WCA Credentials
Very simply; becoming a Candidate by purchasing an Individual Membership, being assessed on the Skill Standards, and earning Skill Points and experience hours leads to WCA Certifications and Credentials…
Experience hours may be any combination of classroom, lab, and shop or plant time such as internships and/or co-op work-study programs for the Green and Blue credentials; all other credentials only count paid work hours. Hours are cumulative lifetime hours, not related to any calendar or school year. School hours must be from a WCA EDUcation Member school.
WCA maintains a record, in our Registry, of each Candidate’s points and provides verification to educators or employers as requested by the Woodworker. Students in a WCA accredited school have the option earn the Sawblade Certificate before the Green Credential if they don’t acquire enough hours in school for a Green Credential, which is typical for a high school program.
Note: Every Passport holder/candidate must pass the BASIC Layout and Measurement Skill evaluations before earning any additional Skill Points.
An experienced Woodworker with the requisite experience hours can test DIRECTLY to any Credential without progressing through the series (Green, Blue, Red, Gold, Diamond). Contact the WCA office to create a custom career path. Your achievements are recorded in the WCA Registry.
Below are the requirements for each of the credential levels:
Experience Hours – Education or Work
Experience Hours – Work Only
Diamond Credential –
240 total Skill Points, 6400 total experience hours (lifetime) + Master Project.
The 1600 additional experience hours above the Gold credential must be paid work hours only.
The Master project is defined as work submitted for review and approval by a project committee of three Woodwork Career Chief Evaluators
Project Notes:
- The Red Project is defined as a demonstration of skill which may or not be related to his/her current employment. The Evaluation Committee (consisting of a local evaluator and his/her employer) reviews and approves the proposed demonstration plans and specs, stating the criteria on which the work will be judged.
- The Gold Project is defined as a demonstration of skill which may or not be related to his/her current employment. The Evaluation Committee (consisting of a Woodwork Career Skill Evaluator, a Woodwork Career Chief Evaluator, and the candidate’s employer) reviews and approves the proposed demonstration plans and specs, stating the criteria on which the work will be judged. Total time to complete the demonstration may be part of the criteria.
The Board of Directors seeks input on the development of the process and system for experienced woodworker to apply and qualify for the Red, Gold, or Diamond Credential based on their work history. Please use the CONTACT form when you are interested in helping or making a suggestion.