NWFA, the leading authority in flooring, offers six programs designed to help professionals advance their skills and careers. Graduation from these programs only takes three or four days to complete and are in three locations: New York City, Las Vegas and St.Louis, Missouri.
Factory Finished Installation: Teaches installation methods (nailing, gluing, etc.), mixed media installation (wood floors with inlays of tile or carpet for dramatic effects) and maintenance and repair techniques.
Wood Flooring Basics : Teaches entry-level principles of installation, troubleshooting, equipment maintenance and job site preparation.
Sub-Floor Preparation and Glue-Down - Concrete: Covers topics on how to level sub-floors, to use adhesives on concrete and to test for sound control and moisture.
Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish: A three-day school with each day focusing on either Installation, Sanding and Finishing or Finishing. You can choose which days to attend or attend all three.
Wood Flooring Inspection: Topics include reporting procedures, performance standards, moisture testing and manufacturer-specific wood issues.
Wood Flooring Commercial Inspection: Courses cover different types of sub-floors (concrete, terraza, vinyl, tile), moisture testing, installation methods for commercial floors and floor protection.
In addition to NWFA's technical programs, it offers a course for those seeking in-depth training on selling flooring. This course, Dynamics of Wood Flooring Sales, is designed to help flooring professionals improve their business skills. However, because this course is offered as a sponsored program through select organizations, the schedule and location varies. Contact NWFA directly for the latest course information.
The NWFA offers three certification programs for those flooring professionals seeking advanced credentials.
Installation and Sand & Finish: Covers topics on installing, sanding and finishing different types of wooden floors. Includes online written exam and skills exam offered at one of the school locations or through a local distributor local.
Sales Counselor: This one-day seminar with a written test reviews wood knowledge needed for successful flooring sales.
Inspector: A review of inspection procedures and reporting guidelines, the certification process consists of five written exams. Passing these exams results in a probationary certificate. During the 12-month probation, students submit five actual inspection reports to the NWFA for review. Successful completion of these reports leads to full certification status.
For those seeking more information about the flooring industry, the NWFA site provides training videos on topics such as Board Replacement, Repairing a Finish and Pride and Professionalism.
NWFA also offers expert courses in Installation; Sand & Finish; and Jigs, Treads and Risers (for those looking to advance from flooring to building stairs, handrails and cutting shapes for flooring dramatics). The prerequisites for these courses are three years of experience combined with prior attendance at an NWFA school.