Training & Education

Historic trades training and education comes in a variety of formats from various providers. Different types of courses and programs will fit into your career journey differently, whether you want to make a career change or are looking to upskill your current profession.

Education and Training Providers

This is a working list of historic trade schools and trainers. Professional networks are not included in this list. A list of professional networks that offer classes and workshops can be found here.

Savannah Technical College

(912) 443-5700 | Website

Accredited AAS Degree, Diploma, and Certificates | Public Interest Engagement Classes
See current class offerings here.

American College of Building Arts

843-577-5245 | Website

Accredited Bachelor Degrees | Public Interest Engagement Classes
See current class offerings here.

Cape Fear Community College

(910) 362-7000| Cape Fear Community College Website | Historic Wilmington Foundation Website

Professional Certificate for existing contractors, offered in by CFCC and endorsed by Historic Wilmington Foundation
Find available courses here

Bucks Community College

(215) 968-8270 | Website

Accredited Certificate in Historic Preservation
See current course offerings here

Belmont Community College

740.699.3939 | Website

Accredited AAS Degree in Building Preservation and Restoration
See current course offerings here

North Bennet Street School

617.227.0155 | Website | info@nbss.edu

Accredited AAS Degree in Preservation Carpentry | Interest Engagement Classes for the Public

Heartwood School

833-TMBRFRM (833-862-7376) | Website | request@heartwoodschool.com

Workshops and Classes required for the Timber Framing Apprenticeship 
See current class offerings here

Yestermorrow - Vermont Campus

802-496-5545 | Website | info@yestermorrow.org

Articulating classes and workshops
See current course offerings here

Hudson Valley Community College

(518) 629-4111 | Website | workforce@hvcc.edu

Non-credit bearing Continuing Education classes through the Office of Workforce Development’s Building Technologies, Engineering & Construction
Find current course offerings here

Yestermorrow - Utah Campus

802-496-5545 | Website | info@yestermorrow.org

Articulating classes and workshops
See current course offerings here

Western Center for Historic Preservation

(307) 739-3571 | Website | BEST_Preservation@nps.gov

Classes and Workshops designed for professionals, offered at different locations in the country
See current course offerings here

HistoriCorps

(720) 287-0100  | Website | info@historicorps.org

Interest Engagement Classes for the public | Practicums and Internships for career seekers | Projects available across the country
See current opportunities here

Craftwork Training Center

(215) 536-1776 | Website | Contact Form
Provides Interest Engagement classes to the general public
See current course offerings here

Belvedere School

217.474.6052 | Website | yapperman@msn.com

Interest Engagement courses and workshops based in a historic house.

Living Heritage Trades Academy

210-207-0035 | Website | info@sapreservation.com

Workforce Development courses in historic trades, offered by the City of San Antonio’s Office of Historic Preservaiton and the Power of Preservation Foundation.
See current offerings here

 

Stephen T. Mather High School

212-399-3520 | Website | info@MatherHSNYC.org

New York City Public High School offering Preservation Education in partnership with the National Park Service. Students receive a High School Diploma.

Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation

617.223.5111 | Website | Contacts

National Park Service branch that offerings Interest Engagement classes, Practicums, and Continuing Education in Landscape Preservaiton.

Massachusetts Historic Preservation Corps

703.952.1679 | Website | jpeppers@thesca.org

Internships offered by the Student Conservation Association for young adults. 

Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps

218.262.9428 | Website | admin@northernbedrockcorps.org

Organization offering practicums and internships to young adults.

Bridge to Crafts Careers

646-424-9594 | Website | Newsletter Signup

Practicums for young adults offered by the World Monument Foudation in partnership with the Bricklayer and Allied Craftworkers Union. Multiple sites across the coutry.

HOPE Crew

202-588-6000 | Website | mbaker@savingplaces.org

Hands-On Preservation Experience offers Interest Engagement projects to existing youth corps and their members. 

International Masonry Institute

(301)-291-2105 | Website | sholland@imtef.org

Historic Masonry Preservation Certificate offered to members of the Bricklayer and Allied Craftworkers Union.

Historic Preservation Training Center

(301) 663-8206 | Website | Contacts

National Park Service Unit offering Practicums and Internships in the historic trades.

