I started babysitting/transporting as a teen, and I know my installs were always tight. That was ten-plus years ago. I've always been strict about using seats to the best of my knowledge. But when I really learned about carseats was the end of April of '09... I stumbled across an OT post on another board about EH, which linked both here and KDM. Read it, and within days started purchasing/ordering seats to reharness *all* of my kids. Went a little overboard, lol. I joined here almost immediately to ask questions, read about ERF and was like, "Um, that's interesting, but I don't think we're interested in that. Just here for EH info." I intended to get my info, get my kids safe, and leave.
Anyways, needless to say I stuck around. It was almost exactly a year later that I got certified. Like others, I already knew the bulk of what was taught in the class, but I tried really hard to approach it with an open mind and not be a know-it-all. Some of the rules they taught us were bizarre or outdated (like you can only use 1 large or 3 small pool noodles, max,) but for the most part the class was consummate, albeit basic.
I will duck the tomatoes and say that I did do private checks straight out of class. Almost all of those have been for my charges' parents, and my personal viewpoint on it is that they will either have a certified-but-not-hugely-experienced tech looking at their seats, or no one. (They will NOT go see a tech on their own.) And since they all have issues (loose installs, LATCH borrowing/sharing, lack of tether, FF seats installed via RFing belt paths, missing Turbo screws, etc, etc, etc,) which I am able to correct, I have peace about it. I have not seen every combo that is out there, but what I don't know I will ask about. I also have the advantage, with these parents, of seeing them daily -- so in the event I realize I made a mistake, I have opportunity to correct it. We also don't have a ton of events here, at least not that I've found, and particularly not when I'm available to work them.
Further, there are a lot of techs who have no experience other than the class who DO do private checks, and give poor advice. I know it's not a popular opinion (and perhaps it's my inexperience speaking) but there are a number of kids riding significantly safer than they would be if I refused to look at their seats because I haven't been working public checks for years. :twocents:
OTOH, I'm not out agressively advertising myself. I will help anyone who asks, I will mention to friends with kids in carseats that I'm a tech, but I'm a far, far piece away from getting calls and referrals from strangers and charging for installs.
Lastly, I will definitely say that no, the class was not all I needed to provide safe checks. Reading on this board is huge and experience with seats, vehicles and parents is huge. If I'd only ever taken the course, I wouldn't be comfortable checking without backup in place.
I will end by saying that I don't totally disagree with Wendy and chicka -- they are wiser and far more experienced than I am. It scares me a bit that some of the people in my class went home and started doing checks the next week, with only each other to rely on. But, they will have kids leaving safer than they arrived, and they are better than the alternative, which is often nothing. I apply the same rationale to myself. JMO.
ETA: I reread my post and feel like it came across as both cocky and self-important... which was not my intention. I wanted to share a counterargument to the "no private checks until you have lots of group experience" mindset. I personally don't feel that kids should be left in situations that we *know* are unsafe simply because we may not have handled a multitude of situations. For techs who are hands-on familiar with cars and know their stuff, I feel that it's better to make that child as safe as you can than to refuse to help a family whose child is riding in an unsafe situation because your knowledge may be limited.