Toronto, Ontario — Dented Canada has announced that it has finalized an agreement with Vale Training Solutions, which will allow the company to administer the Vale PDR Certification Program throughout Canada.
Jeff Morrison, president of Dented, says that this certification program is “a step forward in the industry.” He says this certification will allow the consumer to set an expectation of repair standards supplied by the Vale Certified Technician.
The original certification was developed out of Texas by Vale Training Solutions. The certification was however pushed to the side when the man who spearheaded the certification retired. Morrison says Dented’s goal with the program is to promote a nationally recognized standard for PDR technicians. The program will be administered by Dented on Vale Training Solutions behalf.
The certification test is unbiased and relatively straight forward, Morrison told Collision Repair.
Depending on the level of certification a technician is attempting to achieve, the certification will begin with test administrators making an appropriate size dent in the metal—using an air gun filled with compressed air that shoots out a steel ball. A PSI gauge will also measure how powerfully the ball is discharged into the panel this will allow a consistent sized dent to be made.
After the dent is made, a technician will have a time limit in which to properly repair the dent. Once the repair is complete the dent will be inspected and re-measured with a Vale Training calibrated scanning machine. The technician will then be ranked based on the size of the dent and the time it took them to repair it, as well as the quality of the final product.
There are three levels of certification technicians can try for journeyman, craftsman and master craftsman. Technicians will receive a card after passing the certification to prove it has been completed. Results will also be available online on Vale Trainings website.
To complete the testing Dented will be booking appointments throughout Canada. Morrison says this certification program “is really something the industry needs.” “I feel strongly that this is a certification program that will be revived throughout North America,” he added.
Morrison says the partnership is “perfect” for his company, as Dented operates throughout Canada and can administer the testing through a mobile service as well as out of their five bricks and mortar locations throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta.
This is “a big step for the industry,” says Morrison. Adding that this testing will allow for a technician’s to truly gauge the quality of their repairs.
“Just like a bodymans licence, this PDR Certification will help ensure that PDR technicians have the necessary skills to do a quality repair,” he said.
The testing’s official unveiling and initial testing will begin October 1, 2020.