Clatsop Community College

503.338.2301 | Website | rprochaska@clatsopcc.edu

Offering an accredited Associate Degree and Certificate. 
See current course offerings here.

El Centro de Conservación y Restauración de Puerto Rico (CENCOR)

Contact Form | Website | info@cencorpr.org

Workshops, classes, practicums and internships
English: The Center for Conservation and Restoration of Puerto Rico

Pullman Tech Workshop

708-645-6277 | Website | info@pullmantechworkshop.org

Pre-apprenticeships and Practicums in construction and historic trades.

Colonial Williamsburg

(888) 965-7254 | Website | Contact Form

Offering career exploration and apprenticeship-style employment and learning. See current opportunities here.

Willowbank

(905) 262 – 1239 ext. 200 | Website | willowbank@willowbank.ca

3-year Diploma Program, available to Canadian citizens and international students

Providence Preservation Society

401-831-7440 | Website | info@ppsri.org

PPRSI offers different programs designed to help homeowners care for their buildings, introduce new people to the preservation trades, and upskill industry veterans with preservation skills.

Rehabbers Resources | programs, community-building, and basic skills training for residents living in and working on old buildings

Window & Workforce Training Program | a paid, hands-on job training program in historic window restoration

Introduction to the Preservation Trades | two months of paid immersion and training with an employer in the preservation trades

See current offerings here.

Newport Restoration Foundation

401-556-7165 | Website | visit@newportrestoration.org

Preservation Trades Specialist Training Program
Through the organization’s Historic Trades Initiative, local contractors can nominate members of their workforce for the 12-week program. Upon completion, the participants will receive a Preservation Trades Specialist Certification from NRF.

See current offerings here.

IRYS School for Technology and Trades

401-556-7165 | Website | bkenyon@iyrs.edu
51 Touro St, Newport, RI 02840, USA

Two-year accredited program in the craft and fundamentals of woodworking while restoring, building, and finishing classic wooden boats. Public workshops in trades.

See current offerings here.

Algonquin College - Perth

613 267 2859| Website | hahnc@algonquincollege.com

Offers Continuing Education Classes and Workshops, Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree in Building Conservation.

The Pellettieri Stone Carvers' Academy

(646) 229-6418 | Website | pellettieri@verizon.net

Interest Engagement courses, workshops and classes, internship and apprenticeships.

Revolution Workshop

info@RevolutionWorkshop.org | Website | 708-529-6288

Offers pre-apprenticeship training with a focus on preservation, as well as public workshops.

Cathedral Stone Masonry Restoration Training

Cathedral Stone Products, Inc. provides hands-on masonry workshops. See more about their masonry training program here.

Penland School of Craft

Penland offers intensive workshops of varying lengths, taught by visiting instructors in our well-equipped studios. Class topics include traditional blacksmithing, forging and forming steel and iron, metal sculpture, working with found metal, finishing techniques, and more. Workshops are open to serious students of all levels unless specified in course description; beginners welcome.

Website: Penland School of Craft

Workshops: Registration – Penland School of Craft

Touchstone Center for Crafts

Touchstone Center for Crafts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance excellence in the arts and crafts by educating and encouraging individuals to develop technical skills, good design, and innovative expression.

Website: Craft School | Farmington, PA | Touchstone Center for Crafts (touchstonecrafts.org)

Workshops: https://www.touchstonecrafts.org/workshops

Peters Valley School of Craft

Peters Valley School of Craft provides studio-based educational workshops for life-long learners who have the opportunity to benefit from working with nationally and internationally-recognized artists. Specific to historic trades, they offer woodworking and blacksmithing workshops.

Website: https://petersvalley.org/

Workshops: https://petersvalley.org/learn-with-us/all-workshops/

Ozark School of Blacksmithing

The Ozark School of Blacksmithing offers classes such as: beginners blacksmithing, learn to forge, welding instruction, bladesmithing, carpentry, and more.

