Dear CPS Technicians and Instructors of Nevada:

I gotta tell ya, this new ‘CEU’ and community education requirement to recertify had me a little scared. When National Safe Kids sent out the announcement in January, I was pretty much thinking of letting my Technician certification lapse (since I wasn’t managing the CPS program for OTS anymore). Ah, but my Higher Power does have a sense of humor, as I once again became the state’s Child Passenger Safety Program manager in April. And my certification was expiring on May 5th!

I quickly called the powers that be (Kerry Chausmer of National Safe Kids) and literally begged for a one month extension so that I could get my required CEU’s under my belt. She gladly acquiesced, and also kindly gave me several ideas for quickly obtaining those CEU requirements. I also contacted several CPS Technician Instructors that I know for assistance and moral support (click here for training opportunities and more CEU help).

Bottom line: It took me less than a week to earn my six required CEU’s for recertification. Fortunately, I had also been involved in several community education efforts relating to car seats over the past two years, and had access to a local instructor to sign off on my five required seat installs (all in one day—heat stroke city!)….Less than a week to re-new a certification that I had had up to two years to complete!

And technically speaking, this new process actually makes us update our skills in the process; the old system allowed us to procrastinate until the 11th hour before taking the on-line quiz, and hey, we all know how easy multiple-choice tests are—that’s why we liked them in middle school! But this new process focuses on us learning new technical skills, seats, products, systems, etc—and actually guarantees that we ARE utilizing our skills to educate the community and increase the safety of our children on Nevada roadways.

So, I’m eating crow in this letter and letting you know that we are here to help you with your recertification needs in any way that we can. It really isn’t that bad.

GB,
Traci Pearl