Critical RV Industry Shortage Creates Unprecedented Opportunity
For decades, the RV industry has experienced a serious shortage of trained technicians, and the problem is getting worse.
Nearly half a million new RVs have been sold each year for the past five years. Coupled with the 10 million RVs already on the road, the demand for repair service is at an all-time high.
The number of dealership service bays cannot keep up with demand. That creates an unprecedented opportunity for you.
By becoming a trained RV technician, you can finance your travel all over North America, or find a great job working in just about any large or mid-size community. Here’s how:
Mobile RV Service Technician
With wait times approaching six weeks for RV repair at a dealership, demand for mobile service technicians has skyrocketed in recent years.
These independent business owners can garner $50 to $100 per hour, depending upon location and whether the technician is certified by the RV Industry Association. Mobile technicians remain relatively busy much of the year, and some even follow snowbirds to keep up with demand.
Mobile technicians travel to wherever the RV is parked, be it a campground, the owner’s home or a storage facility. They diagnose problems, complete the repair, bill the client and accept payment on the spot.
They are also responsible for running the business by scheduling repairs, ordering parts, paying taxes, hiring support staff, marketing the company and continuing their education.
Approximately 80 percent of all RV repairs can be completed outside of a dealership.
Campground RV Service Technician
It is not uncommon for vacationing or full-time RV owners to roll into a campground and inquire about getting something fixed on their rigs.
Consequently, the parks maintain a list of local mobile service technicians to provide service to their guests.
However, some enterprising campgrounds see RV service as a new profit center for their business as well as an opportunity to add value to their customers’ stays.
Campgrounds are hiring their own certified technicians to go from site to site repairing RVs so that the owners don’t have to drive their rigs to a dealership, drop them off and pick them up again.
Some campgrounds have started scheduling repairs during the week so an RV owner can simply leave their rig on Sunday and return to use it again the next week.
Campground service technicians can make $20 to $30 per hour and work regular shifts. Some campgrounds offer a campsite for free or a significantly reduced overnight rate to encourage technicians to work the entire season.
Technicians complete the repairs, but the campground manages the business aspect of the service by preparing invoices, accepting payments, paying taxes, ordering parts and scheduling repairs.
RV Dealership Service Technician
Repair jobs at RV dealerships are often so backlogged that many companies are hiring certified technicians to work year-round or during busy seasons.
These full- and part-time employees are hired to support the dealership’s primary technicians by completing simple repairs, which free the dealership’s technicians to work on major repairs involving chassis, slideouts, roofs or problems following collisions.
Some technicians are used to complete inspections on RVs arriving from the manufacturer, or conducting pre-delivery inspections before units are delivered to buyers. They often conduct walk-through orientations to acquaint buyers with the operation of their new RVs.
RV dealership technicians can make between $15 and $30 per hour, depending upon training and experience. Graduates of the National RV Training Academy enjoy a 100 percent placement rate at an RV dealership in the state of their choice. Demand is that great!
RV Manufacturer Service Technician
RVs that cannot be repaired at a dealership must often be returned to the factory where complex service can be completed. Most of the factories are located within 30 miles of Elkhart, Ind.
Trained and certified RV technicians are often hired right out of school to work at the factories.
These technicians are often required to work as sleuths in testing and diagnosing major wiring or plumbing issues. Sometimes they need to remove and reinstall sidewalls, slideouts and RV roofs. They may fix problems with the chassis and frame.
Technicians working for RV manufacturers generally work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at wages between $15 and $50 per hour, depending on training and experience.
RV Supplier Service Technician
Dealerships and manufacturing facilities aren’t the only companies looking for trained and certified technicians. Most RV supplier companies are looking for techs, too.
These technicians often specialize in a specific product line, such as air conditioners or refrigerators. Some are employed to install towing equipment, satellite entertainment systems or solar power.
Jobs are open throughout the United States and technicians generally make $15 to $25 per hour by working from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Where To Get Training
The National RV Training Academy is located in Athens, Texas, about one hour southeast of downtown Dallas. It is located on the grounds of the Texan RV Park. Full hookup RV sites and cabins are available for students to rent.
Class sizes range from 12 to 25 students, which allows for experienced instructors to provide classroom and hands-on training in a rather intimate environment.
A student can complete training and take the certification test in just five weeks of intensive study. Classes take place Monday through Friday.
Because the academy is situated in an RV park, students have the opportunity to see multiple rig configurations and components to get a well-rounded experience in troubleshooting problems.
The Cost
Tuition at the National RV Training Academy is $1,644 per week for five weeks, and does not include the cost of a campsite or cabin. Books are provided, but students will need their own tools. The academy can provide a list of tools used in classes and on the job.
Class Topics Include:
- Week 1 – General RV maintenance
- Week 2 – Air conditioners and heat pumps
- Week 3 – Absorption refrigerators
- Week 4 – Water heaters and furnaces
- Week 5 – RV exterior systems
Optional classes are available after hours to learn how to manage a business. You’ll get instruction on accounting, marketing and inventory management.
Students who cannot attend the live, hands-on training course may take classes online, although it is not the best option for people wanting to work as professional technicians. The online training is $397 and includes a curriculum you can complete at your own pace in your own home.
However, the entire cost of the online package can be applied to the cost of attending a five-week live, hands-on training course.
Ready To Start A New Career?
Training RVs at the NRVTA Campus
Students at the NRVTA Campus
Hands-On Training
NRVTA Students in the Classroom
Students on the Observation Deck
NRVTA Graduates
Your New Career Starts Today!