What if there where an "offical" degree in Automotive Detailing?

DealerDetailer

DealerDetailer

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So I happen to watch the movie "The Kings Speech" last night about King George the VI who had an extermely bad speech impediment. After countless visits to various doctors and various attempts to fix his problem his wife found 'Doctor' Lionel Logue.

The truth is Lionel Logue is not a Doctor, nor does he pretend to be one. Just somone who after the first great war help fellow 'Chaps' who where shell shocked and couldn't speak - his methods where unorthodox, but worked. For the rest of the movie I was thinking about the detailing industry.

Anways fast foward. The King finds out later that he's not an offical doctor. "No training, no diploma, no qualifications, just a great deal of nurve" - the King to say the least is irate.


As its know in the detailing industry there is no "offical" training that is recognized National or international. A lot of us produce results that work, even sometimes with our own unorthodox procedures. :xyxthumbs:


So the question is if somewhere down the road and "offical" degree came possible at nearby universities and communitiy colleges, would you obtain one? This could possible be like any other degree - 2 year or a 4 year degree.
 
Since detailing can be so abstract, meaning there are 10 different ways to get the same result, I don't think you could every really make it into a degree. At least with automotive repair there is usually a pretty straight forward path to get something fixed. With detailing there are so many different products and techniques that one course or degree program couldn't possibly cover it all. Just my .02.
 
Flannigan said:
Since detailing can be so abstract, meaning there are 10 different ways to get the same result, I don't think you could every really make it into a degree. At least with automotive repair there is usually a pretty straight forward path to get something fixed. With detailing there are so many different products and techniques that one course or degree program couldn't possibly cover it all. Just my .02.
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True, but aren't most degrees the same - They provide a solid bases of whats involved in the field. Even once hired you use some of what you learned and some you don't and even find curtain things that work for you, but not others.

What I mean is, yes there are many different techniques in our field, but surely our field has generally understood techinques, process and equipment which could be taught.
 
DealerDetailer said:
As its know in the detailing industry there is no "offical" training that is recognized National or international. A lot of us produce results that work, even sometimes with our own unorthodox procedures. :xyxthumbs:


So the question is if somewhere down the road and "offical" degree came possible at nearby universities and communitiy colleges, would you obtain one? This could possible be like any other degree - 2 year or a 4 year degree.
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No, absolutely not.

The only way that I could ever forsee this being an issue would be if state or fed. gov't got into the licensing of professionals. Then it would most likely be grandfathered in.

CDL would be an example.

I feel that the final product, plus customer satisfaction and or referral is my Sheepskin.

I don't need to be recognized by my peers for a job well done.
 
I don't see a full degree really working, but maybe an official certification.

I don't buy the, "too many techniques and products". I come from the IT field myself, and I sure as hell don't know every piece of software and how to use it, but I understand the basic principles on how to troubleshoot them.

With detailing, I could see the use of a certification, insuring that one knows how to use their tools, and how to choose the right TYPE of products for the job.
Yeah, there is a 1000 products for the same job, but you should know exactly what said product is doing to the vehicle you're working on.

I don't know who made or runs the "Auto Service Excellence" that many technicians go to for proving their knowledge, but it'd have to be something to that extent. So many hours of training and a certification exam, maybe with a hands on part?

I'm fairly new here and to detailing, so maybe you take that with a grain of salt, but I'm not new to the idea of needing certifications to prove you're understanding.
In the end, much like everything else, one that is self taught or goes much further than a certification on their own, and cares about what they're doing is always going to be better than someone that does the bare minimum to meet job qualifications.

Passion for what you're doing is always greater than any test.
 
Outstanding thought on this topic so far guys!


brentech said:
In the end, much like everything else, one that is self taught or goes much further than a certification on their own, and cares about what they're doing is always going to be better than someone that does the bare minimum to meet job qualifications.

Passion for what you're doing is always greater than any test.
Click to expand...

:iagree::iagree:Couldn't agree more.
 
DealerDetailer said:
True, but aren't most degrees the same - They provide a solid bases of whats involved in the field. Even once hired you use some of what you learned and some you don't and even find curtain things that work for you, but not others.

What I mean is, yes there are many different techniques in our field, but surely our field has generally understood techinques, process and equipment which could be taught.
Click to expand...


There are schools in my area that train people for careers as med techs and nursing assistants. These are highly marketed programs that earn millions from the fed. gov't through either grants and or student loans...don't get it twisted, many people advance and do better with their career choice. However, many go to school, learn priniples and methods, get into the real world and are what the studied for: lower echelon workers in their field. Glorified bed ban and diaper changers.
 
A certification shows that you have had training in that area. Maybe Mr. Phillips could get with a local collage and come up with a class. Just a thought.
 
Vegas Transplant said:
There are schools in my area that train people for careers as med techs and nursing assistants. These are highly marketed programs that earn millions from the fed. gov't through either grants and or student loans...don't get it twisted, many people advance and do better with their career choice. However, many go to school, learn priniples and methods, get into the real world and are what the studied for: lower echelon workers in their field. Glorified bed ban and diaper changers.
Click to expand...