Website: https://www.ozarkblacksmithing.com/

Classes: https://www.ozarkblacksmithing.com/classes

New England School of Metalwork

The New England School of Metalwork is a full 501 C3 non-profit educational facility devoted to the promotion and strengthening of metalworking skills. Started in 2000 and located in Auburn, Maine, the concept of the school was developed by Maine Oxy, a local welding distributor and Dereck Glaser, a local artisan Metalsmith. After several years of individuals inquiring about welding skills and ornamental metalwork instruction the decision was made to build the school. We set to the task of designing and planning a dual purpose facility for Metalsmithing and Welding.

Website: https://newenglandschoolofmetalwork.com/

 

John C. Campbell Folk School

Experience our unique atmosphere of learning and growing together.
Located in Brasstown, NC, the Folk School offers year-round weeklong and weekend classes for adults in craft, art, music, dance, and more. Blacksmithing, woodworking, and stained glass classes are offered here.

Website: https://www.folkschool.org/

Class: https://www.folkschool.org/find-a-class/

Rethos

Hands-on workshops and classes connect you to the tools, skills, and experiences you need to take good care of the historic places you love.

Tillers International

Classes on woodworking, blacksmithing, coopering (barrel making), tinsmithing, timber framing, toolmaking, and other traditional skills.

Website: Tillers International

Ms. Caitlin's School of Blacksmithing

Ms. Caitlin’s School of Blacksmithing strives to support and promote the craft of blacksmithing, custom-made metalwork, and the blacksmithing community through classes and workshops.

Website: Ms. Caitlin’s School of Blacksmithing

Expressive Metals School of Blacksmithing

Offerings: Blacksmithing classes and demonstrations in Berkeley Springs, WV.

Website: Expressive Metals School of Blacksmithing

Desert Metal Craft

About:

Desert Metal Craft is the only school in the Southwest dedicated to teaching the ancient art of blacksmithing together with the modern science behind the craft of metalworking.

Courses are designed for all age and skill levels, and taught by a team of experienced blacksmiths, metal workers, artists and metallurgists drawn from the Tucson community. Guest instructors are brought in from across the United States and from around the world. The level of expertise and craft mastery available to students is unparalleled.

Website: Desert Metal Craft

New Agrarian School

About: Workshops for Blacksmithing and metalworking in Montana

Website: New Agrarian School | Blacksmithing Bigfork, Montana

She-Weld Blacksmithing

About: We offer various workshops and courses to introduce and develop blacksmith skills and artistry. 

Website: Metal Art Work And Custom Metal Work

North House Folk School

About: Our mission is to enrich lives and build community by teaching traditional northern crafts in a student-centered learning environment that inspires the hands, the heart, and the mind. 

Trades Skills: Blacksmithing and Toolmaking, Timber Framing, Woodworking

Website: North House Folk School

W.F. Moran Bladesmith and Artisan Academy

About: Established on October 16, 2022, the W.F. Moran Bladesmith & Artisan Academy is a state-of-the-art facility designed to provide instruction in all aspects of bladesmithing, forging, and much more. Located in Middletown, MD, and just yards from Bill Moran’s forge, the facility incorporates a large forging hall, classroom, and amenities.

Website: W.F. Moran Bladesmith & Artisan Academy

Arbutus Folk School

About: We are a 501(c)3 non-profit based in Olympia, Washington, offering year-round classes, workshops, resources, events, and artist residencies with a focus on ceramics, music, woodworking, blacksmithing, fiber arts, glass arts, and folk & traditional arts.

Website: Arbutus Folk School – Pacific Northwest Folk Craft School

ShopSpace

About: ShopSpace, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is the brainchild of people who love crafts, especially metal, and woodwork, and want to share that passion with others. Empowering individuals to envision and create is the foundation of our approach. We strive to provide a safe, supportive, creative, and accessible environment to our community.

ShopSpace programming started with a focus on metalworking and will evolve based on the needs and wants of the community we serve. We are focused on creating a dynamic, self-supporting organization with ever-changing opportunities for the community to build, create, learn, and play. Future programming may include expanded capacity for woodworking, textiles, and other crafts that utilize costly infrastructure, machinery, and tools.

Website: https://www.shopspace.org/

Iron Rhino Forge Blacksmithing School

About: Iron Rhino Forge is conveniently located in Tempe, Arizona. We specialize in traditional blacksmithing and teach students of all ages, including special needs.

