The Tire Industry Association (TIA) will release the update to the Certified Automotive Tire Service (ATS) program currently in production in the first quarter of 2017.
TIA announced the plans for Certified ATS, an education program for passenger and light truck tire service technicians, during the 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. All TIA Certified ATS Instructors and Technicians in good standing will receive the updates at no charge.
“Certification programs are the backbone of our training and education efforts so it’s important that the information covers the latest technology and developments,” says Tom Formanek, TIA president. “The Board of Directors is committed to providing the resources that the staff needs to update the materials on a regular basis so they meet the needs of our members and the industry.”
TIA held a Training Summit a few years ago and invited safety/training professionals from select member retailers to discuss the areas where Certified ATS needed to be updated. These discussions gave TIA’s staff the roadmap to the modules that required additional information. As a result, the updated Certified ATS Program is a direct reflection of the needs assessment that was completed during the Summit.
“We are very fortunate to have a network of Certified ATS Instructors as well as health and safety professionals who are willing to share their thoughts on how we can improve our training programs,” says Kevin Rohlwing, TIA senior vice president of training. “Based on the feedback from our members, the updated Certified ATS Program will put an increased emphasis on vehicle lifting, wheel installation/torque, and diagnostic procedures for tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS).”
Current Certified ATS Instructors and Technicians will receive a mailing before the end of the year so they can indicate how many manuals need to be updated. Instructors and technicians who have let their certifications expire must recertify in order to receive the update. For more information, contact Chris Hoogenboom, TIA director of training at 800-876-8372, ext. 106 or [email protected].
