The International School of Gemology offers two programs: one for casual study and one for professionals. The casual program includes printed materials and DVD lectures in four courses teaching identification and grading of basic gems and diamonds. Successful completion of the program leads to Registered Gemologist certification. The professional program moves beyond these basics and includes four additional courses on pearls, watches and evaluation of damage and value, leading to a Registered Gemologist Appraiser diploma.
The Gemological Institute of America offers more levels of learning about jewelry. The Graduate Gemologist is "the industry's highest professional credential." Students learn identification and grading of colored gems and diamonds, history of jewels and how to appraise jewelry. Other programs focus on design, creation and sales of jewelry. GIA offers courses both on campus and through distance learning. Domestic campuses are located in Carlsbad, California, and New York, and the GIA has over a dozen more campuses worldwide.
The Jewelry Arts & Design College in Los Angeles, California, also offers several different programs in gemology. The Graduate Gemologist program covers evaluation and identification of gems in a 20-week series of courses. The Graduate Jeweler diploma teaches cutting, placing and repairing jewelry over 20 weeks. The Jewelry Design certification, casting and metalwork programs each take only 10 weeks and teach how to design and create jewelry for aesthetics, comfort and ease of use.
Santiago Community College in Orange, California, claims to be the only community college with a gemology certificate and degree program. Coursework covers identification, grading and evaluation of gems and diamonds; antique jewelry; appraising; and working with pearls. Students can take these courses one semester and receive a certificate of completion or make the semester part of a full associate degree that takes two years. The associate degree also requires general education courses such as composition, social studies, math and laboratory science.