Woodwork Career Alliance Turns 10

​The WCA’s 10th anniversary plans include a big presence at the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas and the launch of a new sponsorship program to support the development and growth of a skilled woodworking workforce throughout North America.

The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America is celebrating its 10th anniversary as the industry champion of skill standards which open doors to rewarding careers in professional woodworking.

The WCA was established in 2007 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity to actively promote and develop a skilled woodworking workforce in the United States and Canada. Ten years later, the WCA has created skill standards for more than 240 woodworking machines and operations; issued more than 1,300 Passports and signed up more than 165 high school and postsecondary woodworking programs as EDUcation members.

As the latest sign of its growing influence and acceptance, four states – California, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin – now recognize the WCA’s Passport credential program for their respective state-sponsored woodworking programs. In addition, the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association recognized the WCA as its 2016 Educator of the Year.

Other recent WCA milestones include the release of the second edition of the WCA’s Woodworking Skill Standards and launch of Pathways, the alliance’s quarterly e-newsletter.

The WCA looks to build on its momentum. Plans include having a big presence at the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas this July including conducting multiple sessions of Accredited Skill Evaluator training and participating in the fair’s College of Woodworking Knowledge seminar program. The WCA also plans to provide training materials to make it easier for schools and businesses to implement the WCA’s Passport program.

In an effort to build a larger base of EDUcators, INDustry partners, Passport holders and Accredited Skill Evaluators, the WCA is rolling out its 10th Anniversary Sponsorship program. Sponsors will gain visibility for supporting the WCA and workforce development plus be able to use the WCA logo on their website and promotions to demonstrate their commitment to helping resolve one of the wood product industry’s most longstanding and vexing challenges: recruiting and retaining skilled employees.

“As the former owner of a custom woodworking business, I know firsthand the challenge of finding qualified workers,” said WCA President Scott Nelson. “We’ve created a sturdy foundation and made a significant amount of progress over the last 10 years. I look forward to engaging more educational institutions, businesses, and industry members moving forward. Only by working together can we promote the tremendous career opportunities that exist in today’s woodworking industry and close the skills gap that plagues our industry.”

To learn more about the WCA sponsorship program click here or contact Rich Christianson at richsonmediapro@gmail.com; phone 773-822-6750.


About the Woodwork Career Alliance
The Woodwork Career Alliance was founded in 2007 as a 501C(3) non-profit corporation and is governed by a volunteer board of directors. The WCA’s mission is to develop and administer a unified set of Skill Standards for the wood products industry. Since 2011, WCA has developed observable and measurable performance standards and assessments for more than 240 woodworking machine operations. In addition, WCA has issued over 1,300 Passports, a portable, personal permanent record documenting each holder’s record of achievements as a woodworking professional. More than 160 high schools and post-secondary schools throughout North America are WCA EDUcation® members. To learn more about the WCA and how to get involved with its programs, visit www.WoodworkCareer.org.