It's a New Year, Which Means It's Time to Re-Register for the 2018 Recognition Testing Program

It is the beginning of a new year, which also means that it's time for participants in the Recognition Program to re-register for the testing program. There will be several revised exams by the end of March, and those tests will need to be completed before someone receives their completion certificates for each of the three subject categories - Bathroom & Kitchen, Hardware and General Knowledge. Also, a new twist was added last year - when a participant successfully completes every test in all three categories, a desk plate with their names and the year of successful completion will be sent to them.

The goals of the DPHA Recognition Program are to:

• Provide an easily accessible and cost-effective program that showrooms can use to recognize the expertise of their staffs.
• Demonstrate to showroom staff that they are involved in a professional industry that celebrates knowledge and sales skills.
• Encourage ongoing professional development to help improve the quality of service that DPHA member showrooms provide to their clients and customers.

The Recognition Program is currently only available to DPHA members and is housed on the members-only section of the DPHA website, www.dpha.net. The Recognition Program includes a series of exams based on a showroom professional's understanding of different products and ability to explain the technical, functional and aesthetic differences of products sold in showrooms and those that can be found elsewhere. The test questions have been developed from content found in the DPHA Education Program manuals. Currently, there are 22 different tests included in the Recognition Program as follows:

• Bathroom and Kitchen Category:
• Accessories
• Bathroom Furniture
• Bathroom Lighting
• Baths
• Drains
• Faucets
• Kitchen Faucets
• Showers
• Sinks
• Steam Systems
• Supplies and Waste Assemblies
• Toilets and Bidets

• Hardware Category:
• Adorning the Door
• Cabinet Hardware
• Hinges
• Locks and Latch Sets
• Multipoint Locks
• Protecting the Door

• General Knowledge Category:
• Care and Maintenance
• Finishes
• Greening the Bath
• Universal Design

The cost to participate in the DPHA Recognition Program is $60 per person per year. Sign up at www.dpha.net. In order to pass a test, showroom professionals need to answer all of the questions correctly. Those who successfully pass the Recognition Program tests will be emailed a certificate that they can print and display at their work areas in their showrooms and scan and place on the company website. 

And for those who think they probably don't need any "refreshing," try taking our sample Recognition Program by clicking here. This sample test contains one question from 21 of our 22 Recognition Program tests, and we can tell you that no one has come close to getting all 21 questions right on their first attempt. If you take the test, you will get your results almost immediately (if you enter your email address correctly, that is), and only you and Jim Babbitt know the results (and Jim promises he won't tell on any one). Go ahead and try - the results might surprise you, and don't worry, you can verify all the answers by re-reading the 22 different Education Manuals.