Becoming a CPS Tech

Unregistered · Jul 27, 2009

A CPS tech asked me if I would be interested in becoming a CPS tech. I've been giving it some thought. I can see a lot of benefits to doing it, but I was wondering if there is any financial compensation for a tech's time since the techs in my area don't charge parents for checking their car seats.

Mommy0608 · Jul 27, 2009

Generally there is no compensation for doing car seat checks. Once in a while you might get a perk from a Safe Kids check event (t-shirt, gift card, etc.) but there is no formal payment usually.

I do private and public checks and don't get paid with money. I get paid with the intrinsic benefit of knowing that I've helped more children ride safely. :thumbsup:

Glad to hear that you're considering the CPST course.

Pixels · Jul 27, 2009

Some techs do it as a part of their regular job, for example someone may be a work at a hospital, and as part of their regular duties, check carseats. Or a police officer, firefighter, or professional EMS (Emergency Medical Service) worker. I think those are the most common professions where people are techs and get paid to do carseat checks as part of their regular job.

As a volunteer, I don't get compensated for my time or my gas to get to check events (about 45 minutes to an hour from me, depending on traffic). I think I can take something at least for my mileage when I itemize deductions on my taxes. I don't know if I can take anything for my time. I haven't looked into it yet. Either way, it will not add up to a whole lot.

I do enjoy working checks very much. Sometimes parents come in who are just there for the reduced-price seat. Sometimes they want their seats installed for them as an installation service, but aren't interested in learning. Those are the ones that aren't very rewarding. Sometimes parents come in because they truely can't afford a seat, but want to do the right thing for their child. Or they come in because they've heard the statistic that 4 out of 5 seats are installed incorrectly, and they've read the manual and really want to do the right thing, but they want to get checked. Those are the ones that are the most rewarding.

Mommy0608 · Jul 27, 2009

pixels99 said:
Some techs do it as a part of their regular job, for example someone may be a work at a hospital, and as part of their regular duties, check carseats. Or a police officer, firefighter, or professional EMS (Emergency Medical Service) worker. I think those are the most common professions where people are techs and get paid to do carseat checks as part of their regular job.

As a volunteer, I don't get compensated for my time or my gas to get to check events (about 45 minutes to an hour from me, depending on traffic). I think I can take something at least for my mileage when I itemize deductions on my taxes. I don't know if I can take anything for my time. I haven't looked into it yet. Either way, it will not add up to a whole lot.

I do enjoy working checks very much. Sometimes parents come in who are just there for the reduced-price seat. Sometimes they want their seats installed for them as an installation service, but aren't interested in learning. Those are the ones that aren't very rewarding. Sometimes parents come in because they truely can't afford a seat, but want to do the right thing for their child. Or they come in because they've heard the statistic that 4 out of 5 seats are installed incorrectly, and they've read the manual and really want to do the right thing, but they want to get checked. Those are the ones that are the most rewarding.

:yeahthat:

...and sometimes you get the people who bring a bucket of freshly harvested cucumbers to the seat check event as a thank you because they can't afford a financial donation.

Pixels · Jul 27, 2009

Mommy0608 said:
:yeahthat:

...and sometimes you get the people who bring a bucket of freshly harvested cucumbers to the seat check event as a thank you because they can't afford a financial donation.

Now that's ... different. But at least you know they cared. I got a thank-you email this weekend.

Becoming a CPS Tech

Unregistered

Guest

Mommy0608

New member

Pixels

New member

Mommy0608

New member

Pixels

New member

Car-Seat.Org Facebook Group

Sponsors

Forum statistics