What is a CPST or Child Passenger Safety Technician?

Car seats are important for your child’s safety! Correct use of car seats reduces the risk of injury for your little one by 71-82%.

However, not correctly installing and buckling your car seat can significantly impact its effectiveness. The CDC estimates 46% of car seats are not installed properly, which is a scary number! Of course, families don’t think they’ve incorrectly installed their car seats.

A Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) is the key to making sure your car seat is reaching top safety standards! These certified technicians provide a vital car seat inspection for parents like you looking for confirmation on proper install and car seat use.  

What is a Child Passenger Safety Technician?

The technical term for a car seat consultant is “Child Passenger Safety Technician.” These certified car seat techs undergo specialized training to become experts in car seat use! To become certified, they complete a 3-4 day certification training course with a standardized curriculum which is overseen by NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and kept current through collaboration with National CPS Board and Safe Kids Worldwide. So you know they’re the real deal. CPSTs are not necessarily used in finding the perfect car seat for your family. If you need help with that, check out the new Car Seat Finder Tool, see our post on how to find the perfect car seat for your newborn, or our car seat courses. Instead, they provide one-on-one personalized instruction to caring parents like you, who understand that getting your car seat checked and receiving one on one instruction for using the car seat properly is super important! 

Contrary to popular belief, you can’t just show up to a fire station and get your car seat checked. In fact, the nurse at the hospital may not even be qualified to help you! Not every nurse, pediatrician, police officer, firefighter, or OBGYN has the training to provide car seat education. But certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians are able to provide you with adequate training.

Certified technicians also provide community education in a variety of ways. Health & Safety events are a great way for them to spread the awareness of their specialized knowledge and training. Some CPS techs also provide small-group talks to parent groups; provide online and in-person classes; and even provide blog posts, media interviews and social media content. Hint hint! Did you know that there are often car seat check-up events or clinics available? Some of these events are first-come, first-served while others may require an appointment. A quick internet search for “car seat help” in your area may surprise you at the services you didn’t know existed!

There are over 40,000 currently certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians all over the U.S. You can find one in your area using the Safe Kids Worldwide website. There are other more convenient options too, if you can’t find one in your area or are too busy with the kiddos! For instance, some manufacturers like Nuna and Evenflo, offer free video chats to assist you.

Here at Safe In The Seat, we have certified child passenger safety technicians. So you can also do a virtual consultation like the one we have here. 

CPST Services and Benefits

There are tons of benefits of meeting with a CPST! We believe a CPST should have a permanent home in your contacts, just like your pediatrician and babysitter. Take a look at our list of benefits below! 

Confirm Correct Car Seat Installation

Installing a car seat is not as easy as “1, 2, 3.” Getting it tight enough to avoid the one inch of wiggle or getting the recline right on your slanted driveway is a chore! It can leave you throwing your hands up and saying, “That’ll work!”

A child passenger safety technician knows exactly how to guide you through installing your car seat and won’t settle for “good enough.” They will teach you how to use your car seat so you’ll have confidence that not only is your car seat installed to its manual’s recommendations, but it’s also installed properly based on your vehicle and seating layout. 

Ensure You Know How to Properly Buckle Up

Once the car seat is installed, the job is not done. You’ve got to buckle your child in every day, so knowing how to do that is crucial! The CPST will show you how to properly adjust your car seat and fasten the straps to make the safest situation for your kiddo.

Learn Vital Additional Information

A CPS technician will show you how to find information on state laws, recalls, vehicle specifics, and even future car seat plans! All of this information can be difficult to find online, and some of it you don’t even know you need until they tell you. CPSTs are a valuable resource that car seat manuals and YouTube videos can’t replace. 

Peace of Mind for You

As parents, we stress enough. Peace of mind is something well worth the time and effort. In addition, you’ll have confidence your child is as safe as can be in their seat after you attend your consultation. There will be no doubt that you’re getting the full-benefit from your expensive gear. 

Best Safety for Your Child

Most of all, a child passenger safety technician is going to make your child safe. When in your car, they’ll have the best protection in the event of a crash. There are a lot of things we can control as parents, but road conditions, other drivers, and distractions aren’t things we command. Accidents happen every day, and it’s not a gamble you want to take with your child. So a child in a properly used car seat is a safe child. 

How to Become a CPST

To become a Child Passenger Safety Technician in the USA , you’ll need to follow a structured training program that equips you with the necessary skills and knowledge. You can find a certification training course near you by checking here. This training includes both classroom instruction and hands-on training. During your training, you’ll learn about different types of seat belts, car seat installation, child passenger safety regulations, and how to conduct seat checks effectively. The final skills assessment in the certification program is an actual car seat check event. Once certified, you can actively participate in seat check events, where you’ll assist parents and caregivers in properly installing and using child car seats to ensure the safety of young passengers. You’ll also have to keep up to date with your knowledge by attending conferences or webinars that offer continuing education credits.

Hiring a CPST is something you need to do in order to confirm you are getting the most of your car seat and keeping your child safe! 

Finding a child passenger safety technician is easy and can be done in-person or online. The education you’ll receive is vital for your confidence and your child’s safety. Before your consultation, take a look at this list of what to expect. 

Are you totally in? That’s great! Do you have other people in your life like a grandparent or a sitter that has a car seat for your child? Take a look at our advice on how to talk to them about the importance of car seat safety and request they get a consultation like you. 

Don’t delay! Find a CPST in your area or join us for a convenient, one on one, informative, and effective online visit! We can’t wait to see you and help more parents make the right and safe decision for their family. Giving guidance and reassurance when it comes to traveling safely with your kids is our mission!