Industry News

Arlington, Va. — In an effort to create a more mutually supportive relationship with its testing organizations, North American Technician Excellence (NATE; www.natex.org) announced that, as of January 1, 2009, it will begin recognizing its testing organizations (TOs) as NATE Partners, and will subsequently be categorizing them as either Platinum Testing Partners or Traditional Testing Partners, according to the amount of support they provide to NATE’s testing process.

Platinum Testing Partners, those organizations performing at the top level, have sold 150 tests in 2008 or an average of 150 tests in the past three years, and have conducted at least five testing sessions this year. Benefits of becoming a Platinum Testing Partner include a priority listing on the NATE Web site and eligibility for revenue sharing and rebates at the end of the year should NATE achieve its financial goals. Traditional Testing Partners have conducted at least two testing sessions this year, and will also be listed on the NATE Web site.

Both Platinum and Traditional Testing Partners must, as always, actively promote NATE testing and display the NATE logo on their Web sites. In return, these Partners will continue to receive downloadable marketing materials and other promotional support from NATE.

These changes in testing organization classification and pricing come as NATE prepares to launch its consumer Web site in January 2009. The new Web site, in conjunction with planned changes to the requirements for NATE’s Consumer Contractor Connection (C3) contractor referral service, will increase awareness of NATE certification, educate consumers on the importance of hiring contractors who employ NATE-certified technicians, and will, therefore, increase demand for NATE testing.

“NATE testing organizations play a critical role in the ability of HVAC/R technicians to obtain certification,” said Rex Boynton, president of NATE. “Our goal is to thank these testing partners for their support of NATE and encourage them to further promote testing and certification, as well as to continue to raise the bar for both technician and contractor excellence.”

For more information on NATE certification or how to become a NATE testing organization, visit http://www.natex.org/certification_tests.htm.