We are pleased to announce the official accreditation of Machine Tool Technology Program at Western Area Career & Technology Center (WACTC) in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania!  Officially accredited as of July 11, 2013, the staff and faculty at WACTC have met NIMS standards and will continue to set the bar for exceptional metalworking training for secondary education in the state of Pennsylvania.

To complete the accreditation requirements, an On-Site Evaluation took place at the tech center on February 7-8, 2013, which was conducted by NIMS Evaluation Team Leader Gary Deeter.  Assisting Babb was Steve Livergood, an instructor at Greater Johnstown Career & Technology Center in Johnstown, PA - another NIMS-accredited training program.

A facility inspection was conducted at the school's metalworking shop, as well as a host of in-depth interviews with students, instructors, administrators, program advisory committee members, and local employers.  Following these events, the evaluators gathered enough evidence to recommend accreditation, giving the program very high ratings in the evaluation areas of Purpose, Equipment/Tooling/Measuring Devices, Program Features, Administration, and Instructional Staff.

This accreditation is in Level I Machining Skills, with an emphasis on:

• Measurement, Materials & Safety
• Job Planning, Benchwork, & Layout
• Milling I
• Turning Operations: Turning Between Centers
• CNC Milling Operations
• CNC Milling Programming, Setup & Operations
• CNC Turning Operations
• CNC Turning Programming, Setup & Operations
• CNC Milling: Programming & Setup

Congratulations to everyone involved in this process, especially instructor Al Kammenzind for working actively to secure this accreditation!   Special thanks to the Evaluation Team members Gary Deeter and Steve Livergood without which this would not be possible!

Looking for more information on NIMS Accreditation?  Click the Accreditation tab at the top of this page or click here.