Blacksmithing is one of the most underrated jobs in the world. It’s a dying art, thanks to technology and evolution, but there are still people who make a living from it.
Blacksmithing is not hard to learn and most people now take it as a hobby. Modern-day blacksmithing is quite different and a lot easier than old-fashioned blacksmithing.
There are currently no free online blacksmithing courses, let’s take a look at the best place to learn the craft.
Top 13 Blacksmithing schools in 2022
In no particular order, these are some of the best blacksmithing schools in 2022. Anyone who is interested in learning the craft can learn from them.
New England School of Metalwork
The New England School of Metalwork is a nonprofit school where you can learn casting, blacksmithing, bladesmithing, and welding. The school is located in Maine, United States.
To enroll, you need to pay a one-time fee of $30 and the tuition, they have a scholarship program but there will be no scholarships for 2022 applicants.
Their blacksmithing studio has all the tools you need to learn the craft with safety equipment, they have different levels which are: beginner, seasoned beginner, intermediate and advanced.
National School of Blacksmithing
The National School of Blacksmithing is part of Herefordshire and Ludlow College, one of the best blacksmithing schools in the UK. Here you can get your B.A. degree in artist blacksmithing.
They get more than 300 students annually making it one of the largest blacksmithing schools in the United Kingdom.
The course covers all the aspects of blacksmithing and metalwork. Students will also go for a 4-year blacksmithing apprenticeship under an approved blacksmith.
Anvil Academy
Anvil Academy is a nonprofit historic blacksmithing trade school where you can also learn other skills like woodworking, leatherwork, metalwork, sewing, etc.
The blacksmithing classes are held in Oregon, if you want to join them you may need to book them online as they keep the classes small.
New Agrarian School
This may be a really good school to learn the craft but it’s expensive and I won’t recommend it for those who want to become a full-time blacksmith.
Most of their workshops are 2 weeks in length and for those two weeks, you are paying $1750, while a 1-week class costs $850. In reality, a beginner can’t understand everything about the craft in just 2 weeks.
If you are rich enough to cover the tuition, material costs & accommodation fees, go for it.
Selkirk College Blacksmithing Studio
This is another expensive blacksmithing school but is located in Canada. The duration of the course is 4 months and you will learn the necessary blacksmithing and welding techniques.
The total costs for tuition, supplemental costs, student union fees, and mandatory fee at Selkirk Blacksmithing studio is $4,693. They offer scholarships to Kootenay Studio Arts students.
You must be at least 19 years old and have graduated from secondary school when applying for admission.
Students below the age requirement must submit a recommendation letter from their secondary school principal.
Fire Horse Forge
Want to learn blacksmithing or bladesmithing in Washington? Fire Horse Forge is the way to go. They have classes for beginners and experienced blacksmiths.
The founder, David, has more than 30 years of experience in this craft and he decided to share this knowledge with his students, but that doesn’t come free as you should know.
Ms. Caitlin’s School of Blacksmithing
Even if you have never worked with hot metal before, you can learn how to move metal effortlessly at Ms. Caitlin’s blacksmithing school located in Maryland.
The school is owned by Ms. Caitlin, a professional blacksmith who has been teaching others this trade for more than 10 years and helped over 200 students.
Fleming College
Searching for schools to learn blacksmithing in Canada? Fleming College should be on your checklist. They have an artist blacksmith program for students to learn how to create beautiful pieces from hot metal.
It doesn’t come cheap with the fees for 1 session pegged at $4,682.07 for domestic students and $14,399.29 for international students.
Fleming College is one of the best institutions offering flexible and unique art and design education in the country. While learning at the college, you can start building your portfolio.
Bridgetown Forge
Bridgetown Forge has extensive forging experience of over 30 years in Japan, Israel, and the United States, creating beautiful and functional objects.
They have classes for both novice and experienced smiths, teaching you basic smithing, how to select the right steel, toolmaking, metallurgy, tong-making, heat treatment, and forging Japanese-style knives.
Virginia Institute of Blacksmithing
Accredited by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Virginia Institute of Blacksmithing is the only certified Artistic Blacksmithing school in the region.
They have classes for those who take it as a hobby and for those who wish to become a full-time artistic blacksmith. The school has 16 forging stations for students with different types of equipment.
Cascadia Center For Arts & Crafts
The Cascadia Center for Arts & Crafts offers blacksmith and meta arts classes for all skill levels and you get the opportunity to learn from some of the best smiths in the Pacific Northwest.
They provide all the tools and equipment needed for blacksmithing, but you may want to take your safety gear along. They have classes for intermediate, beginner, and advanced smiths.
Clackamas Community College
You can earn a degree in blacksmithing at Clackamas Community College or further your career in the blacksmithing industry. You get to learn from certified blacksmiths in a conducive environment.
No welding experience is needed and you are going to learn the basics of blacksmithing, steel types, toolmaking, and heat treating. The college is one of the largest public community colleges in Oregon.
Pratt Fine Arts Center
Last but not least on our list is Pratt Fine Arts Center, it’s one of the cheapest blacksmithing schools you can find. They have plenty of hammers, anvils, hand tools, and natural gas forges.
Their blacksmithing classes accommodate beginners to experienced and professional blacksmiths to experiment, learn and create. PFAC has a tuition assistance program for those who can not afford to join the classes.
How to become a blacksmith
Interested in becoming a professional blacksmith? Follow the steps below.
- Get a high school diploma
- Go to a vocational or trade school to learn blacksmithing
- Go to college for blacksmithing diplomas
- Become an apprentice of a trained and experienced blacksmith
- Buy online courses to learn blacksmithing or watch YT videos
- Acquire the tools required to start blacksmithing
- Secure a workshop or rent one
- Learn how to market yourself and slowly build your portfolio
- Connect with other blacksmiths near you
- Continue to gain more knowlegde on blacksmithing
Are there colleges for blacksmithing?
Yes, there are colleges for blacksmithing. There are even institutions that add blacksmithing to their programs.
If you went through this article, you will discover that I listed some of the best blacksmithing schools in 2022 that are certified to operate by the organization in charge of accreditation.
How many years does it take to become a blacksmith?
It takes 4-8 years to become a professional blacksmith. Anything less than this and you won’t have enough experience to start your own workshop.
You can start learning the trade at a very young age of 16 and by the time you are in your early 20s, you will have known every nook and cranny of blacksmithing.
How much does it cost to go to a blacksmithing school?
Most blacksmithing schools in the United States charge around $1,900 – $10,000 for classes that would last a year or more.
However, if you want to learn the basics of blacksmithing (for beginners) in a few weeks it would cost $200 – $400.
How much money can you make as a blacksmith?
As a blacksmith, you can make an average of $40,890 per year which is less than a metal sculptor’s annual wage of $55,050.
Due to technological advancements, blacksmithing is gradually becoming less lucrative as a career. Professional and experienced blacksmiths earn more than $50k -$100k per year.
To make a lot of money as a blacksmith anywhere in the world, you just have to think outside the box and learn how to promote your works online and offline.
In this article we discussed the top blacksmithing schools around the globe, if you think we missed something, use the comment section below or contact us.