Seen at NWFA Schools: Inspector Certification
September 22-26, 2025
NWFA Headquarters
St. Louis, Missouri
This five-day in-person course is designed to prepare wood flooring professionals to earn the NWFA Certified Wood Flooring Inspector credential and build a business as an inspector. Led by Jon Namba of Namba Services Inc. and Billy Simmons of ITAC International, it covered the inspector’s role/legal responsibilities, how to identify wood flooring problems, conducting interviews, testing methods/tools, finding/using industry standards, conducting inspections, and report writing.
“The NWFA inspector school is different from other organizations due to the fact that the criteria just to become an inspector is so much more involved. You have to understand the installation process, go to classes, and along the way you have to pass all the exams,” explains Simmons. “That’s one thing that makes the NWFA’s classes the gold standard when it comes to inspecting hardwood floors.”
The prerequisites for attending the Inspector Certification course include completing the NWFA University’s Installation, Sand & Finish, and Manufacturing online courses; attending NWFA Basic Installation, Basic Sand & Finish, Intermediate Installation, and Intermediate Sand & Finish; and passing the inspector test.
“It’s one thing to sit in a classroom setting and gather the technical information, it’s a different reality when it comes to the hands-on portion because you’re touching, you’re feeling, you’re seeing everything rather than just looking at a screen,” says Namba. “Manufacturers recognize that inspectors going through the NWFA’s program typically have more in-depth knowledge and training to inspect hardwood floors. It’s important to have the association making sure the inspectors going out into the field are qualified and well prepared for inspections.”
NWFA Certified Wood Floor Inspectors are held to a higher standard through upholding the Code of Conduct, which all NWFA Certified Professionals must abide by. This is the formal agreement between the certified professional and the NWFA, ensuring they’re upholding their moral and ethical obligations as a Certified Professional.
“We take them through the hands-on portion and give them real life scenarios where they have to collect the data do the interviews, then take that information to formulate a conclusion,” says Simmons. “They also learn you can’t rely on everything everybody tells you. You rely on the facts.”
Namba notes that becoming an inspector is a good way to get into the more technical side of things with less emphasis on the daily physical aspects of the industry, such as installation. “You can have more longevity with your career by going through the certification program and becoming an inspector. There’s such a shortage of inspectors that there’s plenty of work out there for qualified inspectors.”
Jaime Zuniga with Renaissance Hardwood Floors in Glenpool, Oklahoma, adds: “Attending this class gets you more involved in the industry and the more you learn, the better your career gets.”
NWFA hands-on workshops provide the opportunity to gain cutting-edge skills, master innovative techniques, and network with industry leaders. You’ll learn from NWFA Regional Instructors and manufacturer representatives showcasing cutting-edge products and expertise. To view the schedule of events and enroll, visit NWFA.ORG/HANDS-ON-TRAINING