The horologist must learn a variety of precise skills such as parts identification, cleaning and hairspring truing--repairing the hairspring to factory standards--to such advanced skills as overhauling timepieces, repairing calendars or automatic chronographs, and working with quartz digital watches. Horology students spend much of their time wearing a 10-times magnification eye piece and using lathes, micro-drills and other small, precision instruments. A steady hand and infinite patience are paramount to success.
There are only a handful of American community colleges offering horology education. For example, Paris Junior College in Texas offers rigorous 16-month certificate program to train apprentice watchmakers. The program begins with basic horology and finishes with a series of advanced horology courses. Bishop State Community College in Alabama offers watch repair as part of its jewelry design and watch repair program that takes less than a year to complete.
There are international horology programs such as the Institute of Swiss Watchmaking, which has schools in Texas and Hong Kong and accepts only six students per year into its 2-year program. Through scholarships, watch manufacturers pay the students' tuition, fees, supplies, tools and other necessities for the course. The Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School has one of its five schools in Miami and is tuition free, although students must buy tools and pay their own room and board. The school offers a curriculum developed with the Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Education Program that covers basic watchmaking through advanced mechanical watchmaking and repair.
The School of Horology operated by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Inc., in Pennsylvania, prepares students for entry-level horology positions. Licensed by the State of Pennsylvania, the school hosts a watch repair and restoration program and a clockmaker program with beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Also in Pennsylvania is Lititz Watch Technicum, fully underwritten by Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc., that provides basic watchmaking and repair and micromechanics, which teaches students to design and handcraft parts.
The American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute offers an ongoing series of continuing education courses throughout the year. The courses last 5 days, cost $725 and cover specific topics, some more basic than others, such as the watchmaker's lathe and basic watch repair to balance staffing and timing and modern mechanical chronographs, servicing and adjusting. Horology continuing education is offered to help the horologist refresh his skills and keep abreast of new techniques and tools of his craft.