Techs! What do you do with your certification?

ILoveMy3Boys

New member
Do you do clinics? Do you use your information just to keep your kids safe? Is it required for you job?

I ask because I have gone back and forth over the years about getting certified. It has really been on my mind again lately. I wouldn't take the class until DD weans which is a year or more away. I struggle with the decision because I don't know if I would actually be able to APPLY what I learn to most of my life, at this point with 4 kiddos I just don't think I could commit to doing the clinics. Certainly not on a regular basis. TIA!
 
ADS

SignCuer

New member
I got mine when I learned more about safety of kids in cars and decided I wanted to help other parents to do so. I'm deaf as well and I feel that it's a big asset to me because I am able to help deaf parents... (I'm well known in the deaf community now as the car seat guru :p)

I also go to clinics, checks to help out as much as I can (only have missed 1 so far due to illness)

Including the fact people are like, "are you qualified to say this?", I can say "yes I am, I'm a certified tech so yes, I'm qualified :D) I have heard this many times and I'm glad I have my certification to back up.
 

luckyclov

New member
I'm strictly volunteer (I'm a SAHM). CPS had been a "hobby" for quite some time, but I finally got fed up with the lack of knowledge and poorly skilled techs in my area and finally got certified in order to better support my advocacy.

The only seat check event I've done was the one at the end of my course. I'm eagerly awaiting notifications of events in my area, but none so far (I've only been certified since October). I do private checks. And "online consulting" :)p) with friends/acquaintances who may email or text with questions or recommendations. And the time I spend here. I leave my business card around. I do regular CEUs. I research, read, keep notes. Stuff like that.:)
 

cryswilkins

New member
I started out as a volunteer and was doing about one check a month. Now I use it where I work.

Sent from my iPhone, please excuse my typos.
 

misstj9

New member
I'm strictly volunteer (I'm a SAHM). CPS had been a "hobby" for quite some time, but I finally got fed up with the lack of knowledge and poorly skilled techs in my area and finally got certified in order to better support my advocacy.

The only seat check event I've done was the one at the end of my course. I'm eagerly awaiting notifications of events in my area, but none so far (I've only been certified since October). I do private checks. And "online consulting" :)p) with friends/acquaintances who may email or text with questions or recommendations. And the time I spend here. I leave my business card around. I do regular CEUs. I research, read, keep notes. Stuff like that.:)

this is me too.... SAHM did for my own sake, and so i can educate parents at schools my kids attend. i've done one seat check, and have a few things on my schedule for the spring.

now i'm starting to offer my services at my local Police department who has only the chief certified and she's WAY overworked, at the local park district to offer classes to parents, and at the hospital to put a class offering in for expectant parents.
 

CPST_Augie

CPS Technician
I took the cert course because I wanted to. So far, I've only done a couple private checks. In a few weeks I'm going to start arranging some stuff with the local foster care system. I've already talked to them and they're interested but are bogged down with some training they already have going on.
 

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor
Staff member
I do private checks, public clinics (doing both tomorrow, dad of preemies in the afternoon, he called because they were being induced yesterday. Wow), and I answer questions online and via email. I use mine all the time.

Wendy
 

Kac

Ambassador - CPS Technician
I became a tech to make sure my nanny kids are safe in my car. I now volunteer at monthly checks with the Paramedics and Fire Dept. I'm going to be doing checks with my local Safe Kids coalition too. I'm really lucky because my instructor was awesome, and she keeps me posted with checks so I go to some at schools, with stores, police departments, etc. I'm going to be helping with an upcoming class too. :)

I had the opportunity to apply for a paid position (where zactayaus works) and college interfered too much. I'm hoping to get a job in the field eventually, but I also want to use my Education degree.
 

zactayaus

Well-known member
I got certified at first just with the idea that people would maybe actually listen to what I was saying about car seat safety because I was a CPST. I did have in the back of my mind that I could maybe one day get a paid CPST job which I did this past August and I couldn't be happier.:D
 

Brigala

CPST Instructor
I do clinics, and occasionally private checks. I nag my friends sometimes. LOL. :)

I didn't wait for DD to wean to take the class. She was almost a year old. My mom brought her to me at lunch time to nurse (once, strapped in completely wrong and in a really weird way - I just about blew my top).
 

Ninetales

New member
I got certified for myself, so I could be confident of my installs, and so people would know I knew what I was talking about if they ask for my help. I help out at check events when I can, and I'm open to private checks though I've never done one.
 

christineka

New member
I got certified so I could really get out there and teach people to use their seats correctly. I volunteer for checks. When I started, my dd wasn't weaned, but she was down to nursing only a few times a day. Working checks didn't get in the way.
 

bethng

Active member
I got certified because I was really interested in car seat safety. My friends started coming to me asking questions, I figured I better actually know what I am talking about before I give out advice. So I took the class. Now I work approx 1 car seat check per month that I get paid for through multicare. I do private checks for friends and relatives sometimes. And the very rare private check for someone I don't know. That and everyone at the school where I work comes to me with their car seat install issues and questions lol
 

WhatAboutPuppy

New member
At this point I am certified as a marketing angle for my job. I do personal checks for families and also volunteer at clinics (sometimes).
 

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