[Neil Williams]

I sent an e-mail about membership over the weekend....Tuesday evening and I'm still waiting for the reply

[Len Gribble]

Are you sure they got it.

Len

[Joe H]

Neil
You may have sent it over the weekend but it will only have "got there" when the office opened on Monday.
There is a staff of 3.
Maybe they have sent your question to one of the directors who are working guys like you and I.

If your ? is can you take the exam at home - I reckon the answer is no.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Only if you fail and then they'll send it you to your home address.

Shaun

[Joe H]

I think they more interested in people attending the actual 2 day training.
Thats where the answers to the questions come from.

[Neil Williams]

If your ? is can you take the exam at home - I reckon the answer is no.

Yes that is the question.
If it's ok to grant someone who has never cleaned a carpet NCCA accreditation on a 2 day course followed by a tick test, (as you will have seen from another forum) then I'm happy to join on the basis of doing and paying to do the exam. But I'm not giving up 2 days to go over probably 90% of what I already know and do on a regular basis.

[Simon@arenaclean]

When I did the all 3 exams it was hardly a "tick test" It was expected that I would answer questions fully with clear explanations and details. Of course it could well of changed, I did it in 1993

[Joe H]

They would probably have to change the rules just for you Neil.
Nice thought, but if thats the case - I dont think so, but worth a try.

As I have said, when I did my course, 24 on it, about half were experienced carpet cleaners. Did'nt bother us, in fact you always learn something, and if its just a few things then its worth it IMO.

Vast majority of courses are the same. When I was employed as a Transport Manager, I used to get sent on course costing £250 a day and a day was about 4.5 hours of a course. Many times I come away thinking "was it worth it", but most of the time yes it was-perhaps just a bit comes in useful sometime in the future. You never know.

If you want to change it Neil, join, and then attend the AGM to have a voice.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

You could have your voice heard as no one turns up.

Shaun

[clinton]

How many do you think turn up shaun

[Shaun_Ashmore]

100's 

Shaun

[clinton]

Ye right

[Neil Williams]

Wednesday and still nothing
If accreditation to the NCCA is based on passing an exam then I am happy to take the exam.
Am I right in thinking that being present for the 2 day course but failing the exam means you can't have accreditation.
If that's right then in my opinion the system is flawed.

[Joe H]

to be honest I have not been to a AGM (2 opportunities) and thats the problem.
Not enough commitment from the members.
Normally being held in Leicester does not help.
but until members start going to the AGM in numbers - nothing will happen for those who want things to happen.
the debate goes on..... year after year no doubt.

[Neil Grainger]

Neil, why dont you phone them, never no they may have aproblem with emails.

[Neil Williams]

they may have a problem with emails.

How did you know that Thurday midday and I got the phone call and that was the exact reason given
It's a no go, rules is rules and unless I've been trained by Chemdry etal then I'd have to give up 2 days to go on the course.
Maybe I will next year but it doesn't change a thing about how hacked off I am that florists and office cleaners can get accreditation from the leading organisation based on a 2 day course, whilst my 9 years of unflawed experience doesn't count.

[richy27]

to be honest I have not been to a AGM (2 opportunities) and thats the problem.
Not enough commitment from the members.
Normally being held in Leicester does not help.
but until members start going to the AGM in numbers - nothing will happen for those who want things to happen.
the debate goes on..... year after year no doubt.

The trade association my dad has been a member of for years ( nothing to do with cleaning ) had the same issues as the ncca with attendance to agms until they adopted the routine of having the agm at 3 different venues on a rotation basis.  eg north england one year East Anglia  next then say bristol the next.

Trouble is perhaps the powers above make life simpler for themselves first before members. should not be that way.

I am a member and will continue to be so because i market myself as being an accrediited professional it gets the membership fee back.