Very true. I didn't mean to only apply in this question that a degree (2 or 4 year) was the only thing I was thinking about. A certifcate program as some had said would be really cool also.

This was just hypothetical question I got while watching the movie and wanted to see what others thought on the subject.

PS: Whats in bold made me LOL. So true!

badhemi said:
A certification shows that you have had training in that area. Maybe Mr. Phillips could get with a local collage and come up with a class. Just a thought.
Click to expand...

Now that would be really cool! Hopefully it would just start in FL and then move towards more of us...everyone down there gets all the Autogeek fun :props:
 
DealerDetailer said:
So the question is if somewhere down the road and "offical" degree came possible at nearby universities and communitiy colleges, would you obtain one? This could possible be like any other degree - 2 year or a 4 year degree.
Click to expand...

@OP:
Disclaimer...Please take the following as tongue-in-cheek. But it happens all the time, in every profession. Could be someday a "Detailer's Degree" would be victimized, as well.


Yes, I'll agree there are orthodox means to accomplish many things in life!

Take me for example...

Although what I'll refer to as my 'Distance learning Programs' (some folks call them: 'correspondence courses'...Pshaw to them I say!!)...
I currently have dual Degrees, and their accompanying Diplomas, from: Southwestern University 'located' in Columbus, Ohio; and, the American College of Metaphysical Theology 'located' in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Very glad, I must say, to have the 'Theology' degree under my belt...I believe in the power-of-prayer. It might come in handy if and when the FBI, IRS, and other Federal Agencies, decide to re-initiate Operation DipScam.


My Motto:

Diploma Mills... An "Easier Path to Higher Education"

:D

Bob
 
FUNX725 said:
@OP:
Disclaimer...Please take the following as tongue-in-cheek. But it happens all the time, in every profession. Could be someday a "Detailer's Degree" would be victimized, as well.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I first thought about before posting the question Bod. Somehow, someone, somewhere would find a way to turn this into a degree.

Always like reading your post Bod. :xyxthumbs:
 
There have been some "certification" type programs in the past but like it always goes, poor management and follow up by those that ran the programs killed it.

And lets face it, you can have all of the fancy certificates you can earn hanging on your shop walls and what will the customer do? They will still take their car to the guy on the corner with a tent because he can do it cheaper.

For the record, I have my Mike Phillips Detailing class certificate hanging on my shop wall. At least I am impressed everytime I look at it.
 
I think if there were ever a detailing degree program the only required reading could come entirely from this amazingly comprehensive AGO forum.
 
After nearly four years of completed studies, I've realized that just because someone holds a piece of paper it doesn't necessarily merit them to be an authority on whatever the paper designates.

From working in fast food for years, I've found that just because someone holds a "certification" with their name in big bold letters, it doesn't mean they possess the knowledge, know-how, or ability to implement the implied knowledge.

I've seen over the course of my "higher-education" that just because someone doesn't hold a degree/certification, that doesn't mean they are incompetent or ignorant on the subject/area of knowledge.

Knowledge is something you have to work at to achieve, regardless of discipline. It's not free, but that doesn't mean you have to pay big bucks for it.

I've grown to view those pieces of paper people hang on their walls to "prove" they are knowledgeable in some discipline are nothing more than pieces of paper that ease/rid the holder of their own sense of insecurity of what they actually have, or haven't, learned; or even something that implies that others who do not posses that piece of paper are somehow intellectually or socioeconomically inferior to them. I've seen the arrogance that some paper-holders carry with them first hand, and sometimes even on a daily basis.

But that is just my two cents, please, no one take offense at this posting, as it is not meant to detract from anyone’s' experiences.
:rant:
 
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brentech said:
i don't see a full degree really working, but maybe an official certification.

I don't buy the, "too many techniques and products". I come from the it field myself, and i sure as hell don't know every piece of software and how to use it, but i understand the basic principles on how to troubleshoot them.

With detailing, i could see the use of a certification, insuring that one knows how to use their tools, and how to choose the right type of products for the job.
Yeah, there is a 1000 products for the same job, but you should know exactly what said product is doing to the vehicle you're working on.

I don't know who made or runs the "auto service excellence" that many technicians go to for proving their knowledge, but it'd have to be something to that extent. So many hours of training and a certification exam, maybe with a hands on part?

I'm fairly new here and to detailing, so maybe you take that with a grain of salt, but i'm not new to the idea of needing certifications to prove you're understanding.
In the end, much like everything else, one that is self taught or goes much further than a certification on their own, and cares about what they're doing is always going to be better than someone that does the bare minimum to meet job qualifications.

Passion for what you're doing is always greater than any test.
Click to expand...
really like your last statement from point...... In the end (on down) may have to borrow that,lol
 
All very interesting post. Great to read through and see what everyone thinks about this topic...along with what many think about degrees in general.



Autowerx said:
I think if there were ever a detailing degree program the only required reading could come entirely from this amazingly comprehensive AGO forum.
Click to expand...

Looks like we all have a great head start on that reading now, don't we? :xyxthumbs:
 
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