Website: https://www.arizonablacksmith.wtf/

Virginia Institute of Blacksmithing

About: The Virginia Institute of Blacksmithing is the only Artistic Blacksmithing school certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia. VIB offers classes for hobby blacksmiths as well as a Certificate of Artistic Blacksmithing for those who wish to pursue a career as an artistic blacksmith.

Website: https://vablacksmithing.org/

Historic Eastfield Village

A campus of historic structures that hosts workshops in early American trades and historic preservation. 

Website: Historic Eastfield

Chicago Women in Trades

Mission: Chicago Women in Trades is driven by our mission to ensure that all women who want to work with their hands and earn a good living have equal access to information, training, and employment opportunities in the industry.

Training Programs: Women in Welding, Technical Opportunities Program, Women Build Illinois, Apprenticeships, and Pre-apprenticeships.

Website: https://cwit.org/

 

Women in Skilled Trades

Apprenticeship Readiness Program in Skilled Trades.

Website: https://www.wistmichigan.org/

Wild Abundance School

Wild Abundance is a permaculture and carpentry school nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina, just outside Asheville. They host online and in-person classes on carpentry.

Website: https://www.wildabundance.net/

Program Types

Interest Engagement

Opportunities designed to introduce people to the trades.

Prerequisites – no experience required
Audience – Homeowners and new entrants to the field
Cost – Free, tuition, or donation-based
Providers – Preservation and community organizations, private trainers

Pre-Apprenticeships and Practicums

Extended, intensive programs with the direct goal of training people to enter the career field upon completion. Pre-apprenticeships lead participants directly into a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) through formal agreements with the RAP Sponsor. For the historic trades, there are many programs that emulate elements of Pre-Apprenticeships but are not yet qualified by a RAP sponsor. These are referred to as “Practicums.”

Prerequisitites : Usually a high school diploma or GED.
No trades experience required, some experience often preferred.
Cost : Free or a stipend to participants.
Duration : 40 – 2000 contact hours
Providers : Youth Corps, labor organizations, public land agencies, preservation trades employers
Accreditation : Often provide a certificate of completion, or articulate with certain colleges to provide earned credit hours.

Apprenticeships and Internships

Apprenticeships are structured on-the-job training with specified learning outcomes, related instruction, and compensation scaled with apprenticeship progress. There are many apprenticeship-style programs offered across the country that are not registered with the Department of Labor. For clarity, these are designated as “Internships.”

Prerequisites : High school diploma or GED. No trades experience required, although some experience often preferred.
Cost : Pariticpants work full time and earn wages, scaled appropriately with journeyworker level compensation.
Duration : 2000 – 8000 contact hours.
Providers : Employers partner with apprenticeship sponsors. Employers hire apprentices and the sponsor helps track apprentice progress and register with the Department of Labor.
Accreditation : RAPs provide Department of Labor journeyworker certification. Related Instruction can be provided by or articulate with accredited programs.

Accredited Courses

Several colleges offered accredited diplomas, certificates, and degrees in historic building trades. These are distinct from colleges offering continuing education credits.

Prerequisites : For high school, middle school transcript; for college, high school diploma or GED, no trades experience required
Cost : Tuition
Duration : 40 – 2000 contact hours
Providers : Colleges, universities, and institutes
Accredited : Yes, different providers can offer high school diplomas, college diplomas, certificates, Associate Degrees, and Bachelor Degrees

Continuing Education

Professional institutions and organizations often require its members to enroll in classes to maintain their professional certification. These can also be specialization certifications.

Prerequisites : Professional level experience, sometimes membership with the professional organization.
Cost : Class-based tuition
Duration : 1 – 2000 contact hours
Providers : Professional organizations, colleges, universities, and institutes.
Accreditation : Classes offered through colleges are accredited or classes can be articulated with colleges through agreements. Professional organizations often have a process to approve courses for Continuing Education requirements.

Submit a Listing

The Campaign aggregates this information from our network. Help us build a comprehensive database — let us know of any education and training providers that should be added. We require that they provide coursework and learning in historic trades. Providers that do not have hands-on components are not included in this database. Take the extra step and submit courses to our opportunities calendar and map.

Offerings

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