2023 RETA Breeze Jan-Feb

FROM THE DESK OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Hello RETA Membership, I wanted to revisit a topic that we’re asked about frequently, and that is the difference between a certificate and a certification. • A certificate reflects completion of a training program. • A Certification requires meeting “established criteria for proficiency or competency in a profession (ISO 17024) … (after) an assessment of an individual’s knowledge, skills and abilities.” RETA’s CARO and CIRO certifications have met ANSI/ ANAB 17024 Standards since 2008. RETA’s CRST certification has met ANSI/ANAB 17024 Standards since 2022. Currently no certificate program in indus- trial refrigeration meets any third-party criteria for quality. Most certificate programs meet no standards anywhere. Investigate any entity that claims to provide an Industrial Refrigeration certification. Identify the standards they have met. No program that issues a certificate without secure, fair and valid assessment of the knowledge and skills needed to operate indus- trial refrigeration systems safely and efficiently can ever be equivalent to the demands required to earn RETA credentials. RETA offers the only ANSI/ANAB-accredited industrial refrigeration certification programs in the world. RETA’s CARO and CIRO Certifications became ANSI-accredited credentials in 2008 and the CRST Certification joined them in 2022. RETA also devel oped the Certified Refrigeration Energy Specialist (CRES) program to meet ANSI/ANAB Standards. The CRES program will meet the criteria to be ANSI/ ANAB-accredited as soon as the required number of candidates have taken the test to document that it meets ANSI/ANAB 17024 Standards. ANSI has accredited 48 sponsors of certificates in its Certificate Accreditation Program (ANSI/ANAB-CAP).

None of these sponsors offer training in industrial refrigeration. Nearly half focus on food handlers and food safety. All other certificate programs operate with no recogn- ized criteria for evaluating program quality or the value of their training. They require no third-party evaluation or criteria for assuring that candidates have demonstrated the proficiency and knowledge required to work safely with complex operating systems or hazardous materials. RETA invites you to examine these programs carefully as you invest your training dollars. Only RETA requires candidates to demonstrate mastery of the skills and knowledge needed to operate refrigeration systems safely and efficiently in fair, valid, and secure tests. RETA credentials have been internationally recog nized since 2008. RETA is the GOLD Standard in Industrial Refrig eration Certification The RETA spring National Board meeting will be held on March 31st and April 1st in Jacksonville, Florida. The Association sends out a thank-you to all of the board members who selflessly give up their time to work on behalf of the Association. We also send out a huge thank-you to their employers who support their employees and the RETA mission statement.

God Bless, Jim Barron

Jim Barron RETA Executive Director

6 RETA.com