Woodworking As A Profession

WCA's major undertaking - development and publication of industry-approved Standards of Tool Skills and Evaluations is aimed at meeting the need for skilled woodworkers in an increasingly competitive global market. The need exists for woodwork manufacturers not only to retain and make optimum use of their current workforce, but to train and retain new workers. In addition, newly trained woodworkers need to be trained in the latest woodworking machinery and techniques.

These unified Standards of Tool Skills and Evaluations serve as a comprehensive, industry-accepted compilation of operational procedures by which to measure performance and results produced by woodworking professionals. It includes a voluntary assessment program that allows woodworkers to demonstrate their competency in in-plant woodworking skills.

Skills Standards are tool operations which can be seen and measured. As the woodworker learns and masters the techniques at the basic level, a clear path is indicated for increased skill in each tool operation. Experienced woodworkers must pass dozens of tests to demonstrate their accumulated skills against a consistent industry standard.

Use Skill Standards to:

• Develop training and curricula
• Define job requirements
• Provide a benchmark for performance
• Recruit woodworking professionals
• Enhance labor value and mobility
• Plan career learning and development paths