NWFA
Ed Korczak, executive director and CEO, said for nearly 25 years, the association has been training and educating wood flooring professionals from all 
over the world in the installation, sanding, finishing, and sales of wood flooring products.
“NWFA’s technical schools have a strong history,” he said. “Since their inception, the schools have been tasked with demonstrating for our students how to master a particular skill, and then giving them the opportunity to do it themselves in a classroom environment where they can get immediate feedback on their technique from industry experts.”
In fact, in just a quarter of a century, NWFA has offered 132 schools dealing with wood flooring exclusively, “more than any other organization, Korczak said, and more than 3,640 students have attended those schools to advance their hands-on skills and wood flooring knowledge.
This year, he added, the association is offering more than a dozen schools designed to meet the various needs of wood flooring professionals—from those just starting out in their careers, to those who have many years of industry experience.
These schools include Wood Flooring Basics, Sub-Floor Preparation/Solid Glue Down on Concrete, Intermediate Installation, Sand & Finish, Advanced Installation, Jigs & Staircase Workshop, Expert Installation and Expert Sand & Finish.
NWFA Certified Professionals also offers several wood flooring specific schools, Korczak noted, including Wood Flooring Inspection, Commercial Wood Flooring Inspection and Wood Flooring Inspection Report Writing “All of these schools are taught by industry experts, and are offered throughout the year, in locations throughout the U.S and Canada, to meet the needs of wood flooring professionals everywhere.”
Prices for the schools vary based on location, the curriculum and the student to teacher ratio. Lunch is included each day, and for most, students receive a moisture meter at the conclusion of the school. Students also receive credits for attending each school, which are applied toward their NWFA degree credits.
“Best of all,” Korczak said, “scholarships are available to attend our technical schools, whether you are an NWFA member or not.” Scholarship amounts vary for each school, with preference and larger amounts given to NWFA members.
To learn more about all the schools offered by NWFA, and about scholarship opportunities, call 800.422.4556, or visit NWFA’s web site at nwfa.org, and clicking on the “Education & Schools” link.