Industry Certification Hits Stride

The recent collaboration between The American Rental Association (ARA), The Advanced Textiles Association-Tent Rental Division (ATA-TRD), and the Manufacturers and Tent Renters Association (MATRA) has brought together high-level education and training possibilities to all members of industry. The overarching program creates a certification program for tent installers to be trained in different aspects of the tent installation trade and future expansion into related skills often used by our tent installation teams.

The current program offering includes:

Foundations of Safe Tenting: This course is an online overview of basic tent safety, personal protective equipment, overview of rental tent history, common tent terminology/tools, and tent basics. The course is completely free to all members of all associations. The course is only available online and takes about two hours to complete.

Online Access: ARA Members, ATA Members, MATRA Members

Essentials of Tent Anchoring: Proper anchoring is the key to a strong and reliable tent. This program offers comprehensive instruction on the correct methods, techniques, and data-driven science essentials for creating optimal tension in tents through proper anchoring. This course provides attendees with the knowledge and detailed examples needed to adequately and safely anchor various styles and types of tents for a range of applications. This course is offered as an in-person learning event only and generally takes 4-5 hours to complete.

Essentials of Frame Tent Installation: This course dives deeper into the specific techniques, tools, materials and safety protocols required for successful frame tent installation. Together, these courses continue your path to certification, designed to raise the standard of safety and professionalism across the tent rental and installation industry.  This course is offered as an in-person learning event only and generally takes 4-5 hours to complete.

Essentials of Pole Tent Installation: This course dives deeper into the specific techniques, tools, materials and safety protocols required for successful pole tent installation. Together, these courses continue your path to certification, designed to raise the standard of safety and professionalism across the tent rental and installation industry.  This course is offered as an in-person learning event only and generally takes 4-5 hours to complete.

Upcoming In-Person Training Events:

Monday March 23,2026 | Produced by MATRA | Colorado Party Rentals, Denver, CA | MORE INFO

Monday March 31,2026 | Produced by MATRA | Curated Events Frederick, MD | MORE INFO

Tuesday April 7, 2026 | Produced by ARA | Event Essentials, Madison, WI | MORE INFO

Wednesday April 8, 2026 | Produced by ARA | Event Essentials, Madison, WI | MORE INFO

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 | Produced by ATA | Celina Tent, Celina, OH | MORE INFO

Friday, April 17, 2026 | Produced by ATA | Made in the Shade Tent Rentals, West Sacramento, CA | MORE INFO

Tuesday April 28, 2026 | Produced by ARA | CORT Event Rentals, Seattle, WA | MORE INFO

Wednesday April 29, 2026 | Produced by ARA | CORT Event Rentals, Seattle, WA | MORE INFO

Tuesday May 5, 2026 | Produced by ARA | Special Event Rentals, Red Deer, Aberta, Canada | MORE INFO

Wednesday May 6, 2026 | Produced by ARA | Special Event Rentals, Red Deer, Aberta, Canada | MORE INFO

Tuesday July 24, 2026 | Produced by ARA | ARA of FL Getaway, Clearwater, FL | MORE INFO

Wednesday July 25, 2026 | Produced by ARA | ARA of FL Getaway, Clearwater, FL | MORE INFO

Tuesday August 18, 2026 | Produced by ARA | Chattanooga Tent, Nashville, TN | MORE INFO

Wednesday August 19, 2026 | Produced by ARA | Chattanooga Tent, Nashville, TN | MORE INFO

Tuesday September 1, 2026 | Produced by ARA | Premiere Events, College Station, TX | MORE INFO

Wednesday September 2, 2026 | Produced by ARA | Premiere Events, College Station, TX | MORE INFO

Tuesday November 17, 2026 | Produced by ARA | 24/7 Events, Valencia, CA | MORE INFO

Wednesday November 18, 2026 | Produced by ARA | 24/7 Events, Valencia, CA | MORE INFO

 

Graphic showing the proposed flow of the overall certification program

 

 

 

 

Categories

Frame Tents

Frame Tents feature a skeleton of aluminum framework and steel connectors to support the tent top. Although this style of tent is "free-standing" by design, it still must be anchored to resist wind forces. All styles of frame tents have no poles that come to the ground in the interior space of the tent.

Frame Tents

    Pole Tents

    Pole tents rely on tension in the membrane to hold the shape of the tent system. These tents are supported by single or multiple centerpoles in the middle of the tent area and a series of sidepoles around the perimeter of the tent area. The tent is tensioned toward the anchoring locations commonly with a rope or ratchet strap.

    Pole Tents

      Structure Fabric

      Whether you need replacement roof, gable, or walls, our team is proud to build the best panels in the industry. Our clearspan structure tops and walls are constructed to match Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) specifications for your European, A-frame and arcum styled structures. Designed, cut and assembled to fit perfectly, each and every time.

      Structure Fabric

        Compatible Plus

        'Compatible-Plus®' products are aesthetically and structurally indistinguishable from their competitive counterparts. However, the new series have been re-engineered, incorporating proprietary improvements to their structural quality and integrity. These options allow the tent industry customers to purchase from the vendor they deem best.

        Compatible Plus

          Accessories

          Accessories include liners, legs skirts, doors, raingutters, and materials for repair & replacement parts

          Accessories

            Specialty Tents

            These products are geared for specific applications and are often seen as non-mainstream products. Generally these products are built on an as needed basis and are generally not "on the shelf".

            Specialty Tents