Education is the Fastest and Easiest Way to Avoid Problems and Increase Profits!

The University of Ceramic Tile and Stone (UofCTS) newest online course has changed its name from “Tile Installer Thin-set Certification (TITC)” course to “Tile Installer Thin-set Standards (ITS) Verification” course.

UofCTS worked with Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) to change the name so it would not be confused with the CTEF Certified Tile Installer (CTI) program.

To become a Certified Tile Installer (CTI), the tile installer is tested by installing tile on a mockup to demonstrate his/her skills. To become an Installer Thin-set Standards (ITS) Verified Installer, the tile installer must take a four hour online course to learn the industry installation standards, methods, and manufacturers’ requirements for the thin-set application.

The online ITS Verification course is available in English or Spanish, and the tile installer can take the course at their own pace over a 14 day period with 24/7 access to the UofCTS course. There are no travel expenses, no loss work, the student can come and go as they please, and all they need is a computer and an internet connection.

To be ITS Verified means that the tile installer is committed to staying current with the industry installation standards and has demonstrated that he/she understands those standards, methods and practices.

Industry standards and methods were developed over time by industry consensus groups so we could avoid tile failures and the negative advertising consequences that tile failures produce. The negative advertising caused by tile failures affect livelihoods of everyone in the tile and stone industries, so it is in everyone’s best interest to make sure our installers know and understand the industry's installation standards and methods.

The ITS Verification course was developed for tile and stone installers who work with stone tile, ceramic tile, porcelain tile, glass tile, or any other adhered tile product. What is great about this course is it teaches the tile installers the standards and how to apply them.

After reviewing the standards the course explains how to qualify if a substrate meets the standards and is suitable for the installation, it explains how to properly prepare the substrate per standards, it explains how to properly install the tile to achieve adequate thin-set contact/coverage, and it explains how the installer can incorporate quality control steps in their work to ensure they don’t have problems that could cause a delay in the job or a problem that could cost time, money or reputations.

The ITS Verification course is professionally narrated, loaded with photos, video clips and animations to help the installer to learn and retain what they learn. UofCTS utilizes the latest LMS technology to deliver the online e-Learning courses. UofCTS utilizes instructional designers to employ the latest learning methodologies to ensure the courses are engaging, enjoyable, and effective at teaching.

By earning an ITS Verification certificate, tile installers will have an important credential giving them an advantage over other installers bidding on the same jobs. Verification not only enables installers to earn more profit, but it helps them avoid costly problems and delays thanks to their knowledge of industry standards and methods for thin-setting tile.

There are three primary objectives of the ITS Verification course for tile installers. First, most tile installers don't have the opportunity to learn industry installation standards and methods, and typically learn the trade on the job. Now installers can conveniently take affordable online courses without incurring any travel expenses or losing any income from being away from their jobs.

Second, it keeps the tile installers up-to-date with current standards. The course is updated each year and the installer is required to renew their certificate annually by taking the updated course.

Third, it gives the consumer a way to protect themselves from installers who don’t know the industry installation standards. It gives the consumer a way to verify that all of the installers working on their job know the current industry installation standards to help ensure their tile is installed correctly.

Of course this benefits our whole industry. If the customer has a good experience they will tell their friends and buy more tile, which isn’t the case if they have a bad experience. If their experience is bad, then they will still tell their friends, and they will not buy more tile.

ITS Verification is not just a benefit for installers. Architects, general contractors, owners and manufacturers can specify and require that only “ITS Verified” tile installers work on their projects in order to limit the risk of problems and delays. When there is a problem, it doesn’t matter whose fault it is, everyone ends up paying in at least their loss of time if not also in costing them money or their reputation.

The ITS Verification doesn’t guarantee an installer has the skill set or will do good work, but it is an indication that they took the course and demonstrated that they learned and understood those standards and methods.

To see a short video preview of the Tile Installer Thin-set Standards (ITS) Verification course, either in English or Spanish, visit the www.UofCTS.org website at http://uofcts.org/online-courses/titc-certified/.

The ITS Verification course tuition is $150 per person. The course is available for purchase 24/7, and once registered the students have 14 days to complete the course at their own rate. Upon completing the course with a passing grade the students can print a certificate of completion and they are provided a course reference guide to download. The UofCTS also offers volume discounts.

In addition, UofCTS offers online sales and technical training courses on ceramic tile and on natural stone that have been created with salespeople, installers and design professionals in mind. Visit www.UofCTS.org for details.

Recently UofCTS was appointed as the North American representative for IIEA, International Industry E-learning Academy. IIEA is an Italian based online training school for businesses based on an advanced e-Learning platform. IIEA provides online training courses that include very technical ceramic tile manufacturing courses, customer care courses, and online language courses that teach English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Arabic. Visit http://uofcts.org/online-courses/international-e-learning-academy/ for details.

Education is the fastest and easiest way to avoid problems and increase profits! An investment in education is a return on investment that never ends.

For further information about the UofCTS training services please visit the UofCTS website at www.UofCTS.org or email UofCTS at info@UofCTS.org or call toll free at 866-669-1550.