atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Panasonic Telephones & Systems TDA Certification

It doesn't take a Telecom Genius to figure out why many employers are hesitant to lend a hand in this matter. Nor is it proper to, "push the subject". I've been asking for 8 years now. Now I'll pose the question to you.
What are the pre-requisites for the TDA? Cost? I've been watching this and other forums for a while now, and I gather many of you are business owners. How many of you send your techs to be certified? Do you pay for it? Are you distributing the software to your employees? Is it unusual to send an employee out for certification? PM or EM answers are very welcome. TIA

Tapping fingers....
Found this helpful source, https://www.boettchersupply.com/_Files/TDAClassDescription504.pdf
Have met a few of the REPS here in my region, and have the Orange County number, was hoping to get a quick answer on price and pre-reqs. Thanks.

Most larger manufacturers require certification to sell the bigger higher profit systems. We certify techs on all systems and as an owner I get certified myself. Keeps you from being held hostage by employees. Have the employee sign a noncompete (if enforcable) and an agreement to stay in your employ at least one year. Anyone leaving sooner than that could be liable for training reimbursement. Software is put on company laptops so that is not an issue. The certification is what distinguishes your company from trunkers.

If your company is big enough in certain product lines the training is free or very low cost. In the past when I wanted to get certified and my employer was dragging his heels I would find a way to research and learn on my own and show initiative. Many times employers won't have you certified because they expect you will want more money and why should they pay to have you certified and possibly pay you more when you can do the work well, you just don't have a piece of paper for it. It is flawed logic but it happens. Plus many employers don't want to work with a non-compete because they can be hard and costly to enforce, and don't want to train an employee for a competitors' benefit.

As to the no compete, having an employee sign on and the enforcement are two seperate issues. While you may not pursue enforement, it still may prevent an employee from direct competition. As to certification, without it you may no get manufacturer's technical support. This in and of itself could result in longer resolution of problems, that you may have to eat the cost of.

Panasonic is looking to have all TDA main units,
systems, CPUs or whatever you want to call them
initially protected by the serial #.
Only certified dealers will have access to enter
the serial # and receive a password that will allow initial entry into the programming.
I believe this is partly in place now but I am not certain.
My TDA classes are scheduled for the end of April.
As a prerequisite you will need a TD certification and there is a short test.
You must have an active business with a dedicated fax line and some sort of high speed internet access.
All training classes should be set up through your local Rep.
Cost is $500.00 per individual.

[This message has been edited by MrGemini (edited February 16, 2005).]

and in the middle of the class they will tell you " Oh by the way, the Account Codes don't work and there is still no call coverage keys on this super high end system." And we just paid $500 for this???? And no soft key intergration with the V Mail, all stuff that cheap low end systems have??

[This message has been edited by brokeda (edited February 16, 2005).]

"As a prerequisite you will need a TD certification and there is a short test."

That isnt entirely true. I went to TDA School in January and I was under the assumption I could go because I was TD Certified but I was one of maybe 4 in a class of 14 that had the TD Certification. There were alot of computer techs that had never even seen a TD.

Louie, I can only tell you what my Rep. told me.
I did know that they will have classes for those who have no TD Certs. but I was told they do not mix the classes and that the cost was increased to $800.00.
But, apparently as you say, they did mix yours.
So I guess they can do what ever they want.

They dropped the TD requirement a number of months ago. There is no TD training anymore anyway.

Charles