Pennsylvania Gunsmith School is a postsecondary institution that has been training gunsmiths since 1949. Located in Avalon, a suburb of Pittsburgh, the school conducts most of its training in laboratory or shop-type setting and offers predominantly hands-on bench work. Instructors demonstrate the required tasks, and students either repeat or complete the tasks. There are no online or distance education courses offered at this school as there is a strong belief that students should be under direct supervision when learning gunsmithing. Pennsylvania Gunsmith School offers students a Master Gunsmithing program that is a two-year academic program concentrated into 16 months. The program is completely focused on gunsmithing with no unrelated courses, and it does not specialize in one area. Topics that might be covered include gunsmith welding, soldering and brazing, simple ballistics and hand loading, proper layout and hack sawing, filing and gauging.
Yavapai Gunsmithing School is located in Prescott, Arizona, and surrounded by National Forest with plenty of hunting and outdoor activities. The school provides students with the opportunity to obtain different gunsmithing certifications. Students can study to obtain an associate of applied science in Gunsmithing. This two-year program includes general education courses such as English and a number of gunsmithing courses and small business courses. This degree will allow graduates a chance to succeed at an entry-level position in firearm or metal industries. Students might also be interested in the Gunsmithing Certificate, a two-year program that focuses on custom firearms, stocks, rifles, handguns and shotguns. Students will spend a lot of time in a machine shop learning to operate machine tools. A Gunsmithing Journeyman Certificate is also available; it is a shorter program that will allow students to become employed as gunsmiths in an established gun shop.
Located in Lakewood, Colorado, this school gives students the opportunity to specialize in one area within the gunsmithing trade, such as general repair, pistolsmithing or shotguns. Colorado School of Trades offers an associate of occupational studies in gunsmithing. In total 1,500 hours are spent in the lab or shop, while 300 hours are spent in the classroom.
Penn Foster Career School provides vocational programs online. As part of the gunsmithing certificate program, students learn how to fit and finish stocks and mount telescopic sights, restore antique firearms, design and install metallic rifle sights and custom load ammunition. There are six instruction sets included in the gunsmithing program: learning strategies and getting started in the firearms industry; identifying and evaluating firearms, gun stocks and customizing gun stocks; rifles, modern sport rifles and gun sights; shotguns and muzzleloaders; handguns, ammunition, reloading and basic ballistics; and, metalwork, finishing and starting your own business. As part of each instruction set, students are required to complete related exercises. If students require assistance, they can contact the school either by phone or email.