Alarm Certification

Incase anyone takes my comment the wrong way, insert sarcasm. Also certification means nothing without the experience to back it up. Certification may get you a raise at the box stores (BB and CC) but at an alarm/stereo shop they don't care about cert's unless you can back them up. If you come out of a school and are certified, in some cases first class without any experience, then it means nothing and is nothing but a piece of paper. In my experience a shop won't neccesarily hire someone who is certified over some one who is not, they will hire the person that can do the job.

bretbowman wrote: bobk wrote: No cert= low pay Cert= high pay. Experance sometine is the best teacher and with a cert in your field you will make more money then the person that has no cert and works right beside you and that may know more then you. Sure isn't the case where I work. Most of our IT engineers with mass certs are straight out of college and our lowest paid here.

Well in this industry (12V) you both are technically wrong, pay wise. It is the person that can do the job faster that will make the most money. Unfortunately this will sometimes reduce quality. Certification means nothing in this situation. I don't really feel like debating box stores vs. stereo/alarm shops at the moment but the better installers are usually at the place that pays commission as they have the potential to make more money.Certified Security Specialist

Always check info with a digital multimeter.

I promise to be good.

Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

auex wrote: Incase anyone takes my comment the wrong way, insert sarcasm. Also certification means nothing without the experience to back it up. Certification may get you a raise at the box stores (BB and CC) but at an alarm/stereo shop they don't care about cert's unless you can back them up. If you come out of a school and are certified, in some cases first class without any experience, then it means nothing and is nothing but a piece of paper. In my experience a shop won't neccesarily hire someone who is certified over some one who is not, they will hire the person that can do the job. bretbowman wrote: bobk wrote: No cert= low pay Cert= high pay. Experance sometine is the best teacher and with a cert in your field you will make more money then the person that has no cert and works right beside you and that may know more then you. Sure isn't the case where I work. Most of our IT engineers with mass certs are straight out of college and our lowest paid here. Well in this industry (12V) you both are technically wrong, pay wise. It is the person that can do the job faster that will make the most money. Unfortunately this will sometimes reduce quality. Certification means nothing in this situation. I don't really feel like debating box stores vs. stereo/alarm shops at the moment but the better installers are usually at the place that pays commission as they have the potential to make more money.

I'm just glad that the IT industry pays more than the auto security industry does.  Though I do enjoy installing car stereos and remote start alarms, I'm grateful that my career has led me to work in a field that provides more 'bread' for my family.  I hope that those of you that do good work and put the quality and pride in your work get paid better.  It's only just.

Getting yourself in the circle is the most important. Certification is one of way. It probably means nothing once you are in, so it's a good idea to get yourself the MPEC or some sort so that you can put a foot in the door to get yourself the JOB. Once in, you decide how you get paid. If you are there for a job. You pace your work. While some other that I know will work at box store on the weekend and make a million installs in an hour. For some of us here that has to control our destiny, we more or like pick up the mistake of the pacer and the speeder of these install to provide gas for the yacht and bread for our family.      Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.

I can't find the MECP exam in Ireland Looks like i'm out of luck there anyway. probably get the book even so

bretbowman wrote: Remember that certifications are just a piece of paper.  Your work in the "real world" since you were 16 is going to be of much more value than reading a book or holding a certificate.  These are just the facts of life. I've been working in the IT field for over eight years and though I've passed a couple certification test, don't really hold any significant certifications of any kind.  I do have plans to pursue something like this in due time, but I hold this priority WHERE IT IS.  Don't let pursuit of a certificate (piece of paper) get in the way of continuing to get real world experience.  Nothing will teach like experience.  Many people will also vouche for this. My $ .02 worth.

I agree, and also have a tiny bit to add:

take extreme pride in your work try to cover each and every possible detail, and most important take step by step pictures of these details to showcase them, I still look back at old installs and reminisce over how sweet it looked and sounded when it was all finished.

A picture is worth a thousand... MECP Certifications.  Sure you may get paid more with a Cert. but that is because there are only a few ways to prove yourself, paper, pictures, and performance; it takes longer to get recognized for your performance, and a piece of paper shows that you can read a text book and apply it to a test, but pictures will show them that you are capable of doing creative new installs, or just the basics.

eh? what did you just say?

good idea man Thanks

ok people all at once M E C P! good. on hands experience is what everyone should try to get. the books only give you so much but dealing with a specific car and problem your not going to find in any  books.

You guys are awesome!  I love it here!  

For me certification is the thing to believe !

Well I do agree that certification is a good thing and I do recommend it. But just realize it isn't the only thing, or most important.Certified Security Specialist

Always check info with a digital multimeter.

I promise to be good.

Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.