Click to navigate to the section you need:
How the Online Courses Work
What's Included in Course Material
I'm New to Appliance Repair
I'm a Current Repair Professional
I'm a Multi-Tech Operator
Pricing and Payment
Support
Recommended Tools
Looking to become a certified appliance repair tech? Learn more about our appliance repair certification.
We also have a selection of short Site Help Videos. Click here to check them out.
How the Online Courses Work
Q. How are the courses structured?
A. Master Samurai Tech Academy offers a series of self-paced, online, interactive training courses. Aside from a reference book that you will order from Amazon, all of the course material is accessed online. When you are ready to study, all you need is an internet connection and a computer or device, and you can get started.
Each course consists of a series of modules. And each module consists of units of instruction. Think of them as lessons, each with a quiz you must conquer to advance to the next unit (or module).
Click here for a video on How the Courses Work.
Q. What about hands-on training?
A. The most important work in appliance repair is done by that grey matter between your ears - understanding appliance technology and knowing how to troubleshoot using schematic diagrams and electrical testing. We call it "brains-on training" and emphasize those skills here at the Academy. Ultimately, however, it is a hands-on trade as well. This is the easiest component to get experience in. First of all, there is an abundance of free resources, such as videos and service manuals, that can give you the disassembly information that you need. The other hands-on skills you can acquire as you "learn by doing," and we give you more guidance on this at the Academy. Click here for more information about how our students get hands-on training.
Q. Is there a certain grade I need to get in order to pass the course?
A. If you want to receive a certification from Master Samurai Tech, then you must achieve an 80% or higher on all of your unit quizzes, plus at least a 90% on the module, midterm, and final exams (where applicable). On unit quizzes and module exams you have 2 attempts to get the score that you are happy with. The Orientation for each course describes the quiz and exam structure in detail. You can also read more about it at this blog post.
Q. What if I need more help on a lesson?
A. Simple. We are here to help with ANY question you have. Submit your thoughts to the Ask the Teacher Forum in the module you’re working on and Team Samurai will answer your question. We will give you the coaching and mentoring you need to become a master yourself.
Q. How long do the courses take? How long do I have to complete them?
A. Since all of the coursework is self-paced, the length of time to complete the courses varies with each student. But we can give you a general idea. If you work at a steady pace, doing at least 4-6 lessons per week, you can complete Core Appliance Repair Training in about 2 months, and the other technical courses in about a month each. On the other hand, if you are taking Core full-time, it can be completed in a matter of a couple of weeks.
Here are approximate time ranges for the courses. Techs who have a stronger background in electricity and are more comfortable in a learning environment (studying, taking tests) will be on the shorter end. Techs who are complete novices or need more interactive help from us to master the material will take longer.
The times also assume a student is carefully watching each video, taking notes, and reviewing the harder material. In other words, really trying to master the material. Techs who go significantly faster than the times below may be taking short cuts, which will result in lower retention.
Core: 40-80 hours
Refrigerator Repair: 30-50 hours
Oven & Range Repair: 25-35 hours
Washer & Dryer Repair: 20-25 hours
Advanced Troubleshooting: 25-30 hours
That's a range of 140-220 hours for all 5 courses, with an average of about 175 hours.
Course Access: When you enroll in a course or bundle, you have an initial time period with access to your coursework: one year for an individual course, or two years if you enroll in a bundle. Once that time is up, an optional ongoing monthly fee is charged for those who wish to continue to have access to all of the material and benefits of being a student ($5 for a single course, or $10 for a bundle). This monthly access can be canceled at any time. You can view your recurring payments at the bottom of the Members Area page. Just click the yellow "My Courses" button at the top right corner of the window.
Q. What are the computer specifications for the Academy?
A. All of the work is done online, so any computer or mobile device that can access the internet should be fine. However, some browsers are not fully supported by the courseware and may cause various difficulties, including interfering with video playback.
Read all about our recommended browsers and the use of mobile devices at the Student Resource Page.
If you have any technical difficulties, please let us know right away using the Contact page.
Course Material
Q. How many models do you cover? Do you cover newer, electronic appliances?
A. The short answer is that our training will help you work on any brand and model out there, old-school and modern alike.
It’s impossible to specifically cover all of the brands and models out there (and let’s face it, there’s a lot!) but here's the good news: you don't have to! Our training is done from the "inside out" meaning we start with the electrons and work out to the controls. Why? Because when you understand how the circuits, components, and controls function in an appliance-- how they work and what they do-- you see how similar all appliances really are. Once you do this, you can troubleshoot the problems using the schematic and specifications. For disassembly info-- which is unique to each model family, use the service manual or YouTube.
