Keeping up with today’s metalworking industry standards, Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School has renewed the accreditation of their Machine Tool Technologies Program as of December 11, 2014. With this accreditation, Pathfinder Tech reaffirms its ongoing commitment to uphold national industry metalworking standards as set forth by NIMS, further enabling the high school program to support the needs of its students, the local community and employers within it, and to the metalworking industry at large.

The renewal review was kicked off in 2013 and culminated in an On-Site Evaluation occurring at the high school in fall 2014. The rigorous evaluation was conducted by NIMS Lead Evaluator Marty Arsenault (President, Howard Tool, Inc.) who was very impressed with the program, most notably by the positive impact that Instructors Al Putnam, Keith Gilman, and Douglas Bachand bring to students – about 10% of which were female. Pathfinder Tech’s accreditation focuses on skills from the NIMS Machining Level I National Standard, with an emphasis on manual milling skills, manual turning between centers, and manual turning chucking skills. Students may also move on to develop CNC/CAM and other advanced manufacturing systems and processes.

Review Criteria

• Advisory Committee Involvement
• Equipment, Tooling, & Measuring Devices
• Facilities
• Instructional Staff
• Program Administration
• Program Features
• Program Purpose
• Student Credentialing

Learn more about NIMS Accreditation