If you’re serious about your career as a snow removal professional, you need to be constantly on top of your game. If you’re a landscape professional who is expanding into snow and ice removal, you may already be a member of a national landscape trade association like the
National Association of Landscape Professionals or
Professional Grounds Management Society, to name a few.
The snow and ice removal industry has similar trade associations which can help build your knowledge of the industry as well as best practices. These associations include
Snow and Ice Management Association (SIMA) and the
Accredited Snow Contractors Association (ASCA).
Like any other profession, continuing education is key to success in snow and ice removal whether you have only a few residential accounts or if you’ve been in the industry for years, overseeing an entire fleet of snow and ice remediation professionals.
The science and operational techniques behind snow and ice removal are constantly changing. At Meyer Products, we are constantly bombarded with questions about specific applications at both the dealer and factory level—and we’re more than happy to answer them and help out. But one of the general questions we always receive is: “How do I learn more about the industry and my profession?”
A great first step is to join an industry association like SIMA or the ASCA. Joining a trade association opens the door to both industry and educational resources that can improve safety and your operations.
ASCA
When you join the ASCA, you open the door to networking, knowledge about the latest legislative actions being taken on by the industry, continuing education and insurance initiatives. By connecting contractors, the ASCA has been able to develop an educational standard and certification process that can help reduce your insurance costs, too.
The ASCA offers an online learning center that helps with its annual certification process. Certification through the ASCA gives you a competitive advantage by letting your clients know that you are knowledgeable about the latest equipment and snow and ice remediation techniques, but also that you are reliable, professional and trustworthy as well.
SIMA
Similarly, SIMA provides the opportunity to become a Certified Snow Professional (CSP) which is a program designed for those in a management or supervisory capacity within the industry.
CSP certification is a professional excellence standard that has become recognized across the snow and ice removal industry. If you’re a business owner or executive, this certification will show you how to stay focused on all the elements of running a business, including topics such as:
- Marketing
- Human Resources
- Snow Specific Operations
- Legal Issues, and more
To qualify for the certification process you need either direct snow management experience or snow-specific training, experience and education. You’re also going to have to take a test before you receive certification. But once you do, you’ll be able to put the CSP designation after your name, which can be an excellent way to market yourself or your business. There is a fee as well, but remember, you’re investing in yourself or your business.
If you’d like to know more about either program, head to
www.sima.org or
www.ascaonline.org for more information.
However, if you have questions for us, please visit our website at
meyerproducts.com. Here you’ll find similar blog posts that offer information on everything from residential plowing tips to how to handle ice and snow storms.