Troubleshooting is the high dollar skill because it takes work to acquire. But we'll step you through it at the Master Samurai Tech Academy and you'll be on your way to becoming an ace troubleshooter. You will be the one that other techs contact when they are stumped—you will have become a master yourself. You’ll make it look easy (and that’s because, it is, once you have the knowledge from the Core Appliance Repair Training course).
Q. What about hands-on training?
A. The most important work in appliance repair is done by that grey matter between your ears - understanding appliance technology and knowing how to troubleshoot using schematic diagrams and electrical testing. We call it "brains-on training" and emphasize those skills here at the Academy. Ultimately, however, it is a hands-on trade as well. This is the easiest component to get experience in. First of all, there is an abundance of free resources, such as videos and service manuals, that can give you the disassembly information that you need. The other hands-on skills you can acquire as you "learn by doing," and we give you more guidance on this at the Academy. Click here for more information about how our students get hands-on training.
Q. Do you cover commercial appliances?
A. There is much in common between residential and commercial appliance repair! The differences between commercial and residential appliances are mostly related to configuration, and not some kind of core technology difference. Gas, electric circuits, electric motors, microprocessors and digital communications all work the same exact way regardless of the specific application.
Although the Master Samurai Tech training is primarily aimed at residential appliance repair technicians, our focus is on teaching foundational topics and techniques rather than training on specific products, which means our courses are very applicable to commercial applications.
Bottom line: A technician who is well-trained in the core fundamentals, has good troubleshooting skills, and is armed with the service manual, can tackle any appliance, residential or commercial.
Q. Is this the same as the Appliance Tech Boot Camp?
A. In the early stages of the development of the MST Academy we called it the “Appliance Tech Boot Camp.” We recorded a number of presentations for the courses before we decided to change the name to the Academy, so you will sometimes still see the “Boot Camp” name mentioned in the courses. Eventually we will re-record those presentations, but our first priority is getting new courses out there for our information-hungry students!
I'm New to Appliance Repair
Q. I am new to appliance repair. How soon will I be able to do service calls independently if I take the Academy courses?
A. As you can imagine, the answer to this varies according to the student’s background and experience, and what their current situation is. Perhaps the most important consideration is how much effort the student puts into his studies. But here are some guidelines to help you get a feel for what you might expect.
The ideal situation, if someone is trying to get up-to-speed as quickly as possible, is to be taking Core Appliance Repair Training (and then the other courses) at the same time you are running service calls part-time with an experienced tech. In other words, an apprenticeship situation. Because the Core Appliance Repair Training course presents usable information so quickly, the apprentice will be able to start applying what he is learning very soon and will be an asset to the experienced tech. Within a matter of months, the novice should be able to start taking on some jobs independently.
Many students do not have this situation and find other ways to get hands-on experience so they can put into practice what they are learning. For example, some of our students are transitioning from handyman or maintenance jobs, and are finding opportunities to work on appliances for the customers that they formerly did other types of work for. Other people offer free or low-cost repairs (customers pay for the cost of the part) to people in their area so they can start to practice, then they transition to fully paid jobs over time. (Note: if you are doing this as your own business, then there are insurance and other considerations to address, as discussed in the Business Course.)
Click here for more information about how our students get hands-on training.
Q. Are there any prerequisites for admission?
A. Yes. We do have required and recommended prerequisites for anyone entering MST:
Required:
- A computer with Internet access, preferably broadband.
- The latest version of one of our recommended browsers. Other browsers may have occasional video playback issues! (See our Student Resource Page.)
- If you use Windows XP, you must download and use either Google Chrome or Firefox; Internet Explorer versions 8 and 9 are not supported.
- Proficiency in doing basic, simple operations with your web browser (copy and paste, clearing your browser cache, copying a URL from the address bar, making a screen shot, downloading files and knowing where to find them on your hard drive). There is plenty of free help online to get these skills quickly up to speed, such as basic computer skills tutorials on YouTube.
- The ability to read English.
- The ability to speak and write English clearly and understandably. We’re not looking for Pulitzer prize winners but you must be able to communicate clearly with us so we can help you!
- A hard copy (not Kindle) of the book, Troubleshooting and Repairing Major Appliances, 3rd Edition, by Eric Kleinert. This can be purchased via Amazon. It is possible other editions may not exactly correspond with the page numbers cited within the course materials. This reference book is needed for Core Appliance Repair Training and Advanced Refrigerator Repair.
