2022 RETA Breeze March-April

3. RETA tests require candidates to use references that appear next to questions on the screen, but candidates

must know when to use these references. Candidates who are

unfamiliar with all of these references are at a significant disadvantage. That is why these references are included in each exam’s study guide. 4. Questions in all RETA exams include the question, one BEST answer, and three plausible incorrect answers that are most likely to be selected by candidates who do not fully understand the question or do not take time to consider each answer. 5. Candidates who finish CARO or CIRO in far less than the three hours allowed to take each test may fail because they do not pay attention to the details in each question and all the answers. Such details may be the difference between safe operations and unresolved problems that can lead to serious injury on the job. 6. RETA’s mission is to improve the health and safety of operators and everyone else in or near an industrial refrigeration facility. All RETA credentials require mastery of complex topics and system operations. RETA exams are designed to support safe and efficient operations as refrigeration industry practices change over time.

Similar patterns emerge in CARO performance data. Candidates from the program that claims to be the best in the industry have a pass rate that matches the average for all RETA centers. Their claim about CARO performance also is totally false.

CARO Performance by Content Area July 2020 – March 2022

KTN Centers 360 attempts

RETA Centers 324 attempts

Number of Qs Scored

Average Score

Pass Rate

Average Score

Pass Rate

CIRO Content Areas

Fundamentals

9

70.2

65%

77.5

66%

Refrigeration Cycle

8

78.3

72%

80.4

75%

Refrigerants

7

68.4

61%

71.7

72%

Compressor Types

6

74,0

52%

73.3

54%

Compressor Operations/ Maintenance

14

75.0

72%

72.9

66%

Lubrication

10

75.4

72%

72.7

67%

Evaporators & Cooling Units

9

72.8

54%

71.5

52%

Condensers & Receivers

12

72.2

58%

70.4

52%

Purging

5

80.5

74%

82.1

77%

Safety Standards & Procedures

20

68.2

54%

68.2

60%

Totals

100

72.8

65%

73.0

64%

We welcome your questions about RETA’s credentialing exams and activities. Send your questions by email to certification@reta.com.

Several factors may contribute to these results. For example, most candidates who test in KTN centers recognize that they are responsible for their own preparation, but many candidates who take a short course appear to expect that a few days of “review” is all they need to earn a RETA credential. That is seldom true for several reasons. 1. CARO requires candidates to demonstrate understanding of complex, integrated topics related to industrial refrigeration safety and system operations. 2. CIRO requires candidates to use operating system screens and data to identify and resolve problems in refrigeration systems. Candidates can download CARO and CIRO Study Guides free from the certification section of RETA’s website.

Dr. Ron Rodgers, RETA’s Psychometrician (testing expert) and Accreditation Manager, has guided development of all RETA credentialing exams since 2002. RETA Testing Corner provides information and answers questions from RETA members, candidates and others to help them earn and benefit from RETA credentials.

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