Are you a PDR Technician wanting to stand out from the crowd?
Earn your Vale Certification!
What is the Vale certification?
HM Verified is an approved testing administrator for the Vale certified paintless dent repair (PDR) test. This is an established protocol utilized primarily in the automotive industry to ensure the highest standard in paintless dent repair skills is deployed. Testing procedures include using 3D scanning technology to measure dent removal in terms of microns (within 1/1000th of a millimeter). With the proper use of these protocols, highly skilled PDR technicians do not damage vehicles and help to retain pre-loss value at typically lower cost than traditional autobody repair procedures. The Vale certified PDR test is a timed evaluation of actual paintless dent repairs on steel and aluminum panels using a state-of-the-art, digital-optic surface measurement device.
What do I have to do to become Vale certified?
You will be given 9 dents, varying in size from small to large, on both steel and aluminum. Those 9 dents need to be completed within 3 hours to earn the top-level Vale Certification, Master Craftsman.
Journeyman
Craftsman
Master Craftsman
If you are unable to finish all 9 dents in 3 hours, you will be given the certification for the level that you complete.
Speed is what stands in the way of the different levels of certification.
Whether or not you complete a repair is verified by our state-of-the-art digital optic surface measurement device.
Why should I be certified?
The PDR industry has been a bit like the Wild West since it began. There have not been many standards put in place to determine whether a technician is proficient in their trade. The Vale certification allows you to show the public, your hail broker, or your employer that you have taken the time to scientifically prove you can manipulate the metal back to its original form. It allows you to stand out from the crowd.
HM Verified believes the landscape of PDR is changing, and more standards are going to be required. We believe the taming of the Wild West is inevitable, and the only way body shops and hail brokers will be able to work with the insurance companies is to have qualified technicians who have proven they are skilled at their trade.
How much does the Vale certification cost?
$895
A $100 deposit is required.
Where do I take the Vale certification?
Currently, the test is offered in Springfield, MO, but is available in other cities based on demand. See our testing schedule, below.
You will bring everything you need to perform your dent repair with you, including your light.
How long will it take to take the certification?
The time limit for the test is 3 hours. You will not have to stay the full 3 hours if you finish before the time limit is up.
Are you ready to become Vale Certified?
Testing Schedule
All testing dates are located in Springfield, MO unless otherwise noted.
Please email hmverified@hmdentworks.com for testing dates.