Recommended:
- Smart phone
Q. What is the job outlook for skilled Appliance Repair Technicians?
A. Very positive, according to our experience and the information we're seeing. The Bureau of Labor predicts a 21% increase in demand for skilled appliance repair techs over the next decade. See this Blog Post for more info!
Q. What value does an appliance repair certification from MST hold?
A. Learn about the high value of MST Certification here.
Q. You have a lot of appliance repair articles and videos out there already, Master Samurai. Can’t I just learn what I need to from those? What would I be getting by paying for Academy courses that I can’t already seek out online?
A. Wise question! Yes, there is obviously a lot of free information out there. However, there are a number of valuable reasons why completing courses through the Academy is better for you in the long run.
- You are given a structured and logical learning environment to give you the best foundation to succeed in the trade.
- You gain access to original material in textbooks, videos, and audio clips not available anywhere else online.
- Our courses encourage accountability by having you pass quizzes before advancing to the next stage.
- You gain credibility with your certification after graduating from our academy.
- You have access to student-only forums for individual help from the Master Samurai when needed.
- You gain from over 20 years of experience in both running an appliance repair business and helping people learn appliance repair online. This unique combination gives us the ability to present information to you that you may not even realize you need to learn. We’ve done all of the footwork involved in finding the best ways to communicate this information to you.
Q. What if I need more help on a lesson?
A. Simple. We are here to help with ANY question you have. Submit your thoughts to the Ask the Teacher Forum in the module you’re working on and Team Samurai will answer your question. We will give you the coaching and mentoring you need to become a master yourself.
Q. Do you offer support after I complete the courses?
A. Yes! We have a website that provides ongoing support and continuing education for professional appliance repair techs. Appliantology.org is our world-class tech support site where your fellow appliance techs get and give help on specific repair problems. We also have unlimited downloads of service manuals and other documents from our impressive (and constantly growing) database. You can see all the benefits of becoming a Professional Appliantologist member here. And even more awesome, every new student receives a free 6-month membership to Appliantology (saving you hundreds of dollars), and if you earn your Certification in the Core Appliance Repair Training course, you will also receive free one-year premium membership (a $197 value), and that's just for starters.
I'm a Current Repair Professional
Q. I’ve already got some experience as an appliance repair tech. Which course should I start with?
A. Many of our students are already working as appliance techs, yet nearly all of them start their Academy studies with the Core Appliance Repair Training course because they never had a systematic education in things like electricity, electronics, troubleshooting using schematics, and electric motors, and they find that modern appliances are difficult to diagnose without a rock-solid foundation in these skills. Here are a few reviews we've received on the Core course:
"Excellent class. I thought that I had a basic understanding of electronics before I took this class. There were huge gaps in my understanding, things that I was not even aware of not knowing. Trying to troubleshoot before taking this class was frustrating. Now I understand the process involved. Way to go Master Samurai! It was an honor to enter your dojo."
“I have been an Appliance service tech for over 20 years. This course is excellent has so much useful information very in-depth."
“I can now truly say like many have already said. This course is indeed the game changer.In my opinion, It does not matter how much experience you may have as an Appliance repair technician,this course will most definitely make you better! Keep up the great work team Samurai!”
“I found the course to be very enlightening. I have been a tech for 5 years but felt I needed more training. The course filled in a lot of gaps for me and I'm sure I will refer back to it as my old brain needs refreshing. Thank you Samurai Tech.”
Look through the course outline for Core Appliance Repair Training to see the topics covered. If you want to be an ace technician and also be able to increase your First Call Complete percentage (thus increasing profitability), these are the areas that you need to have strong skills in.
If you’re not sure whether you need to start with the Core course, take our You Don't Know What You Don't Know quiz.
Q. Do the Refrigerator Repair, Oven & Range Repair, and Advanced Troubleshooting courses have prerequisites?
A. These courses require a strong background in basic electricity and introductory schematic reading. They were designed assuming that the student would have taken Core Appliance Repair Training first. If you’re not sure whether you need to start with the Core course, take our You Don't Know What You Don't Know quiz.
Q. What value does an appliance repair certification from MST hold?
A. Learn about the high value of MST Certification here.
Q. You have a lot of appliance repair articles and videos out there already, Master Samurai. Can’t I just learn what I need to from those? What would I be getting by paying for Academy courses that I can’t already seek out online?
A. Wise question! Yes, there is obviously a lot of free information out there. However, there are a number of valuable reasons why completing courses through the Academy is better for you in the long run.
- You are given a structured and logical learning environment to give you the best foundation to succeed in the trade.
