Beginning in 2009, CIRAS (Center for International Retail Automotive Standards) will be providing the Global Rental Car Professional Certification Program (RCP) online to candidates worldwide throughout the rental car industry.

“Anyone close to the trade, anywhere, knows of the need to professionalize the automobile business at the point of contact with customers,” said CIRAS President and CEO Robert Serum Ph.D in a statement.

CIRAS, an automotive certification testing center, has worked with several rental car industry professionals, including Jim Schalberg of Jim Schalberg Auto Rental Training, to develop and facilitate the online certification. “This has been a long time coming.” said Schalberg, “Work on a rental car certification standard was started back in the old ACTIF days. Working with the people at CIRAS has brought these ideas to reality.”

CIRAS will launch the RCP Certification program at the Car Rental Show in Las Vegas, Mar. 30, 2009, with a workshop presented by Jim Schalberg and Dr Robert Serum Ph.D. from 8:00 am until noon. Participants will receive their certificates upon passing the certification exam, which will be administered on-site at the end of the session.

The workshop is $300 for pre-registered attendees and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited, so early registration is recommended. For more information visit www.cirasonline.com. To register for the workshop send your information to support@cirasonline.com.