Before applying for evaluation you should be aware of the Expectations for Certification of the North American Banding Council, which details the level of skill and knowledge you need to be well prepared for certification.
You may apply for evaluation at the Assistant, Bander, or Trainer level. Each full level attempted carries a separate $35 testing fee; the Assistant level is broken into two tracks, with the mist-netting track incurring a $10 fee and the banding track incurring a $25 fee. These fees cover the cost of administering the evaluation, and they will not be refunded if a candidate fails to achieve their desired level.
Candidates applying at the Assistant level can choose to be evaluated on one track or on both. Candidates do not need to independently complete the Assistant level to proceed to Bander or Trainer level. The Bander level must be completed before attempting the Trainer level; with advance approval of a session organizer, both Bander and Trainer levels may be attempted at the same session.
During the evaluation session two or more certified NABC trainers who have not participated significantly in your training will evaluate you and provide you with a report card summarizing the results of the evaluation. If you pass, your certificate will be sent to you by email.
Some sessions may give candidates the option to take the written exam at the evaluation site, but we encourage candidates to complete the written exam in advance of the session. Any certified trainer, including one who trained you, may administer the closed-book written exam.
Certification does not replace the federal banding permit nor any additional permits necessary in your state or province, nor does it guarantee you will be granted such permits. Certification does indicate to the Banding Offices, and others, that you have attained a significant standard of knowledge and skill.
At the close of this form, you will be asked to upload a copy of your banding resume detailing past experiences banding passerines and extracting birds from mistnets, including approximate numbers of birds and species handled, number of seasons, places worked, etc. Please keep this document to a single page.