Maintenance Technician: how to get certified and hired

Maintenance technicians are vital to making sure tenant buildings are functional and comfortable. They have a lot of responsibilities, and it’s up to them to ensure that everything in a building is working efficiently — not to mention they’re the first line of defense when something goes wrong.

Getting a certification indicates to potential employers that you’re accountable and that you can maintain high standards in maintenance work. Obtaining any certification and putting it on your resume will give your manager, or future employer, a better sense of your current skill level (especially if you’re lacking much prior experience).

Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technicians

The CAMT course is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), a private, non-profit organization that “administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system” — meaning that it ensures the same quality standards among apartment establishments across the nation. The course is divided between non-technical and technical skills and can be mostly completed online, in addition to in-person scenarios to practice technical skills.

Technical topics covered include:

• electrical maintenance and repair,
• plumbing maintenance and repair,
• heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) maintenance and repair,
• appliance maintenance and repair, and
• interior and exterior maintenance and repair.

The non-technical online course teaches:

• customer service,
• teamwork, time and project management,
• financial management,
• documentation and paperwork,
• safety maintenance, emergencies, and compliance.

After all the learning modules have been completed, students must complete and pass a two and a half hour, 100 question test. The test must be taken in a proctored environment, but you can take the test as many times as needed to pass the exam. Before getting course accreditation, you’ll need industry experience for at least 12 months; however, once you pass the exam, your CAMT certification is valid indefinitely.

How to Take the Course

You should register for a credential course with your local apartment association, vocational organization, or community center. Make sure the CAMT course is accredited by ANSI so that you receive the appropriate credentials upon course completion. You’ll need to enroll with the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI) as well so that you can receive an online account.

Why Take the CAMT Course?

The CAMT course not only certifies your technical abilities in fixing hardware and appliances, but attests to your soft skills (such as teamwork, leadership, and project management) with specific, practicable examples — and it’s important for employers to see those, too. Since the CAMT course is now accredited by ANSI, you can market CAMT on your resume as a thorough, reputable program. For those applying to Maintenance Technician Jobs, employing key phrases on your application (such as “ANSI accredited” or “CAMT course completed”) can potentially increase your standing in a crowded job pool, ensuring employers that you’ll need to be trained less than other applicants and that you’re already committed to high standards.

Even if you already work as a maintenance technician for an apartment building, taking a CAMT course can potentially help you climb the promotional ladder. Demonstrating proficiency in both maintenance hard skills as well as management and leadership soft skills can increase your chance for career advancement in your field. Because the completion of a CAMT course means that you’re proficient in nationally recognized standards, your talents can easily be transferred from workplace to workplace. Having a CAMT certification under your belt will help you better understand quality control and prepare you to oversee larger projects, facilities, and employees as you seek promotions.

Certified Maintenance & Reliability Technician

Certification programs for maintenance, reliability and physical asset management professionals. These provide unique skills by going beyond textbook knowledge and testing real-world experiences and abilities.

CMRT Certification

Building Systems Maintenance Certificate

Gain an understanding of HVAC, plumbing, and other building systems that work together to provide a comfortable indoor environment. Ideal for job seekers who are new to the commercial real estate industry or are upgrading their skills

Building Systems Maintenance Certificate (SMC)

Find a job that’s in demand:

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Salaries for maintenance technicians:

Maintenance Technician salary

Maintenance Supervisor salary

Apartment maintenance technician salary

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