North Idaho College machine technology students Joseph Bear of Pinehurst and Wyatt Lassiter of Rathdrum recently earned computer-aided manufacturing certifications through Mastercam.

The Mastercam certified programmer certification is a rigorous set of practical tests that demonstrate a programmer's ability to work effectively with CAM software and produce high quality finished parts on CNC machines.

"Only 10 percent of programmers qualify for the certification and only 5 percent attain it," said NIC Machine Technology Instructor Jim Straub. "The certification is a way to prove your level of competency and skill in an increasingly demanding industry."

Information: NIC Machine Technology Instructor Jim Straub, 208-769-3438