Next NOFMA Inspector School Set for August

Memphis, TN, April 20--NOFMA: The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association will offer its next NOFMA-Certified Wood Flooring Inspector school August 20-24, at the Holiday Inn Select, East Memphis. The five-day course will be limited to 20 participants. The course is intended for floor covering inspectors, home inspectors, and those in wood flooring related businesses interested in expanding the depth of their expertise. Applications must be submitted by mail for acceptance. As part of the application process, the candidate must also agree to abide by a written Code of Ethics and Professional Standards. Tuition cost is $2,500 upon notification of application approval. Those who successfully complete the course will have the opportunity to become NOFMAâ Certified Wood Flooring Inspectors (NOFMAâ CWFI). Applications can be requested by calling 901-526-5016. The NOFMA-CWFI program was started in the fall of 2002 when the first school was held. Since then, 47 candidates have attended a NOFMA CWFI school and eight have earned NOFMA Certified Wood Flooring Inspector Status. In addition, six candidates are well on their way to certification with 13 other candidates actively seeking certification by completing their on site inspection requirement and report review. The process of becoming a NOFMAâ Certified Wood Flooring Inspector begins with successful completion the five-day inspector’s course and passing an examination administered by the Association. Those who achieve these steps must then complete a minimum six-month probationary period before NOFMA certification will be issued. Once issued, the certification will be effective for two years, after which it must be maintained through renewal fee, continuing education, and practice in the flooring inspection field. Pre-requisites for the course include a minimum of high school education plus two years of college with at least three years experience as a floor covering inspector, wood flooring distributor, wood flooring manufacturer, wood flooring contractor or building/remodeling contractor. In addition, candidates must have received a Certificate of Completion for the NOFMA/NWFA/MFMA Hardwood Flooring Installation School offered twice yearly. The CWFI course includes sections on wood technology, NOFMA wood flooring specifications, review of installation and finishing, wood flooring complaints and their causes, inspection procedures, and report writing. It will also involve a trial inspection and review of inspection reports. Those who complete the course and pass the exam will enter into the probationary period during which they are required to conduct on-site wood flooring inspections while accompanied by a NOFMA representative. These inspection reports are submitted to the Association for review and evaluation. During the first year, additional reports, describing different problems, must be submitted to the Association for review and evaluation. Finally, after favorable reviews are achieved, the inspector will be awarded certification as a NOFMAâ Certified Wood Flooring Inspector (NOFMAâ CWFI) and the inspector’s name will be posted on the NOFMA web site. In order to maintain Certified Inspector status, the individual will be required to submit four inspection reports per year (each detailing a different problem) to NOFMA for review and evaluation. The inspector must also earn minimum continuing education unit (CEU) credits in a wood-related or inspection-related course, or participate in other related activities such as serving as a monitor/instructor at the NOFMA/NWFA/MFMA Installation School or acting as a NOFMA representative during the probation site inspection of a candidate for NOFMAâ CWFI. For more information about attending the school planned for August in Memphis, interested parties should contact NOFMA at 901-526-5016 or info@nofma.org

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