Certificate Requirements
Certificate Name: Terms of apprenticeships:
Firearm Repair Specialist: 4000 hrs. + Related instruction.
Journeyman Gunsmith: 8000 hrs. + Related instruction.
Journeyman Rifle Smith: 8000 hrs. + Related instruction.
Journeyman Pistol Smith: 8000 hrs. + Related instruction.
Journeyman Shotgun Smith: 8000 hrs. + Related instruction.
Journeyman Classic Firearms Smith: 8000 hrs. + Related instruction.
Firearms Restorer 4000 hrs. + Related instruction
Master Gunsmith: 16,000 hrs. + Related instruction. includes 8,000 hrs. of journeyman training
Barrel Maker: 8000 hrs. + Related instruction.
Stock Maker: 4000 hrs. + Related instruction.
Firearms Engraver: 8000 hrs. + Related instruction
Firearm Repair Specialist: 4,000 hrs. + Related instruction.
Works on all types of firearms, does little if any machine work. Cleans repairs, diagnoses problems, replaces broken or worn parts,
Work experience in the safe use of tools: 50 hrs.
Bench time: 2,500 hrs.
Stock fitting: 450 hrs.
Firearms theory: 1,000 hrs
Total Hours: 4,000 hrs.
Journeyman Gunsmith: (general gunsmithing) 8,000 hrs. + Related instruction.
Works on all types of firearms, Cleans repairs, diagnoses problems, replaces broken or worn parts, does mill and lathe work, action blue printing, barrel replacement for handguns and rifle, chambering, stock fitting, sight work, metal coating, handgun timing and set up. Chock installation etc…
1. Work experience in the safe use of tools 350 hrs.
2. Bench time 2,500 hrs.
3. Lathe Operations 750 hrs.
4. Milling machine operations 750 hrs.
5. Fixture making 250 hrs.
6. Stock work & fitting 750 hrs.
7. Action work 750 hrs.
8. Firearms theory 1,000 hrs.
9 Metal coating 400 hrs.
10 Barrel work 500 hrs.
Total Hours: 8,000 hrs.
Journeyman Rifle Smith: 8,000 hrs.
Works on all types of rifles: single shot, bolt, pump, lever, semi auto, NFA when licensed. Cleans repairs, diagnoses problems, replaces broken or worn parts, does mill and lathe work, action blue printing, barrel replacement, chambering, stock fitting, sight work, metal coating
1. Work experience in the safe use of tools 350 hrs.
2. Bench time 2,500 hrs.
3. Lathe Operations 750 hrs.
4. Milling machine operations 750 hrs.
5. Fixture making 250 hrs.
6. Stock work & fitting 750 hrs.
7. Action work 750 hrs.
8. Firearms theory 1,000 hrs.
9 Metal coating 400 hrs.
10 Barrel work 500 hrs.
Total Hours: 8,000 hrs.
Journeyman Pistol Smith: 8,000 hrs. + Related instruction.
Works on all types of hand guns: revolver & semi auto. Cleans repairs, diagnoses problems, replaces broken or worn parts, does mill and lathe work, action blue printing, barrel replacement, chambering & forcing cone work, sight work, metal coating.
1. Work experience in the safe use of tools 350 hrs.
2. Bench time 2,500 hrs.
3. Lathe Operations 750 hrs.
4. Milling machine operations 750 hrs.
5. Fixture making 250 hrs.
6. Stock work & fitting 150 hrs.
7. Action work 1300 hrs.
8. Firearms theory 1,000 hrs.
9 Metal coating 400 hrs.
10 Barrel work 500 hrs.
Total Hours: 8,000 hrs.
Journeyman Shotgun Smith: 8,000 hrs. + Related instruction.
Works on all types of shotguns: single shot, side by side, over & under, pump, & semi auto. Cleans repairs, diagnoses problems, replaces broken or worn parts, does mill and lathe work, action blue printing, barrel replacement, chambering & forcing cone work, sight work, metal coating, install ribs, stock fitting.
