Certified Gunsmithing

How is a gunsmith "certified"? Are you? Is this worth worrying about? Here’s a rundown on certification and its impact on gunsmithing. We’ll start by going over how this works generically. Certification is an evaluation of a process, system, product, event, or skill, typically measured against some existing norm or standard by a third party.

Industry and/or trade associations will often create certification programs to test and evaluate the skills of those performing services within the interest area of that association. Testing laboratories may also certify that certain products meet pre-established standards, or governmental agencies may certify that a company is meeting existing regulations. Certification is a voluntary process in which an individual demonstrates proficiency or competence on standardized criteria that relate to a specific field.

To become certified, an individual must often meet eligibility requirements and pass an assessment. Certificants may have ongoing requirements, such as continuing education or retesting, to maintain the certification. Certification has traditionally arisen when a group of professionals determines the need to publicly set standards for afield.

ASTM International, formerly known as American Society for Testing and Materials, is an international standards organization that develops and publishes for over 12,000 voluntary consensus standards globally. These are created by individual committees which are formed as needed, upon request of interested members. Membership in most committees is voluntary and is initiated by request, not by appointment.

ASTM International has no role in requiring or enforcing compliance with its standards, however, these standards may become mandatory if referenced by a contract, corporation, or government. Certification is also commonly associated with the International Organization for Standardization, an independent, non-governmental standards organization which develops voluntary standardization. Registration is mostly the same thing as certification.

If a company implements a standard (e.g., Machine tools safety according to ISO 16090), has successfully completed a certification audit, and the certification body has issued a certificate, this formal acknowledgment is commonly called registration in North America even though other countries may call it certification.

To be clear, certification is when a certification body issues a certificate proving that a company is compliant with a standard while registration is when this certificate is registered with the certification body. This comes down to the same thing—a company received a certificate that is formally recognized. ISO recommends referring to this as certification. Similarly, a certification body is the basically the same thing as a registrar.

ISO recommends using the term "certification body." In order for certification bodies to able to perform the certification audits and issue certificates, they need to get a license or some other formal acknowledgment of their That is the good and bad news. ability to maintain an established standard. Certification is sometimes used synonymously with accreditation despite having different meanings.

Accreditation is a specific organization’s process of certification, a voluntary process in which an organization’s or institution’s operations are evaluated according to established qualifications or standards. Accreditation is generally considered to be a higher level of recognition and it is common for certification bodies to hold some kind of accreditation to confirm their ability to assess certifications.

Accreditation is the formal declaration by a neutral third party that the certification program is administered in away that meets the relevant norms or standards of a certification program. Generally, certification is given to individuals while accreditation applies to organizations. There is usually only one accreditation body for each country, such as ANSI (American National

Standards Institute) National Accreditation Board or UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service), however, there may be a number of certification bodies operating in each country. Accreditation organizations also need to be compliant with a standard, such as ISO 17011 (Conformity assessment) which outlines the requirements and process for accreditation. For organizations, ISO publishes about 20,000 standards recognized in every country, including management standards.

For individuals, in order to implement a standard or to audit a company, someone needs to be trained to do it and have that confirmed as being compliant with a published standard. Training programs for ISO standards have been developed and there are also certifications and accreditations related to this. If an institution wants to provide training certificates, it should be accredited by an accreditation body.

In most cases, accredited training institutions are not delivering the courses directly to students, rather, they have a network of training providers delivering course work.

This relationship between accredited institutions and training providers works by the training providers using courses developed by an accredited institution and the accredited institution issuing certificates directly to students, or the training organization developing their own course and an accredited institution certifying the course and the training organization issuing certificates to passing students.

Certified Gunsmithing There is no official national or international certification or accreditation process for gunsmithing. I went over how this works so if someone insists upon a "gunsmith certification" you’ll understand enough to realize this isn’t one single, fully formalized thing. If someone continues to insist, ask for the ISO or ANSI or similar standard they’re referring to and the accreditation body that certifies compliance with it. Hint, it doesn’t exist.

It’s worth pointing out that there are certifications in use in the gun world, particularly for manufacturers. For example, Forster Products, the precision reloading and gunsmithing tools manufacturer, was certified compliant with ISO 9001:2015 by adhering to these Quality Management System Standards after seeking to be accredited by an independent auditor. The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute is an accredited standards developer that publishes several American National Standards via ANSI.

You’re likely already familiar with Z299.4-2015, Voluntary Industry Performance Standards for Pressure and Velocity of Centerfire Rifle Ammunition for the Use of Commercial Manufacturers. This is the formal, ANSI-recognized specification on ammunition that SAAMI is most known for. Notable for gunsmiths is Z299.5- 2016, Voluntary Industry Performance Standards Criteria for Evaluation of New Firearms Designs Under Conditions of Abusive Mishandling for the Use of Commercial Manufacturers.

