The WAFC Education Committee has voted to award a WAFC Certificate and a monetary honorarium to qualified participants on a post-completion basis:

• The WAFC Retail Management Certificate (separate from the certificate awarded by the colleges) will be specially recognized within the WAFC member food chains and is anticipated to enhance students’ opportunities for employment/advancement.
• The WAFC honorarium amount will be established by the WAFC Education Committee and is subject to available funding.
• Please note that the WAFC reserves the right to amend, revise, revoke, or discontinue any financial arrangements at any time at their sole discretion. There is no contract implied or expressed between the WAFC and any participant of this program.

Although many campuses offer some form of Retail Management Certificate, only those employees who complete the program at a campus that has been endorsed by the WAFC will be eligible for a WAFC certificate and honorarium.

Applications for the WAFC Certificate and Honorarium are distributed to employees through their HR departments as they begin the WAFC Certificate Program.

Employees of WAFC member companies may also request an application through their HR department.

Employee instructions:

1. During completion of coursework, employees should review the application with the designated contact at their community college to ensure they are taking proper coursework.
2. Upon completion of all WAFC-required courses, employees will submit the completed application to their Human Resources Department for approval and issuance of the WAFC certificate/honorarium
3. Each Human Resources Department will review the application, verifying that all courses have been completed with a passing grade of "C" or better, and that all courses meet the WAFC required course list.
4. Each Human Resources Department will arrange a WAFC Retail Management Recognition Luncheon for graduates, where their certificate (master available through WAFC Office) and honorarium will be presented.

Although many campuses offer some form of Retail Management Certificate, only those students who complete the program at a campus that has been endorsed by the WAFC will be eligible for a WAFC certificate and honorarium.

All employees of WAFC member companies (retail clerks; department/store management; entry/middle managers in administrative, manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution areas, etc.) are eligible and openly encouraged to participate in the WAFC Retail Management Certificate Program, provided they meet the admission requirements at participating colleges. Students should check with the college of their choice regarding these admission requirements.   

In order to be eligible for a WAFC certificate and honorarium, students:

• Must be employed with a WAFC member company.
  • Please note that the WAFC has agreed that students who join a WAFC member company while pursuing the Retail Management Certificate will be eligible to receive a WAFC certificate/honorarium if they join the company prior to completing the last three courses of the certificate program. In other words, students may have taken up to seven of the certificate courses prior to joining one of the member companies, and still be eligible to receive the certificate.
• Must forward a completed "Intent Form", giving notice to your company that you plan to enroll at one of the participating colleges with the intent of completing the Retail Management Certificate Program.
• Must meet the internal performance requirements of the member company, and be recommended to receive the WAFC certificate/honorarium.
• Must have successfully completed all courses required in the WAFC Retail Management Certificate at a campus that has been endorsed by the WAFC.
  • Please note that students who have previously completed some of the courses in the program should check with the participating college about transferring these units to the participating college rather than repeating the class/classes.