Arlington, VA - Effective January 1, 2005, heating and cooling contractors in Terre Haute must comply with new licensing requirements that mandate NATE certification. NATE - North American Technician Excellence - is the nation’s largest non-profit, HVACR cian testing and certification organization and is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy for raising quality standards and energy efficiency.Terre Haute is the first city in the United States to specifically adopt NATE certification as a mechanism for awarding a license to a contractor operating in that city. Under the amendment, contractors will be required to have at least one technician NATE-certified and to recertify every five years. Consumers can locate a contractor employing NATE-certified technicians by logging onto www.natex.org. Ed Utterbeck , president of the Wabash Valley Air Conditioning Contractors of America noted: "Until this time, Terre Haute has had licensing requirements for electrical and for plumbing contractors, but not HVACR ones. Two factors made NATE appealing: First, the certification is available to everyone regardless of membership in trade associations, unions, or groups. Second, there is a continuing education requirement stating the technician has to recertify every five years. That means the people of Terre Haute will be getting contractors with technicians who stay on top of their profession." NATE President Rex Boynton said, "Given the rising cost of energy and the onset of the coldest months of the year, the timing of this amendment is particularly relevant. Consumers deserve assurance that the technicians who install and service their home’s comfort system have the skills and knowledge to do the job right." Founded in 1997, NATE is headquartered in Arlington, VA. There are over 21,000 NATE certified technicians nationwide in every state and seven international countries. For more information about NATE, please visit www.natex.org. |