iFTI Instructor Training Programs
The International Finishing Trades Institute (iFTI) offers a structured, COE-accredited Instructor Training Program designed to develop high-quality instructors across the IUPAT. The program includes two progressive levels: Associate Instructor and Master Instructor.
Associate Instructor Program
The Associate Instructor Program establishes foundational teaching competencies for instructors and coordinators. Participants will complete four required courses. These include two courses in Teaching Techniques, one Health and Safety Train-the-Trainer course, and one elective Train-the-Trainer course from the iFTI Instructor Course Catalog.
Master Instructor Program
The Master Instructor Program builds on the Associate level and prepares instructors to deliver advanced skills and safety training. The program consists of ten courses, including the Associate Instructor requirements, five additional Train-the-Trainer electives, and a culminating Capstone project.
The Capstone serves as the final requirement and focuses on applied instructional design. Participants identify a training need within their local or national context and develop a comprehensive instructional module to address a defined skills or knowledge gap. The Capstone begins with an initial two-day introduction to the course and review of project requirements at the iFTI Training Center in Hanover, MD. During the next four months, participants will work independently to design and develop a unit of instruction, and attend regularly scheduled check-in with their Capstone advisors who offer feedback and guidance on their projects. Upon completion of the projects, Capstone Participants will return to Hanover, MD and present their projects to their advisors and other invited guests.