Recreation Vehicle Technician
A Recreation Vehicle Technician works on the various systems and components of recreational vehicles, accomodation units, such as electrical, plumbing, propane gas, appliances, exterior and interior, structural frames, exterior and interior finishing components. They may work for dealerships, repair shops, manufacturers or may be self-employed. Specifically, a Recreation Vehicle Technician:
- services, repairs, and maintains recreational vehicle systems such as: plumbing and gas, electrical and electronic, heating, refrigeration, and air-conditioning, hitching, towing and trailer braking unit, chassis, undercarriage and running gear, appliances, and accessories (including analysing performance and function, replacing, adjusting, cleaning, resetting, reprogramming, testing and verifying, recommending for service)
- installs, services, repairs, tests and inspects the interior wiring, piping, exterior panels, interior cabinets, windows, doors, and accessories on the trailers or accommodation units of recreation vehicles (including analysing performance and function, replacing, adjusting, cleaning, resetting, reprogramming, testing and verifying, recommending for service)
- estimates repair, replacement, and installation costs and completes job documentation
- explains repair work and demonstrates operation of repaired system or component to customer’s satisfaction
Red Seal trade
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
An apprenticeship training program consists of on-the-job and inschool training. Generally, the time-frame to become competent in the trade of Recreation Vehicle Technician is 7000 hours (approximately three and a half years) consisting of 6280 hours of on-the-job work experience and 720 hours of in-school training.
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
An apprenticeship involves practical training provided on-the-job by a skilled worker, or trainer. The skills or competencies to be developed are set out by the trade’s Apprenticeship Training Standard and are recognized by the industry as being essential to the practice of the trade.
As these essential skills are developed, the apprentice’s sponsor or trainer signs the relevant sections of the training standard to indicate that the apprentice has met the individual training objectives by demonstrating the skills required of a skilled worker, or journeyperson, in the trade.
In Ontario, recreation vehicle refers to vehicles designed as mobile accommodation or as self-propelled mobile accommodation and used as transportation. It also includes a cabin trailer, collapsible cabin trailer, tent trailer and camping trailer.
Recreation Vehicle Technicians in Ontario typically also hold a gas certification under the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (i.e. RV1, RV2 or one of the gas technician designations).
IN-SCHOOL TRAINING
A Recreation Vehicle Technician apprenticeship includes three levels of theoretical training, which includes but is not limited to instruction in:
- shop practices
- LPG systems
- electrical and electronic systems
- RV construction and appearance
- plumbing and gas systems
- welding practices
- towed unit systems
- heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning systems
- accessories
Depending on the training delivery agency, in-school training may be available in one of the following ways:
- block release (full-time, for a set number of weeks)
- day release (one day per week from September to June)
- part-time (night-school programs)
- alternative delivery (online, correspondence, etc.)
Recreation Vehicle Technician is a trade named under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021.
This trade has an apprenticeship program that is administered by Skilled Trades Ontario. Upon completion of an apprenticeship program, Skilled Trades Ontario issues a Certificate of Apprenticeship.
This trade has a certifying exam. When the certifying exam is passed, Skilled Trades Ontario will issue a Certificate of Qualification in this trade. Because this trade is non-compulsory, this certificate does not have to be renewed, and the information of individuals practicing this trade will not appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register.
In Ontario, the trade is part of the Interprovincial Red Seal Program—the national standard for the trade across Canada —under the title Recreational Vehicle Service Technician: www.red-seal.ca.