For the first time the Institute of Wood Science (IWSc) courses are available in Ireland.
The first 46 candidates signed up for the IWSc Foundation Course last month and are expected to take their examinations in April or May.
The Irish Timber Trade Association (ITTA) is acting as the administrative and registration centre for those taking the course in the Republic. The IWSc has retained all other functions including the setting and marking of the examination.
ITTA chairman Ronny Guilford says certain sections of the course have been adjusted for use in Ireland. An appendix includes commonly used timber sizes and strength grade marks and standards and the differences are reflected in the exam questions for Irish candidates.
When the course was launched in January there was a workshop session to give candidates an idea of what would be required when faced with the real thing.
Mr Guilford: ‘It was also to point out that, in many of the tasks, the answers are not black and white but depend on the experience of the individual and the trading style of the company.’
