Rinnai Corporation, manufacturer of innovative high-efficiency heating solutions, has announced that most of the company’s Level 2 and Level 3 installation and service training curriculums for its tankless water heater, hydronic furnace, condensing boiler and direct vent wall furnace products are now recognized by North American Technician Excellence, Inc. (NATE) for continuing education hours (CEHs) toward its technician certifications. According to sources, many consumers regard NATE certification as a “seal of approval” that helps them identify heating professionals who possess superior product knowledge and the latest service techniques. In fact, a recent independent study found that NATE-certified technicians have 12.9% fewer callbacks and 25% fewer warranty claims than professionals who have not achieved the certification.

“We’re very pleased that Rinnai’s training courses now count toward NATE CEHs, as it lends further credibility to our curriculum and our overall position in the heating industry,” says Rinnai America’s Product Training Supervisor, Tim Greer. “Being approved for NATE CEHs gives us the opportunity to communicate the benefits of Rinnai’s condensing boilers, tankless water heaters and other home heating products to the approximately 30,000 NATE-certified professionals working in the HVAC/R industry today. NATE requires all of its technicians to complete 60 continuing education hours every five years, and we’re proud that our detailed coursework, which effectively teaches the installation and service of Rinnai® products, will help these individuals maintain their NATE certifications.”

To become a NATE-recognized organization, Rinnai had to validate that its product training curriculums directly relate to one of NATE’s specific Knowledge Areas of Technician Expertise (KATEs), which are divided into installation, general service and senior technician services categories. Upon completion of this review, NATE approved the following instructor-led Rinnai product training courses for continuing education hours:

• Condensing Boiler Installation Fundamentals – Level 2
• Condensing Boiler Service Fundamentals – Level 3
• Tankless Water Heater Installation Fundamentals – Level 2
• Tankless Water Heater Service Fundamentals – Level 3
• Hydronic Furnace Installation Fundamentals – Level 2
• Direct Vent Wall Furnace Installation Fundamentals – Level 2
• Direct Vent Wall Furnace Service Fundamentals – Level 3.

“Technicians have a finite amount of training time available, which naturally forces them to be selective in the educational courses they take,” Greer says. “Thanks to our NATE recognition, installers can participate in Rinnai training courses with even greater confidence – not only will the valuable product knowledge they learn help them provide the highest quality service to customers, it will also help them achieve the continuing education hours NATE requires.”

All NATE-approved, instructor-led Rinnai training courses conducted after July 15, 2011 are eligible for NATE CEHs. Because the recognition is not retroactive, courses completed prior to that date do not qualify for NATE CEHs. Installers that are interested in learning more about Rinnai’s NATE-approved curriculums should visit http://www.natetesting.com/natex/ceu_courses_search.asp for details on the amount of hours and the KATE designations of the specific courses.