What It Takes to Become a Baldrige Examiner
Author: Josh Gray | Executive Team Leader, Amada Senior Care Oklahoma
Expertise Rooted in Excellence
The Baldrige Examiner role isn’t just a volunteer opportunity—it’s a transformational experience. Examiners are at the forefront of evaluating high-performing organizations and helping them grow stronger through structured feedback and insight. But what does it really take to serve in this elite role?
To become a Baldrige Examiner, you need more than just experience—you need a deep understanding of how organizations function, grow, and succeed. Examiners typically come from backgrounds in healthcare, manufacturing, education, government, and nonprofit sectors, bringing insights in leadership, strategy, operations, customer focus, and measurement.
But beyond technical knowledge, successful examiners bring curiosity, humility, and a willingness to learn. They aren’t afraid to challenge assumptions, ask tough questions, and engage deeply with organizational systems.
If you thrive on continuous learning and believe in the power of excellence to drive transformation, this role might be for you.
"They aren't afraid to challenge assumptions, ask tough questions, and egnage deeply with organizational systems."
Commitment That Builds Capability
Baldrige Examiner training is no small endeavor—but it’s worth every hour. After being selected, you’ll engage in intensive virtual training designed to help you master the Baldrige Excellence Framework. This training teaches you how to evaluate performance holistically and write actionable feedback that organizations can use to improve.
You’ll spend roughly 20–25 hours on training, followed by a significant real-world assignment: evaluating an organization’s application. This includes reviewing documentation, working in a team, and potentially participating in a site visit. In total, expect to commit around 150–200 hours.
That sounds like a lot—because it is. But the growth you experience will last far beyond a single cycle.
Benefits That Extend Beyond You
Why do examiners come back year after year? Because the benefits ripple far beyond the immediate work. You’ll sharpen your critical thinking, learn from top-performing organizations, and build relationships with a national network of leaders dedicated to performance excellence.
Examiners often bring back tools and insights that directly improve their own organizations. For some, serving as an examiner has been a career-altering experience, opening doors to leadership roles and shaping their professional purpose.
You’ll gain far more than you give. That’s the magic of the Baldrige process.
How to Get Started
The application for the 2025 Baldrige Examiner Board is open until January 7, 2025. The process involves submitting your professional experience and demonstrating your alignment with the Baldrige core values. Once accepted, you’ll be supported every step of the way—from training to team collaboration.
READY TO STEP INTO SOMETHING BIGGER?
If you’re driven to grow, lead, and make a measurable difference in your community and profession, becoming a Baldrige Examiner could be the next step.