how did you get to be an installer?

I attended Mobile Dynamics...Great school...Not very long...When i went there was 2 schools...Arizona and Canada(Canada's pass rate was higher)...Should have some experience going in...(but not entirely necessary) Also a great place to earn your certifications...They have advanced classes in certain areas...Since then there are a few more schools that have opened...(but of course experience is the most important)Staying up-to-date with manufacture's products(new alarms...r/s...radio;s...etc...) Have you installed before...Do you know how to work a DMM...? Study up on things like relays...ohm's law...First step would be to get certified...You can do that while your at your current job...Here is a great introduction-intermediate site... And a TEST... https://bcae1.com/test1.htm ...

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M.E.C.P & First-Class
Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!

Learning the basic principles of a field is a good way to start, hands on experience is priceless, the tricks of this field can only be acquired so far in theory the rest will depend on you, your exposure to the field and the persons you learn from!

The guys on this site and the site on the whole, has a wealth of knowledge, believe me, i owe alot of my skills to the people and information passed on to me through this site!

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COMMIT YOUR WAY TO JEHOVAH AND HE WILL ACT IN YOUR BEHALF. PSALMS 37:5

I faced the same decision 2 years ago. I ultimately decided against school - I just couldn't justify the outrageous prices for month long training. I landed a job at best buy where I've been an installer since. I've learned a lot and really enjoy it. Hopefully one day I can move to a custom shop or open up my own ;)

Trial and error as well as learning from sites like this one. I never went to school either but I have worked on 1000's on vehicles over the past 15 years as well.a`

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

u can go to schools, but the best is hand on experience, this is how i learned 30 years ago, i got with my friedn and he taught me, the only mistake that i made was the arrogance that i had that if i didnt get paid for that work i wasnt going to do it, i regret it, learn all u can especially from experienced techs, dont argue with the top installers thinking your way is right, this is the fastest way for someone to get rid of u, like i said if i could go back i would learn everything, how to tint, install video,phones, tracking systems etc, learn to listen and follow directions, well good luck, its a good field to work on.  now i have my own company and will hire some techs soon.

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rocker

I attended The installer Institute in daytona beach florida. the school overall was good u learn alot an u get some hands on training there. but I have to agree with everybody else There is no better teacher then just getting out there an doing it, yea u will make mistakes but I cant think of 1 installer I know who hasnt. So really the choice is up to u but jus remember alot of shops will want certifications.

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Nick Miller

I'm not a installer.
But I'm not one for qualifications - I have them in other fields, but I do not respect qualifications per se. However, sometimes you need that ticket. And more so these days, it seems you only need the ticket - no skills or ability (because modern business and management don't think they need it, nor would they recognise it).

And school can be very devoid of reality. Oddly enough, they can be the ones hanging on to yesteryear's practices and solutions.
But fields are often way to wide for schools to cover anyhow. Or things change so fast.

But my biggest asset has been the people I met & learned from. Apart from instilling an ability to think (because I could absorb, dig deeper, re-question etc), their experience was phenomenal.
Apart from correcting my own totally opposite & wrong thoughts, they also prevented me making later mistakes, or meant much faster or superior fixes.

In effect, using others' experience launches you from their experienced-year's platform instead of the ceremonial graduation platform.

Not that experience is always right, but listen, ponder, and consider why they might be wrong and then reason it out with them. Don't go off half cooked. (Save it and be fully cooked!)
The best thing with reasoning & debate etc is that you may find or solve an unrecognised ambiguity, or find valid alternative solutions - maybe for the different problems now recognised.

I get a buzz from teaching and preventing waste.
And boy o boy do I love the stuff I pick up from people on this site - especially those heavy metal folk, but also Rookies with maybe just 1 post to their name.

Just avoid people that ramble. On & on.
And then some more.