- You gain access to original material in textbooks, videos, and audio clips not available anywhere else online.
- Our courses encourage accountability by having you pass quizzes before advancing to the next stage.
- You gain credibility with your certification after graduating from our academy.
- You have access to student-only forums for individual help from the Master Samurai when needed.
- You gain from over 20 years of experience in both running an appliance repair business and helping people learn appliance repair online. This unique combination gives us the ability to present information to you that you may not even realize you need to learn. We’ve done all of the footwork involved in finding the best ways to communicate this information to you.
I'm a Multi-Tech Operator
Q. Do I need enrollments for each of my techs?
A. Yes, each student must be enrolled individually so they can benefit from all of the features of the school as well as potentially qualify for MST Certification. The quizzes and exams that occur throughout the course are a critical part of the learning process, and can only be done if a student has his or her own enrollment.
Q. Do you offer discounts for multiple enrollments?
A. Yes, we offer discounts for any company who enrolls two or more techs in the Academy. Please see the Group Pricing page for information.
Q. How do I keep track of my techs' progress?
A. The best outcomes happen when techs are being supervised well during their training. We have an Employer Resource Page that shows you how to help your techs get the most out of their training, and gives you some easy tools to use. Click here see how easy it is.
Q. Do you offer any phone support or devices loaded with technical documents to students?
A. Instead of big pricey bundles of courses, materials, and other features that you may or may not need, we like to offer our various courses and support functions in smaller chunks so you can buy what you want, when you want.
For ongoing technical support to our students and graduates who are out working in the field, we have a powerful yet very affordable tech support resource called Appliantology.org.
As for a device loaded with tech docs, we offer something even better - the knowledge and power to do it yourself! See this Blog post for more info.
Pricing and Payment
Q. How much do the courses cost?
A. The tuition for each course is listed on our Courses page. Click the "Learn More" button for more details on each course.
Q. Do you offer discounts for multiple enrollments?
A. Yes, we offer discounts for any company who enrolls two or more techs in the Academy. Please see the Multi-Tech Operations page for information.
Q. How long do I have access to the courses?
A. When you enroll in a course or bundle, you have an initial time period with access to your coursework: one year for an individual course, or two years if you enroll in a bundle. Once that time is up, an optional ongoing monthly fee is charged for those who wish to continue to have access to all of the material and benefits of being a student ($5 for a single course, or $10 for a bundle). This monthly access can be canceled at any time. You can view your recurring payments at the bottom of the Members Area page. Just log in to reach that page, or if you are already logged in, click the yellow "My Courses" button at the top right corner of the window.
Q. Do you have a Guarantee or Refund policy?
A. Yes! These are the courses we wish we had when we were starting out in the business. Our graduates are enthusiastic about them. We are confident that you will find that they are worth more than you paid for them.
But to give you peace of mind about making this investment in your future, we offer a 3-day money-back guarantee. You have 3 days to try out the course(s), and if you decide it is not right for you then we will refund 100% of your tuition. We only require that you have not downloaded or in any way copied the course materials.
We will issue one refund (one course, or one bundle) per student.
Support
Q. What if I need more help on a lesson?
A. Simple. We are here to help with ANY question you have. Submit your thoughts to the Ask the Teacher Forums in the module you’re working on and Team Samurai will answer your question. We will give you the coaching and mentoring you need to become a master yourself.
Q. Do you offer any phone support or devices loaded with technical documents to students?
A. Instead of big pricey bundles of courses, materials, and other features that you may or may not need, we like to offer our various courses and support functions in smaller chunks so you can buy what you want, when you want.
For ongoing technical support to our students and graduates who are out working in the field, we have a powerful yet very affordable tech support resource called Appliantology.org.
As for a device loaded with tech docs, we offer something even better - the knowledge and power to do it yourself! See this Blog post for more info.
Q. Do you offer support after I complete the courses?
A. Yes! We have a website that provides ongoing support and continuing education for professional appliance repair techs. Appliantology.org is our world-class tech support site where your fellow appliance techs get and give help on specific repair problems. We also have unlimited downloads of service manuals and other documents from our impressive (and constantly growing) database. You can see all the benefits of becoming a Professional Appliantologist member here. And even more awesome, every new student receives a free 6-month membership to Appliantology (saving you hundreds of dollars), and if you earn your Certification in the Core Appliance Repair Training course, you will also receive free one-year premium membership (a $197 value), and that's just for starters.
Recommended Tools
Click here to see our list of recommended tools for appliance repair.
Don't see your question? Please contact us and we'll get back to us as soon as we can.