The North American Banding Council’s passerine evaluation and certification process provides an opportunity to test and recognize a bander’s competence through a combination of written, field-practical, and experiential assessments.
The NABC provides certification at three levels:
- Trainer: A certified bander of exceptional competence and experience who possesses additional skills in teaching and evaluating other banders. Only trainers may evaluate candidates for NABC certification.
- Bander: An individual who is capable of safely, ethically, efficiently and reliably running a banding station.
- Assistant: An individual who is capable of assisting a banding operation without the need for close supervision but who is not yet experienced enough to assume responsibility for a station without a supervisor onsite. Passerine assistants can be evaluated at the nets, at the banding table, or both.
Certification is not a pre-requisite to holding a banding permit. Nevertheless, certification can provide evidence to oneself and to others of a candidate’s qualifications and competence, and it serves as a signal that the candidate holds ethics and competence in high regard. In addition, participating in a certification session affords an immense opportunity for learning and growth. NABC hopes that both birds and bird studies will benefit from an increased number of safe, ethical, competent, reliable banders as a result of this program.
Certification Process
Passerine certification consists of a comprehensive written exam, followed by a series of field tests designed to evaluate the candidate’s practical skills and general knowledge. Complete details are found in the Expectations documents, but bander-level candidates can expect to be assessed on their competence at extraction and processing, on band removal, on net set-up, and on their knowledge and use of Pyle’s Identification Guide to North American Birds Part I. Trainer-level candidates can expect to be assessed on their ability to teach in both individual and group settings.
It might seem intimidating, but in some ways passerine certification is just another day at the banding station!
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The field tests often happen at a large session which brings together a number of trainers and candidates, but candidates can also arrange for an individual assessment. Candidates will be assessed by two experts on all skills, and we strive to ensure that candidates are not assessed by people principally involved in their training.
We encourage candidates to take the written exam in advance of the practical tests; contact the Passerine Chair to make arrangements.
There is a second evaluation pathway available to exceptionally experienced trainer-level candidates who wish to be certified but who cannot otherwise participate in the formal evaluation process. The Trainer Certification for Exceptional Candidates is intended to accomodate highly skilled banders with years or perhaps decades of experience, but who lack reasonable access to the regular certification process.
Passerine Certification Expectations
Certification involves demonstrating competence; as such, it should be undertaken only when the candidate has attained a certain level of skill. Banders can track their skill using the Banders’ Checklist in English or Spanish, and the Expectations documents below give detailed guidance on preparing for the certification.
Expectations for Passerine Assistant-level Evalutions (coming soon)
Expectations for Passerine Bander-level Evaluations
Expectations for Passerine Trainer-level Evaluations
Upcoming Certification Sessions
Upcoming sessions include:
- Un poco del Chocó Reserve, Gualea-Quito, Ecuador (3-5 May, 2024)
Additional sessions will be advertised here and on our facebook page as soon as they have been scheduled.
To participate in a certification session, fill out the online Application for Certification.
Hosting a Certification Session
If you would like to host a certification session at your station, fill out our online Application to Host a Certification. If you have questions about hosting a session, contact the Passerine Chair.