Techs! Can I ask you about your work?

Nedra

Car-Seat.org Ambassador
I am really getting into car seat safety! My baby is only 6 months old and I am already eager to install my friends' car seats and chat with them about vehicle fit, etc.

I am a teacher and have been considering a career move. Being a tech seems like a great way to utilize my teaching skill set while also getting involved in a new field.

Is it more of a volunteer thing, though? Unless you're a firefighter or police officer? Or are there orgs that hire techs just to be techs? Or do you freelance?

Forgive my ignorance!

In an ideal world, I'd love it if I had a job where I could go around to different daycares, preschools and elementary schools and do classes for parents and installation/seat check events. Is this a thing?
 
ADS

Baylor

New member
Hi there.. I am not a tech but I hope to be. I am still waiting to take the course.

Do not install your friends car seats. That is something a tech should do but even they don't do the final install, they show the parents how and then let them do it and check it for them.



There are some techs here who have full time jobs as techs.

You need to take the course and get certified..

Cert.safekids.org will help you find a course.
 

Nedra

Car-Seat.org Ambassador
I should clarify that I am not installing my friends' car seats for them or claiming to be an expert or anything. What I mean is that I like to install my friends' car seats in my own car before they put them in their own -- just for fun to see what that car seat is like and read the manual.
 

Baylor

New member
I should clarify that I am not installing my friends' car seats for them or claiming to be an expert or anything. What I mean is that I like to install my friends' car seats in my own car before they put them in their own -- just for fun to see what that car seat is like and read the manual.

Ahh!! That I get! :)

I have not had a class close enough to me to take it yet.
 

Kac

Ambassador - CPS Technician
Its great that you want to be a tech and are so passionate about car seat safety!

I'm a tech who works part time. I work in a hospital on the mother-baby floor. Before discharge, we educate the parents on how to install and use their seat correctly. I love it, but the shift is only 2 hours each day. Other techs teach the NICU and SCN nurses about car seat safety and teach at parenting classes too.

I used to volunteer with someone who worked full time going to different events and what not.

In addition, a local hospital just connected with CHOP and pays CPSTs $75 for three to four hour checks that they have twice a month.

The availability of jobs really depends on where you are located.
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
Most techs that get paid to do it are either extremely part time, or do it as part of a larger job (firefighter, highway patrol officer, nurse, retail store, babyproofer, etc.)

In some cities there are full time fitting stations at hospitals that may employ one or two techs, and occasionally a tech with a large enough market and rich enough clientele can make a full time go of a concierge business, but MOSTLY there's not enough of a paying market to support that.
 

bnsnyde

New member
I can't get anyone to want to do checks ever for FREE! :)
So, I will never make any money at it.
I love carseat safety, though, so for me it was just something I wanted to do.
 

Keeks64

New member
I'm in Canada so things are done differently.

I get paid to do workshops/presentations for baby groups & different organizations.

This morning I worked with an aboriginal preschool & handed out seats that were given to them on a grant. I didn't make much but they did compensate me for my time.

I do private checks from home & I do charge a fee. Usually $5-$20 at their discretion.

A lot of stuff though I do for free & a lot of scheduled community events are on a volunteer basis.

There is no way I could make a living just being a tech, but maybe one day :)

Even without pay I enjoy being a CRST & love helping families :)
 

bubbaray

New member
I am also in Canada and didn't recertify because no one wants checks and if they do, they want it for free during my work hours. I don't know of anyone in my area that gets paid other than the occasional donation
 

Carrie_R

Ambassador - CPS Technician
I live in a good-sized metro area (750k people) and am not sure we have ANY full-time technicians in the city. I do know there is one f/t position, but it is split by two techs. There are a handful of p/t positions, but they are few and far between. There are also a few techs who are paid by various cities/fire departments to come in a couple of hours on a regular basis (like every Tues from 10-1 or whatever.) Other that, the only paid positions are those who do it as part of their police or fire positions.

It is possible there are some I am not aware of - and obviously every area is different - but I honestly would not get certified planning on making it a career. You might be able to - we do have some on here who work in paid positions in the field - but it is far from a guarantee.

Hope that helps!
 

kelkel2090

CPST Instructor
I work full time as an Injury Prevention Specialist at a children's hospital. My job is ALL injury prevention but 90% of it is car seat related. I round with education on mother baby (40ish births/day), install/educate in the car for anybody who wants it, install/educate Hippo seats for femur fractures, do special needs car seat evaluations with a physical therapist, and assist when needed with the angle tolerance tests for preemies/low birth weight when needed. We also teach a weekly NICU class for NICU parents and teach the news residents basic CPS safety when they come. Also, our group holds four tech classes/year to certify new techs. Our hospital/coalition employs four techs (actually, were all instructors) two for the community education/fitting stations/presentations and two of us strictly in the hospital. I consider myself VERY lucky to have such a fantastic opportunity.
 

newyorkDOC

New member
I'm not a tech but I am in business development and the BD instinct in me would say to put together a business plan and sell yourself to the closest baby retailer near you. Find out how many seats they sell on average and figure out how much money they could make by hiring you as a tech (once you're certified obviously). There needs to be some added value to their bottom line so figure out different ways to be hired by them (whether as fully employed or as a 1099 employee) and figure out a premium they could charge their customers for having a recently purchased seat properly installed. You'd more than likely have to hit up the company's corporate offices though.
 

Car-Seat.Org Facebook Group

Forum statistics

Threads
219,655
Messages
2,196,895
Members
13,530
Latest member
onehitko860

You must read your carseat and vehicle owner’s manual and understand any relevant state laws. These are the rules you must follow to restrain your children safely. All opinions at Car-Seat.Org are those of the individual author for informational purposes only, and do not necessarily reflect any policy or position of Carseat Media LLC. Car-Seat.Org makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis. If you are unsure about information provided to you, please visit a local certified technician. Before posting or using our website you must read and agree to our TERMS.

Graco is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org! Britax is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org! Nuna Baby is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org!

Please  Support Car-Seat.Org  with your purchases of infant, convertible, combination and boosters seats from our premier sponsors above.
Shop travel systems, strollers and baby gear from Britax, Chicco, Clek, Combi, Evenflo, First Years, Graco, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, Safety 1st, Diono & more! ©2001-2022 Carseat Media LLC

Top