RVing offers freedom and flexibility to travel for more than 8 million American households. Hard at work to make sure those experiences are positive, and that recreational vehicle service is performed in a timely manner, are a cadre of certified RV service technicians. RV technicians are responsible for vehicle safety, reliability, and customer satisfaction, and as RV usage continues to grow, demand for trained technicians has increased.
The increased demand from RV users is placing pressure on dealerships and highlighting the need for responsive workforce development pathways. At the same time, rural CTE programs face ongoing challenges, including limited funding, small instructional teams and geographic isolation from industry hubs. This case study examines how an industry-led partnership launched by the RV Technical Institute (RVTI) and piloted with Navarro College in rural Texas demonstrates how rural CTE programs, industry associations, and local employers can rely on one another to address workforce needs while strengthening student learning and program sustainability.
Rural workforce challenges
The RV industry is experiencing a significant need for skilled RV technicians as customer expectations for high-quality service continue to rise. In Texas, which is the nation’s largest RV market, this demand is particularly acute. Extended repair wait times and workforce shortages have underscored the importance of creating clear, accessible training pipelines.
Navarro College serves a largely rural population in central Texas, including students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who are seeking practical, career-connected education with opportunities for work. College and RV industry leaders recognized an opportunity to align local workforce needs with CTE programming but also understood the limitations of developing a specialized program. Equipment costs, curriculum development and industry alignment can pose significant challenges for a rural institution operating with finite resources.
An industry-led partnership model
To address these challenges, RVTI launched its first community college program in partnership with Navarro College in fall 2025. RVTI, the only RV industry-backed service technician training program and nonprofit organization, provided an established instructional framework informed by industry standards and employer needs. Navarro College integrated the program into its existing CTE infrastructure, maintaining responsibility for instruction, recruitment, student support and program administration.
Key to the success of this program has been a local employer with a vested interest: Fun Town RV, a dealership with 15 locations across Texas. Their team has contributed regular insight into work-force expectations and donated funds to support the program. This three-part collaborative effort allowed each partner to contribute its strengths:
- Industry supplied curriculum, training, and testing standards and trained the trainer.
- Employer brought the local expertise and community ties while also offering job opportunities to graduates.
- Educational Institution provided space to operate the program and student support to retain and grow.
For a rural CTE program, this shared responsibility model reduced developmental burdens while ensuring instructional relevance and workforce alignment.
In the real-world classroom
Using the RVTI curriculum and instructor training framework, Navarro College implemented a hybrid instructional model that combined classroom learning with hands-on training and testing.
The competency-based course structure allowed instructors to accommodate varying skill levels within the cohort — an important consideration for rural programs serving diverse student populations. Instruction emphasized real-world service scenarios informed by employer input, helping students understand both technical skills and workplace and customer expectations.
Necessary program adjustments
Before the first cohort arrived, Navarro College, RVTI and Fun Town RV identified opportunities to strengthen the program further. While students who have taken the RVTI curriculum demonstrated strong technical understanding, there was a desire to add training that addressed employability skills, safety awareness and digital literacy in modern repair environments. In response, Navarro College and RVTI collaborated to integrate additional workplace readiness components into the program.
At launch, the program included OSHA 10 certification and basic computer literacy instruction to prepare students for shop management software and digital work orders. These are skills increasingly required across service industries.
The program was also designed to grow. Starting with the Level 1 training but laying the groundwork to advance into Level 2 and Level 3 training as the program grows. These early adjustments illustrate the value of ongoing collaboration and feedback. Rather than treating curriculum as static, the partnership created a continuous improvement loop informed by employer needs.
Students receive training that meets today’s workforce and customer needs. Educational institutions provide the foundation and student services support. And employers have a pipeline of trained professionals ready to meet their business needs.
Mindy Smith is senior manager of public relations at the RV Industry Association.
