We get asked this frequently by people who are new to the trade and considering enrolling in the online appliance repair training at the Master Samurai Tech Academy.
It makes some sense, as the appliance repair trade involves physical work, and any good repair tech will need to be adept at disassembly, performing electrical measurements, and replacing the parts.
But here’s the reality: training is a “brains-on” activity, which then is followed by hands-on practice.
You can get this practice at little to no cost. We’ll tell you how below.
“Brains-On” Training
A truly successful, profitable appliance tech will have excellent “brains-on” skills to go along with their “hands-on” abilities.
You can be a whiz with a screwdriver and able to swap out a washer door boot in no time, but if you want to make a good living, you need to know:
- How electric circuits work
- How to read schematics
- How to troubleshoot electric circuits and computer-controlled appliances
- How to precisely and quickly identify the failed component the first time without guesswork.
This is the valuable, money-making skill set–largely lost to the trade today–that Master Samurai Tech is bringing back to appliance repair technicians.
These critical brains-on skills come from training by experts, who don’t have to be standing in front of you. They can come to you via online courses, videos, even service manuals and other manufacturer literature. The hands-on component that follows is practicing what you have learned.
It makes sense, then, that when considering where to invest your training dollars, you will want to put the most towards your brains-on training.
Online training at the Master Samurai Tech Academy has a lot of advantages. It offers in-depth training that is self-paced and on-demand, so it meets your schedule and learning speed. It’s interactive, and has a support community for you long after you’ve completed the courses. And it’s one of the most affordable options out there.
If you have money to spare or are unfamiliar with using tools and test equipment, then paying for your hands-on practice at a physical school may be worthwhile for you.
Thousands of Master Samurai Tech students have gotten their hands-on practice in low- or no-cost ways. If they work for a service company, then they do ride-alongs with senior techs or work in the shop.
But for folks planning to go solo, here are some examples of how they get that practice:
- Taking apart their own appliances
- Practicing on those of their family and friends
- Offering low-cost repairs to friends, neighbors, or non-profit organizations in their area
- Getting used/broken appliances from a dump or sites like Craigslist (these can even be resold if you refurbish them).
- Start taking paying jobs and earn as you learn
And, of course, their Student or Alumni memberships at Appliantology provide the support they need from fellow techs and Team Samurai to help them on the way.
As you are thinking about how to build your hands-on skills, remember that there are thousands of free videos out there showing how to tear down all kinds of appliances and replace most parts. Also, service manuals usually have helpful information on how to get where you need to in a machine. A little preparation ahead of time will prevent fumbling around on the job.
If you haven’t already, check out free samples of our courses so you can get a taste of the “brains-on” training experience at the MST appliance repair school.
We have an enthusiastic horde of graduates – take a look at what they have to say about their training at Master Samurai Tech.