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WCA Sawblade Certification

The MakeHaven woodshop

Earn an industry credential in woodworking at MakeHaven. MakeHaven is a WCA Accredited Skills Evaluator for the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA), which certifies woodworkers against measurable industry standards. The Sawblade Certificate is the first step in the WCA program. After it, you can keep building skills in our woodshop and work toward the WCA's higher certificates.

A member hand-planing a board at a MakeHaven workbench

Who it is for

Anyone starting or advancing a career in woodworking: students, career changers, and people already working in a shop who want a credential employers recognize. You do not need to be a MakeHaven member to be tested, but members can practice on the same machines any time.

Coming from Pathway to Trades? The badges and shop time from that program are a head start on these tests.

How it works

  1. Join the WCABuy a WCA Individual Membership. It includes 10 assessment credits.
  2. Build skillsEarn MakeHaven badges on each tool, then practice on your own projects until you are ready.
  3. Basic skillsPass the WCA measuring and layout checks with a MakeHaven examiner: tape measure, combination square and caliper.
  4. Tool testsEarn 10 skill points on five tool operations, plus 80% or better on the WCA written test.
  5. CertifiedWe record your results with the WCA, and you receive a Sawblade Certificate signed by a WCA officer.

The five tool tests

2 skill points each. The MakeHaven badge for each tool is the place to start.

  • Jointer: edge jointing the first edge (Jointer badge)
  • Table saw: ripping (Table Saw badge)
  • Table saw: edge rabbet with a single blade or dado set
  • Portable hand sander: sanding solid lumber
  • Drill press: drilling holes completely through material (Woodshop Drill Press badge)

Cost

The WCA membership is paid to the WCA. Testing is paid to MakeHaven: $65 for the first attempt and $55 for each retest of a tool or section.

Full requirements for each step · Woodwork Career Alliance

The MakeHaven woodshop with jointer, planer, table saw and CNC router

Ready to be tested?

Examiners schedule tests on request. Tell us which steps you have finished and we will set up a time.

Request a testing session

Not ready yet? Join MakeHaven to start earning badges, or follow this program below to hear about WCA prep sessions.

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