Carol Jackson, a mobile RV technician with more than three decades of experience in the mechanical trades, recently shared her experience completing the full curriculum offered by the RV Technical Institute (RVTI).
The program, developed with input from industry experts, provides the only industry-backed RV technician certification and is designed to increase the number of certified professionals in the field.
Jackson, who holds the designation of Level 4 Master Technician, said she was initially drawn to RVTI due to her longstanding commitment to training and skill development.
She began her journey under the previous RV Dealers Association/RV Industry Association Technician Certification Program before it transitioned into the current format.
“I’ve been doing this in the RV sphere for going on 10 years now,” Jackson said in a News and Insights report of RVIA. “I achieved my Level 2 just before it transitioned into the RV Technical Institute.”
She emphasized that the hands-on training was the most valuable component of the curriculum, allowing technicians to apply theoretical knowledge in a controlled environment.
“What drew me to it was the fact that I was already invested in training, furthering my career, and seeking as much knowledge as I could so that I could hone my craft. That thirst for knowledge is how I got to where I’m at now,” she said.
Jackson’s drive to become a master technician stems from her experience as a woman in the mechanical trades, including a 15-year career in the automotive industry. She said the need to prove herself fueled her motivation to excel and achieve the highest certification available.
“Being a woman in this industry has been probably the most refreshing part of my 35-year career in mechanical trades,” she said.
She credits the RV Technical Institute’s training with equipping her with the tools and confidence needed to run her own mobile RV service business successfully. Jackson said the program helped her develop both technical proficiency and professional independence.
“I couldn’t be here, out here on my own and owning my own company, if I didn’t have the training and the education that the RV Technical Institute has allowed me to get,” she said.