[EricH]

If your hometown has a community college that offers machine shop classes, start by seeing if your older students can take introductory classes. A good basic class of that sort will be invaluable. If not, find your local machine shop/hobby machinist to come in and teach your students for a while.

I think there is some form of national test. However, it's aimed more at certifying machinists than at training high school students/would-be engineers. Your community college would probably know more about that.