Woodwork Career Alliance

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Wood Manufacturing Industry Accreditation

Why?

• Measuring stick for students and industry personnel

• Elevates our profession• Nationally recognized assessment &

accreditation

Woodwork Career Alliance

SKILL STANDARDS CREDENTIAL

Individual Membership

• Candidates must purchase an Individual Membership ($55) prior to being assessed.

• Comes with 10 free assessment credits; $5 each after that.

• Database is official record of assessment history.

Look for the Pin & Patch

• Six possible credential levels based on:– Tool stamps earned– Hours worked or in school– Skills demonstrated

Diamond Certificate Lapel Pin

Sawblade Certificate

1. Must Complete Basic Layout And Measurement

2. Must Complete 10 SpecifiedMachine Skill Operations For 20 Tool Points

3. Must Score 80% on 40 Question Test

High School

Green Credential Certificate

1. Must complete basic layout and measurement.

2. Earn 20 more Points, for a total of 30.

3. Record 800 verified hours in school or at work.

Industry and Post Secondary

Blue Credential Certificate

1. Earn 30 more Tool Points, for a total of 60.

2. Record 800 more verified hours in school or at work, for a total 1,600 hours.

Industry and Post Secondary

Industry Only Credentials

Red Gold Diamond

30 Points + 800 hrs.Work or School Exp.

60 Points + 1600 hrs.Work or School Exp.

120 Points + 1600 hrs.+ Skill Demonstration

240 Points + 4800 hrs. + Master Project

180 Points + 3200 hrs. + Skill Demonstration

Green Credential = 800 Hrs Practical ExperienceBlue Credential = 1600 Hrs Practical ExperienceRed Credential = 3200 Hrs Practical ExperienceGold Credential = 4800 Hrs Practical Experience

Assessments

• Assessments are observational, not written

• Based around tool operations. (i.e. Tablesaw/Ripping)

• Currently: 80 tools and over 275 operations

• Adding more as needed

Assessments

• Tool Points earned by being assessed on a tool operation at a certain level (1 or 2)

• Assessment credits purchased from WCA ($5 each, 10 free with membership.

• One credit, per level, is spent each time an assessment is completed, pass or fail

- i.e. Testing at level 2 consumes two credits if level 1 hasn’t been earned

• No credits, no assessment!

The WCA Standards today

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Currently we have over 275 Tool/Operational Assessments

What is a Skill Standard…

"An observable, measurable level of achievement or performance which is applied to a woodworking skill or knowledge area.“

…and how do we assess candidates?

A Closer Look at the Assessment Tool

• Title block including the Candidates & Evaluators information

• Pre-operation Checklist• Considerations• Operation Checklist

– Scenario– Performance Standard

The Assessment Tool (con’t.)• Sections• Tool • Operations • Levels

– Level 1: Basic woodworking skills - Output oriented

– Level 2: Intermediate woodworking skills - Set-up oriented

Pre-Operation Checklist

Considerations

{

The Operation Checklist

A Potential Sequence for Green Level Certification

A Potential Sequence for Green Level Certification (300 points in 1 day)Machine Operation Material Requirements Notes Potential Manipulations

*** Layout 3/4x4x11.5 Solid Stock

*** Measurement Measurement Widget

1 ShaperEdge Shaping Using a Automatic Stock Feeder (Power Feeder) and an Outboard Fence

2 Jointer Face Jointing Stock length 2x outfeed length Fence angle, fence location, infeed height

3 Jointer Edge Jointing 1st edge as above

4 Planer Planing for Thickness Target Thickness .780" speed control, bed rollers

5 Sliding Panel Saw Crosscut Solid Lumber Target Length: 23.5" UNO Guard Height; Crosscut stop Calibration

6 Line Boring Machine Line Bore Two Sets of Indexed Holes to Specified Depth and Location

7 Table Saw Rip Rip 1 piece to 1-1/2" Guard, remove riving knife

8 Table Saw Narrow Rip Alt. Select from up to 10 additional Table Saw operations Guard, remove riving knife

9 Table Saw Edge Rabbet with Dado Target rabbet: .375"x.375" Guard

10 Portable Router Edge Profile Install tooling (1/4" roundover bit)

11 Drill Press Drill Holes to Spec'd Location & Depths Speed control, backer board location

12 Shaper 1/2"x1/2" Rabbet Install tooling; (Fence)

13 Miter Saw 135 degree miter Use 1.5" stock Must Install tooling; Mess with miter & stop calibration

14 Random Orbit Sander Sand Solid Lumber Use 80 grit cross-grain scratched piece from Widebelt

15 Band Saw Rough saw parts from a Pattern Separate Material Remove Blade; Guard Height; table tilt

The Evaluation Process

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The Evaluator:• Verifies evaluation site readiness• Explains evaluation process to

candidate(Should already be familiar with evaluation criteria)

• Observes candidate during Pre-Op Checklist

• Observes candidate performing operation–Evaluates finished workpiece–Judges Considerations

Evaluation Results

• Shared immediately with candidate

• Results uploaded to WCA database within 24 hours– This is the official record

• Candidate receives email confirmation of results– Can log into database to view history

Learning Process

• Assessments are a joint learning process

• Lessons learned during evaluations are fed back to WCA to improve the process

• The objective is to help candidates succeed, not provide roadblocks

Why Certification?

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Employers• Qualified employees; more

professional workforce• Marketing ammunition• Benchmarking• In-house training and evaluation

tool

Employees• Proof of skills• Better pay• Professional pride

Brings the woodworking industry in line with other

skilled professions!

What’s in it for You?

• Industry sanctioned certification.– Motivation

– Perkins $$

– Recognition

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MembershipsEDUcation Membership™– $250 yearly membership fee– Benefits Include:

– Voucher for one free ASE training ($250 value)

– Access to regional and national in service training

– Access to WCA training materials– Use of WCA Logo– Access to SkillsUSA State Contest Plans– Recognition on WCA website– Financial support for student passports– Financial support for Teacher training and

in-service– Essentials Donation package

– Free screws, glue, veneer, magazine memberships, clamps, Rockler goodies, software, etc.

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MANufacturing™ Membership– $250 yearly membership fee– Benefits Include:

– Voucher for one free in-house ASE training ($250 value)

– Access to WCA employee training materials– Use of WCA Logo– Recognition on WCA website– Optional customization of the program to fit your

company’s needs including development of new skill standards to match your equipment.

– Market differentiator (you have certified employees)

WCA & Modern Cabinetmaking

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• Modern Cabinetmaking Features:– Terminology– Step by Step procedures– Safety Notes & Illustrations– Working Knowledge– Green Notes– Bulleted Summaries– Test Your Knowledge– Suggested Activities (Common Core)

• WCA Correlates with textbook– General Considerations– Pre‐operation checklist– Actual Standards

Cost (Green Certification)

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Item Cost Comment

Passport (comes with 10 assessment credits;

WoodLINKS benefit)$55 Purchase online at www.woodworkcareer.org

Assessment Credits (20) $100If you fail any of the tests, you will need to purchase additional credits at $5 each. Purchase online at www.woodworkcareer.org

Materials/Handling (NESAW Fee) $40 Cost of materials and instructor evaluation time.

Total Cost $195.00

• Some testing will need to be done outside of normal classroom time.• Must purchase a passport and assessment credits before any testing can occur.

Learn More…

Woodwork Career Alliance (WCA)

https://woodworkcareer.org