As a response to negligent firearms handling being used as the basis to sue firearms manufacturers, SAAMI created this standard to provide design advice as legal protection from liability lawsuits. While intended for manufacturers, gunsmiths should study it as any repairs or modifications could pos- For example, Forster Products was certified compliant with ISO 9001:2015. sibly be subject to the same kind of lawsuit and understanding and keeping your work in compliance with Z299.5-2016 will help.

Of special importance, the explanations of Drop Testing, Exposed Hammer Testing, Jar-Off Testing, and Rotation Testing provide an ANSI-recognized industry standard for determining the appropriate safety of your workmanship. This complete report is available for free download from SAAMI.org (Bit.ly/33d EG4v) or by searching "SAAMI Abusive- Mishandling-Approved". Despite having no formal certification or accreditation for gunsmithing recognized nationally or internationally, there are still standards for learning.

Gunsmithing is In addition to Z299.4-2015 (the SAAMI-created, ANSI-recognized specification on ammunition) Z299.5-2016 covers proper safety checks on firearms you should be using in your shop.

the art of repairing and providing maintenance care to guns, in the same way any tradesman works by diagnosing, fixing, and/or improving items for customers. Repairing, modifying, and building parts and entire guns using a wide variety of hand and power tools on what could arguably be more models and types than other trades is an involved learning process.

Because many gunsmiths are either self-employed or are hired to work for small businesses, they also need skills in management, business operations, and basic finance. However, there isn’t any single standard, certification, or accreditation for this. Those interested in pursuing a career in gunsmithing will find that either a certificate program or degree program may provide them with the education and training needed to achieve their goals.

These programs are usually offered through trade schools, community colleges, or universities and may take one to two years to complete. These are not certifications as defined above, rather, each school provides a certificate or degree demonstrating a student passed their particular curriculum. Some certificate programs are offered through continuing education programs at specific institutions that also offer a more in depth Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree.

Gunsmith education options range in terms of the material covered and the time necessary for completion. Some schools offer individual gunsmith courses, such as the NRA Short Term Gunsmithing Courses or a college curriculum that is 12 to 18 credits in length. These typically hone in on more specific gunsmithing skills and can be completed in a short amount of time. They’re great for those wanting to learn a specific skill or are auditing the possibility of eventually pursuing a degree.

There are also courses that offer a more comprehensive education and take longer to complete. These types of programs will include classes in metal finishing, woodworking, and welding. For students looking for a stronger foundation in gunsmith principles and skills, a formal Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree program may be an appropriate route.

This will include a full range of gunsmithing topics, a series of projects from tool building to a variety of firearms, and use of a full range of equipment from hand tools, power tools, and computer aided design. A degree-granting curriculum will include topics including some general education courses with heavy focus on an in-depth study of the gunsmithing trade.

Courses that students will take in one of these programs may include a thorough history of firearms, stock making, ballistics, machine work, finishing, business management, accounting, and manufacturing. Such a Master Gunsmithing Program will take several years to complete and fully prepare graduating students for positions in the field. Admission for any of the above programs will be dependent on the institution.

In many cases, students must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and pass a background check in order to be admitted. Tuition for gunsmithing programs vary by the institution and the type of program, costing anywhere from a few hundred to several tens of thousands of dollars. Priced per credit hour, courses may range from $50 to $80.

A degree program will typically cost more than a single course, but students will graduate with a full degree instead of a course certificate of completion, In addition to standard tuition, many gunsmithing programs require that students purchase their own supplies. This is a cost that students looking to pursue gunsmithing degrees should consider. Of course, any aspiring and practicing gunsmith is already budgeting for tools. Financial aid is available for many these programs.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determines eligibility for federal assistance. Gunsmithspecific scholarship funds are awarded through associations such as the American Custom Gunmakers Guild, American Pistolsmiths Guild, and the National Rifle Association. Many schools and courses recognize GI Bill benefits.

The application process for each of these will be individual to the school and may include submitting samples of one’s work, a personal statement, letters of reference, and an academic transcript. Bill’s Take Jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker once said, "Master your instrument, master the music. Then, forget all that crap and just play." Something similar applies here. First, an aspiring gunsmith needs to be trained.

While there is no formal certification programs for gunsmiths, take advantage of at least one of the numerous training outlets. Gunsmithing is a trade just as any other even if the government doesn’t demand or require payment for a license. Any craftsman must develop ability and knowledge by working on their craft. While I’m in favor of in-person education, a correspondence course is cheaper and is a less expensive way to determine if you’re really serious.

Gunsmithing courses offered via community or technical colleges can then be pursued to further set a path. Often, these courses are offered as part of a certificate program and they tend to cover use of machine shop tools, firearm safety, ways to identify problems, and firearm repair techniques. The next step is to earn licensing. While there isn’t a specific government-recognized gunsmith license, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives requires anyone trading or