional growth and evolution of the technician career at NSM.”

The new structure comprises four skills levels: Associate Technician, Technician, Senior Technician and Master Technician. An expert NSM team of operations, human resources and service personnel developed the skills assessment ratings for each level. Online and hands-on exams using those skills assessments will be used to determine technicians’ proficiency levels.

And the support for technicians doesn’t stop there.

The announcement said NSM has also created a technician onboarding program for newly hired techs; formed a technical service leadership team; and created a tech taskforce, whose members “participate in monthly work sessions and engage in the development of client experience initiatives.”

“This program takes what has been traditional tech training to the next level,” Mixon said. “We’ve created a clear path for our technicians to advance in skill level, title and compensation. While it benefits our techs, the program ultimately ensures that our clients can count on working with technicians who have certified skill levels and superior capabilities.”