Training

Training Overview

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NCWM has created a Professional Certification Program whereby weights and measures professionals from industry and government may take exams in various specialized areas of commercial measurement from scales, to meters, to commodity regulations.  In order to have this program accredited, NCWM is not able to additionally provide training.  However, we facilitate valuable training through various resources including those found below.

Please browse these pages to learn how you can find highly skilled and competent trainers and how we can assist you with funding to offset some of the costs associated with training.  There also may be openings in currently scheduled training events hosted by NIST, Office of Weights and Measures.

We encourage supervisors and training officers to become familiar with the Model Field Training Program Manual (Tab 3 below). It is designed to ensure new inspectors are getting the training they need and they are grasping the essential elements of that training.  This manual is the product of a small work group and exemplifies the volunteerism that makes our organization successful.  

We also encourge use of Field Training Manuals (Tab 4 below).  Each manual is specific to a type of commercial device and helps the inspector understand how the NIST Handbooks are organized and how to interpret and apply the various sections. 


  • Training Events
  • Trainers
  • Model Field Training Program
  • Field Training Manuals

Click for NIST Training Classes. Classes may be added, cancelled, or rescheduled based on requests and registrations.  Please select the corresponding link below for registration and full details.

 

 

The trainers listed have been identified as being available to teach in each subject area.  If you need more assistance in selecting a trainer, please contact NIST, Office of Weights and Measures.

For training provided by NIST, see the training events calendar.  Only NIST-sponsored training events will award NIST-accredited Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Advanced Package Checking:

Katherine DeContreras (CA)

 

Steve Galvan (MI)

 

Tim Rogers (MO)

Audit Trails:

Josh Nelson (OR)

 

Douglas Rudy (PA)

Axle Load Scale:

Steve Cook (CA)

 

Greg Gholston (MS)

Basic Package Checking:

Katherine DeContreras (CA)

 

Steve Cook (CA)

 

Richard Cohen (MA)

 

Steve Galvan (MI)

 

Ryanne Hartman (MI)

 

Tim Rogers (MO)

 

Ethan Bogren (NY)

 

Douglas Rudy (PA)

LPG:

Scott Simmons (CO)

 

Josh Nelson (OR)

 

Michael McGoff (PA)

Medium Scale:

Michael McGoff (PA)

 

Douglas Rudy (PA)

Livestock Scale:

Steve Cook (CA)

 

Richard Cohen (MA)

 

Greg Gholston (MS)

 

Tim Rogers (MO)

 

Michael McGoff (PA)

 

Douglas Rudy (PA)

Packaging and Labeling:

Katherine DeContreras (CA)

 

Steve Galvan (MI)

 

Ryanne Hartman (MI)

 

Tim Rogers (MO)

Price Verification:

Ken Ford (AZ)

 

Katherine DeContreras (CA)

 

Richard Cohen (MA)

 

Ryanne Hartman (MI)

 

Tim Rogers (MO)

 

Jay Flint (NJ)

 

Michael McGoff (PA)

 

Douglas Rudy (PA)

 

John Megow (WA)

Precious Metal Buyer Inspector:

Jay Flint (NJ)

RMFD:

Ken Ford (AZ)

 

Scott Simmons (CO)

 

Richard Cohen (MA)

 

Tim Rogers (MO)

 

Jay Flint (NJ)

 

Josh Nelson (OR)

 

Michael McGoff (PA)

 

Douglas Rudy (PA)

 

John Megow (WA)

Small Scale:

Ken Ford (AZ)

 

Steve Cook (CA)

 

Richard Cohen (MA)

 

Ryanne Hartman (MI)

 

Tim Rogers (MO)

 

Josh Nelson (OR)

 

Michael McGoff (PA)

 

Douglas Rudy (PA)

 

John Megow (WA)

Timing Devices:

Michael McGoff

 

Douglas Rudy (PA)

Vehicle Scale:

Steve Cook (CA)

 

Richard Cohen (MA)

 

Greg Gholston (MS)

 

Tim Rogers (MO)

 

Michael McGoff (PA)

 

John Megow (WA)

Weights and Measures Safety:

Jay Flint (NJ)

Developed by an NCWM Task Group, and finalized in 2014, this manual was made available to the general public to assist weights and measures administrators and training officers in verifying and documenting progress toward successfully training new inspectors.

Model Field Training Program Manual

Potential benefits of this project:

  • Ensures consistent training under the guidance of a senior inspector.
  • Enhances the professionalism of your staff.
  • Provides solid documentation that training has in fact been provided and the result of the training.
  • Provides solid documentation of any deficiencies of the trainee in the event of a negative hire.
  • Protection of your department from lawsuits based on lack of proper training and vicarious liability issues.
  • Provides lateral opportunities for those selected to act as Field Training Inspectors and prepares them for supervisor positions.
  • Ensures that the public we serve has the most competent, well-trained government regulators in the marketplace.

This program requires the state or jurisdiction to identify Field Training Inspectors (FTIs) to work with the new hire in the field and use this manual to ensure the new inspector is competent in all of the required basic skills needed to perform the function of an entry level weights and measures official.  This manual is designed as a shell, with examples of universal competencies identified by subject matter experts.  It is set up in a format that allows the FTI to verify and sign off as the competency is achieved and demonstrated by the trainee.  The trainee is graded on a competency based evaluation scale (CBES).

After each manual “phase” is completed, an overall evaluation form filled out by the FTI which covers the strengths and weaknesses identified during the training period.  Both FTI and trainee sign off and acknowledge the overview.  Ideally, the training takes 6-9 months depending on the skill level of the trainee, but within the probation period so employers can make informed decisions as to the retention of the trainee.

While a written test is a good way to evaluate memorization of facts, only through actual fieldwork can a FTI be sure a candidate can actually do the job properly with little or no supervision.

NCWM is in the process of developing our Field Training Manuals that consolidate information from the various NIST handbooks, EPOs, etc. into spearate publications specific to types of inspections.  These publications will give the new inspector everything they need in a tutorial format.

Field Training Manuals