Re: Thank you Dr. COLORCHIP!
How do I become and authorized service center and applicator?
I don't have the answer to the above question. I would recommend contacting Dr. ColorChip.
I am curious and have been for a while...
How do you become an IDA Certified trainer like yourself Mr. Phillips?
I get this question a lot. I also get asked to right official "Letters of Recommendation" for individuals that want to become what the IDA calls a,
Recognized Trainer
And here's the deal. You have to be a person that has a history of teaching FORMAL detailing classes. You have to be able to prove it and document it.
I can prove and document that I'm a real car detailing trainer simply by the VOLUME of classes I've taught and photo documented since 2002. That's 19 years. There's only a few guys that I know that have been doing this as long or longer and the sad part for them is there is very little photo documentation of their history.
That's why I'm so glad 20 years ago I taught myself how to work with pictures on this thing we call the INTERNET. Most detailers and also detail instructors - they can't do this. Sure a monkey can use their thumb to put a picture on Facebook or Instagram but I'm talking about knowing HTML and BB Code. It actually takes some brains to do what I do. And it's not even than hard. But a person has to CARE.
I'm in this for the long run, been typing this for 20 years. So I can't count on other people to do my work for me, thus the reason you see write-ups like this,
Pictures: February 2020 - 100% Hands-On Detailing Classes
Notice -
NO CHAIRS
That is one of THOUSANDS of pictures showing people NOT sitting in chairs - but working or TRAINING on cars. What I see now day is a lot of people starting to copy what I do - that is - promote their classes are HANDS-ON. God Bless them.
If I were you, I would focus first on becoming an IDA Certified Detailer and then a Skill Validated Detailer and unless you plan on opening a shop that offers training - don't worry about becoming a Recognized Trainer. While it's super nice to do this for others - I have to tell you, it's a lot of work and also responsibility.
I take a few moments to share something,
About a year ago, I STOPPED giving the Skills Validation test UNLESS the person taking the test had taken one of my hands-on classes.
Why?
Because then I KNEW they know what they are doing.
The problem I've encountered is TOO MANY people that call themselves a professional detailer got their training from YouTube. Then when they show up to take the Skills Validation Test, (takes about 2 hours to show you know what you're doing), most of them don't know what they are doing. They THINK they know what they are doing but they simply don't know.
And here's the other deal, through the course of the 2 hours that I test them - without exception - they almost all say the same thing,
I need to find a way to detail cars faster
I hear the same thing over and over again. They struggle with detailing a car from start to finish in an acceptable time frame so they are actually making some money. And when I ask them what they use for their primary tool? It's almost always a free spinning random orbital polisher.
Go figure. :dunno:
Hope that helps...
:buffing:
