I have been refinishing for 7 yrs. and doing restorations. Now I am wanting to start installing and wondering if you guys think the NWFA school is worth the money. I am considering the intermediate install class and wanting some feedback I've heard both sides that it's worth it and some say they got very little out of it.

If you know just enough to be dangerous, then it is excellent. I think you have to take the beginners class before you can take the intermediate class. Like in school, you can't take calculous, without first passing algebra.

Floorguy, that's the class that the NWFA suggested. They said that the beginners class only had one day of install and two days of sand and finish. Since I have a good amount of sand and finsish experience they thought the intermediate class would be the one I need. They definitly are not cheap but I think in the long run it will be worth it.

The NWFA classes are fine. You will learn some things. But do not think you will walk out of there being an installer. You will forget 50% of what is taught in the first week. It's really a "crash" course and not like learning from a trade school or a union school. My advice would be to apprentice with a good installer for awhile. There are tons of "tricks" and labor saving ways of doing things, not to mention learning the many things to avoid. If you are serious about learning to install properly, the NWFA classes are a good primer but you will need to work alongside a craftsman for awhile to truly learn how to install well. That's my opinion.

Gary I appreciate that I have someone locally that is kind of taking that Mentor lead if you will even though were competitors it's nice to know that he's willing to help if needed. Right now I'm about 75% confident I can lay a floor with no trouble at all but it's the idea of not wanting to mess up a customers floor. It goes hand in hand with my motto that I wouldn't want to give someone a floor that I wouldn't want in my own home. Do you guys know of any other good schools to attend.

Which floor? There are many, many types of wood floors, all with different installation procedures. Which nailer would you use for a 5/16" Lebanon oak plank floor? When installing a flooring with a border and apron, which is installed first? How do you properly layout to install a herringbone design? Or a parquet? What is the recommended nailing schedule for a 1/2" x 5" maple plank floor? How do you attach screeds to a concrete slab and which kind should you use? See what I'm getting at? There are many, many things to know. I apprenticed for four years with a couple of different, good installers. It was invaluable. As to other schools, I believe NOFMA still has an install school. But it now may be the same as the NWFA school. It used to be different.
http://www.nofma.org/Training/WoodFloor ... fault.aspx
Some of the manufacturers used to have schools as well. But that was before the big, corporate mergers. But check on them. Bruce, Harris-Tarkett, Hartco, Etc. Can't name them all because of this board's restrictions. Also, IF your area has a carpenters union, like they do in my area, they may have classes one can attend. Around here, the floor layers union is affiliated with the carpenter's union. Sort of a union within a union. They have apprenticeship classes.