WCA has created a national Passport and Credentials Program to provide a portable credential for individuals in the woodwork industry. It serves to quantify and qualify woodworkers ability to operate woodwork tools properly and safely to create high quality wood products. This national credential program will offers certifications/passport stamps each with (up to) 3 levels in line with the subcategories of the Woodwork Manufacturing Skill Standards.

Certifications are not tied to specific occupations or jobs. Rather, WCA provides a menu of certifications from which employers can select the tools and tool operation level relevant to their jobs or training needs.  A WCA Passport is similar to a US Passport—a tangible booklet with pages on which to obtain “tool” stamps, like country stamps, that verify the individual’s tool proficiencies allowing them to “document their skills”. WCA maintains a national database of passport holders and their tool stamps that verifies passports during travel to new jobs and/or training.

Woodworkers receive passport stamps through a performance assessment. A candidate’s skills and knowledge are assessed by a WCA approved evaluator who observes the candidate as he/she uses a tool and then inspecst the final product, ensuring that the candidate’s technique and product complies with WCA standards. WCA established two levels of evaluators who have the authority to evaluate candidates and issue passport stamps: Chief Evaluators and Evaluators.

WCA is currently recruiting and training Chief Evaluators with the goal of having at least one Chief Evaluator in every state. WCA will certify the skills and knowledge of the Chief Evaluators and grant them to authority to issue the appropriate passport stamps. If you are interested in becoming a WCA Chief Evaluator, please complete the form below and we will contact you about this rewarding opportunity.