Looking at the strings today I noticed that one of them was signed
"Certified Professional Rod Builder". Can anyone explain the process to become certified and who does the certification.

thanks

marcus

Marcus,
This is a designation through membership with the Custom Rod Builders Guild followed by an examination and project resulting in the certificate from the organization stating this status.

It may become more recognized as the newly reorganized Guild incorporated progresses for it's membership.

Rich
Richard's Rod & Reel
Solyrich Custom Rod
"Certified Professional Rod Builder"

Not in my case. I was certified by a different person/group. The Guild might be the only group that can certify you as a 'guild' professional rod builder but they are not the only entity that can certify persons as 'certified professional rod builders'.

What happens is that a group, such as the one mentioned, decides that they have the power to determine who is or isn't a 'certified professional rod builder'. Then those who get that designation use it to promote themselves in an unfair manner. For example, how would you feel if a rod builder in your city got that designation and advertised that he was the only 'certified professional rod builder' in your town? Or your entire state? Do you not feel that potential customers who were uniformed about how this is bestowed might somehow think his skills must be superior to yours? After all, he is a 'certified professional rod builder' and you are not. It's misleading at best and unfair at worst, and coming to your town soon.

If they want to call the people who pass their exam 'guild certified rod builders' that is entirely up to them. But to claim that they have the authority to name those who pass their exam a 'certified professional rod builder' but those who don't pass or take it can't be 'certified professional rod builders' is the height of audacity. No one that I know of has been granted the sole rights to bestow such a title.

Jim,
Your points are well taken.
According to the context which is often referred, this is what is stated on the certificate:

top line: The Custom Rod Builders Guild

next line: Certified Professional Builder

next line: name

below that is the following: "This is to certify that the above named individual has successfully completed the Certification examination of the Custom Rod Builders Guild by demonstrating a mastery of the basic skills required to build a Custom Fishing Rod"

I think what happens by most convention is that members will simply state after their name "Certified Professional Rod Builder" , which is not entirely inaccurate but perhaps the title needs a bit of particular refining.

Rich,

I am not sure this is an appropriate discussion for this board. I let it remain as it does concern rod building and does not violate any rules but I do not want to see it explode into a heated argument here. I have gotten calls from some builders (who knows why) who were quite upset about this title being used, so I know it is a sore point for many.

To my knowledge, anyone and everyone can list themselves as a "certified professional rod builder" without any repercussions, if they wish to do so. There is no recognized governing or testing body for the craft of rod building. But the statement does not really mean anything unless someone knows whose certification it is. Obviously, potential custom rod owners have no idea what is behind it so the statement can have a profound effect on one's business if the customer feels the title makes one builder better than another.

As an example, I would think that any and all auto mechanics can freely post that they are "certified automotive repair technicians". But in order to say that they are " ASE certified automotive repair technicians" they would have to have received that title from the ASE.

.......................

I did not intead to start a problem and in no way intended to interupt
the good nature that this page has.

Marcus,

It's not a problem. Maybe even a good topic for discussion if it is done in a civil manner.

By the way - it occurs to me that I am a "Certified Professional Rod Builder" too. (The Internal Revenue Service certifies me that way about 4 times each year!)

Tom Kirkman

I may not be certified but I am for sure certifiable. You have to be to put up staying in the repair business for 15 years.

I belong to the CRBG on Face Book but wasn't aware of any "real" certification testing. I was an ASE Certified Technician that went through many re-certifications in my 32 years of Automotive repair. How would they go about "certifying" someone? Would it be through media? Pictures and such of the process and the final product? I'm just thinking out loud here. I'm going to ask about it on the Face Book site. I find it interesting. Also, what other Certification Organizations are there? In Automotive there were many Certification seminars I attended which consisted of dinner, a symposium and much drinking at the restaurant after. : )