Third Party Certification Process

Step One

The logging company, be it a sole proprietorship or a contractor with employees, makes the decision to seek Master Logger Certification (MLC). The company contacts the MLC Coordinator who then sends out a complete readiness packet outlining expectations and standards. If still interested, the company schedules a 3-5 hour on-site interview during which the performance standards are detailed, the commitment to superior management practice is defined, 5 past and current harvest sites are identified, and 3 professional references are obtained. The interviewer documents the interview and it becomes Part I of the MLC application packet submitted to the Certifying Board. Part I of the MLC application includes: (1) the written interview, (2) a company profile, (3) documentation of reference checks, and (4) documentation of a background check of the company's compliance with business and natural resource laws. In order to maintain confidentiality and impartiality, candidate companies are assigned a number code, which is used as an identifier in all application materials.

Step Two

Two MLC accredited field verifiers make appointments with each company to visit 3 coded harvest sites in order to rate the consistency of harvest practices and ensure that the company meets MLC performance standards. Each field verifier completes his or her own consensus report based upon individual site worksheets. This consensus report becomes Part II of the MLC certification packet. Part II of the MLC application includes: (1) the report of accredited field verifier #1, (2) the report of accredited field verifier #2, and (3) the report of a third accredited field verifier is present if requested for further clarification.

Step Three

The company is sent a copy of Parts I and II of the MLC certification packet to review for accuracy. If the company wishes to challenge any conclusion, their comments must be submitted in writing. These comments/challenges will be included in the certification packet that goes to the Certifying Board. The company then signs a Code of Ethics and a release form that indicates a desire to move the application forward to the Certifying Board. Part III of the MLC application process includes: (1) comments/corrections submitted by the company, (2) a signed code of ethics, and (3) a signed release form permitting the submission of the application to the Certifying Board.

Step Four

Each company's certification packet is copied and sent to each member of the MLC Certifying Board.

Step Five

The Certifying Board meeting is held and each certification packet is thoroughly reviewed. If issues are unresolved on a particular goal area, an additional field verifier can be sent out to review harvest sites before a vote for acceptance is taken. All applicants must receive a unanimous vote of acceptance from the Certifying Board.

Step Six

Newly certified MLC companies are announced at a public reception or in mass distribution of an official announcement. During the two-year period that follows, the accredited field verifiers conduct random audit sampling of MLC company harvest sites to ensure continued adherence to MLC standards.

Accreditation of Field Verifiers

MLC verifiers and interviewers conduct independent assessments of MLC candidate companies, and are accredited to do so by the MLC administration. Job shadowing, support for continuous education, workshops, regular consultation, and performance evaluation comprise the toolkit for ensuring that the MLC interviewer and verifier pool understand the scope of the role within the program as well as for assessing the quality of their work. The current MLC verifier Procedures Manual, which reflects the content of MLC accreditation procedures, is copied below.

MLC Verifier Role

The role of MLC Verifiers has been carefully designed to ensure appropriate checks and balances throughout the certification process for MLC candidates. Understanding of and respect for the parameters of this role is the defining responsibility of an MLC Verifier. An MLC Verifier must commit to:

Creating an Accurate Site Audit Form

Site Audit forms are provided for efficient recording of field observations. They become an official part of each candidate's application record and reflect the real-time observations of the MLC Verifier at selected sites. They are the primary data that reports are based upon and therefore should be thorough, comprehensible, and verifiable. MLC Verifiers are responsible for continuous improvement of their field knowledge and observation skills as well as for obtaining and using any necessary tools (intellectual or material) for measuring a candidate's performance relative to MLC standards. High-quality site audits and data recording depend on advanced familiarity with the MLC standards within MLC Consensus Reports. MLC Verifiers are also responsible for developing a thorough knowledge of and facility with these standards.

Maintaining High Quality of Audit Reports

MLC Verifiers must enter information for each item on the Audit Report, which includes choosing a checkbox in each applicable case. Substantial supporting detail, drawn from Site Audit forms, should be provided as illustration and evidence of each claim made by an MLC Verifier regarding a candidate's performance relative to MLC Harvest Goals and Indicators. The Verifier's decisions about whether a candidate does or does not meet given MLC harvest goals and indicators is based on their professional expertise and becomes the advisory context for the MLC Certification Board's deliberations. Verifiers' judgments do not, however, represent certification decisions, and it is for this reason that the MLC Certification Board needs as much data and illustration as is available.

Filing Complete Consensus Reports in a Timely Manner

MLC Verifiers are charged with understanding the requirements of their fieldwork and reporting and for submitting all work before deadlines. Missed deadlines result in substantial additional financial costs for the MLC program and erode the professionalism of the program and its staff.

Being Available to the MLC Certification Board when Necessary

During periods of deliberation and decision-making, all MLC Verifiers involved in the production of applications for candidates under review should consider themselves "on call" to make any necessary clarifications for the MLC Board.

Communicating Questions and Concerns

The Coordinator is the official liaison among MLC staff, administration, Board members, companies, candidates and other interested parties. In order to maintain the intentional, Third-party approved structure of the program as well as strict confidentiality for those involved in the MLC program, all communication related to program operations, candidates, and MLC companies should be directed to the Coordinator.

Independent Auditing Role

When hired as a consultant to work on an assessment, your main objective is to conduct an independent evaluation of professional logging practices, and then produce a report of your findings for a candidate operation. Therefore, it is your analysis and judgment that impact the certification decision, determine the extent of change required, and ultimately help candidate operations move towards sustainability. Upholding professional ethics and using common sense is the basis for verifier conduct. MLC expects its verifiers to observe a set of norms to which you may not be accustomed to as consultants, mainly:

• Verifiers are not to act as consultants to the candidate operation, i.e., you are not paid to offer opinions on how to perform certain tasks, rather, to evaluate performance.

• During the field assessment process, verifiers must not tell staff of a candidate operation to implement a specific technique or action, prescribe recommended treatments on a case-by-case basis, or otherwise directly implement work necessary to meet the certification standards.

• However, verifiers are encouraged to provide suggestions or recommendations, for example, as to contact persons on forestry research, harvesting equipment options, alternative management techniques, etc.
• MLC Verifiers will be evaluated by the MLC Administration based on the preceding criteria in addition to other measures,s uch as adherence to confidentiality procedures and conduct in the field.

	2009-2010 WIMLC Guidebook The 2009-2010 WIMLC Guidebook is available to download by clicking on the photo to the right. The file is large (18.1 MB), so if you have slower speed internet, please allow ample time for the download to complete. If you have any difficulty downloading the file and/or are unable to download a file of this size, please contact us to request a hard copy at: wimlc@sbcglobal.net or 877-284-3882.
	2008-2009 Field Audit Form The 2008 field audit form is available to download by clicking on the photo to the right. The file is small and should be easily downloaded with any speed internet. This is the form used by all verifiers while conducting their field audits as well as the form used for the final reports sent to the Certifying Board.
	2008-2009 Interview Form The 2008 field interview form is available to download by clicking on the photo to the right. The file is small and should be easily downloaded with any speed internet. This is the form which your interview will be based. Depending on your particular circumstances (i.e. time restraints) this interview will either be conducted via telephone or in person with the auditors at the time of your active sale audit.
	2009 Application Form If you are interested in becoming a Wisconsin Certified Master Logger, plesae click on the photo to the right and download an application today. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the downloading of this application or the application process.