1. Work experience in the safe use of tools 350 hrs.
2. Bench time 2,500 hrs.
3. Lathe Operations 750 hrs.
4. Milling machine operations 750 hrs.
5. Fixture making 250 hrs.
6. Stock work & fitting 800 hrs.
7. Action work 1,000 hrs.
8. Firearms theory 1,000 hrs.
9 Metal coating 400 hrs.
10 Barrel work 200 hrs.
Total Hours: 8,000 hrs.
Journeyman Classic Firearms Smith: 8,000 hrs. + Related instruction.
Works on Classic firearms: flint lock, percussion cap pre. 20th. century black powder firearms, does mill and lathe work, barrel replacement, chambering, stock fitting, sight work, metal coating, parts casting, stock fitting
1. Work experience in the safe use of tools 350 hrs.
2. Bench time 2,500 hrs.
3. Lathe Operations 750 hrs.
4. Milling machine operations 750 hrs.
5. Fixture making 250 hrs.
6. Stock work & fitting 1,000 hrs.
7. Action work 1,000 hrs.
8. Firearms theory 750 hrs.
9 Metal coating 400 hrs.
10 Barrel work 250 hrs.
Total Hours: 8,000 hrs.
Firearms Restorer: 4,000 hrs. + Related instruction
Restores all types of firearms to original condition: Cleans repairs, diagnoses problems, replaces broken or worn parts, does mill and lathe work barrel replacement for handguns and rifle, chambering, stock fitting, sight work, metal coating,
1. Work experience in the safe use of tools 350 hrs.
2. Bench time 2,500 hrs.
3. Lathe Operations 750 hrs.
4. Milling machine operations 750 hrs.
5. Fixture making 250 hrs.
6. Stock work & fitting 500 hrs.
7. Action work 1,000 hrs.
8. Firearms theory 1,000 hrs.
9 Metal coating 600 hrs.
10 Barrel work 300 hrs.
Total Hours: 4,000 hrs.
Master Gunsmith: 16,000 hrs. + Related instruction.
This classification can be as a general gunsmith or any of the other classifications other then firearms repair specialist Barrel or Stock Maker. In order to receive the master Gunsmith Certificate you must have a journeyman’s certificate recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor, the 8,000 hrs. for journeyman gunsmith will count towards the total 16,000 hrs for this certificate.
This is an acknowledgment of exceptional workmanship in one or more of the gunsmith classifications. The master gunsmith should be able to build an accurate, and reliable, firearm from scratch.
1. Work experience in the safe use of tools 350 hrs.
2. Bench time 5,000 hrs.
3. Lathe Operations 1,500 hrs.
4. Milling machine operations 1,500 hrs.
5. Fixture making 650 hrs.
6. Stock work & fitting 1,500 hrs.
7. Action work 2,000 hrs.
8. Firearms theory 2,000 hrs.
9 Metal coating 1,000 hrs.
10 Barrel work 500 hrs.
Total Hours: 16,000 hrs.
Barrel Maker: 8,000 hrs. + Related instruction.
Makes barrels for all types of firearms. Drills, reams, rifles, laps, grinds barrels and tools,
1. Work experience in the safe use of tools: 350 hrs.
2. Drilling Operations: 600 hrs.
3 Reaming Barrels: 500 hrs.
4. Lapping barrels: 500 hrs.
5. Button Rifling: 600 hrs.
6. Cut Rifling: 850 hrs.
7. Lathe Operations: 500 hrs.
8. Milling machine operations: 300 hrs.
9. Fixture making: 500 hrs.
10. Welding & Brazing: 500 hrs.
11. Tool Grinding: 1,000 hrs.
12. Chambering: 300 hrs.
13. Heat Treating: 750 hrs.
14. Barrel Geometry: 750 hrs.
Total Hours: 8,000 hrs.
Master Barrel Maker:
To receive this certificate you must have a journeyman barrel maker certificate recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor and have completed 16,000 hours of training by doubling the journeyman’s requirements.
Stock Maker: 4,000 hrs. + Related instruction.
Uses wood, composites, and metal to build Stocks & Grips for all types of firearms.
1. Work experience in the safe use of tools 350 hrs.
2. Bench time 800 hrs.
3. Fixture making 350 hrs.
4. Stock Finishing & Fitting 1,000 hrs.
5. Duplicating Machine Operation 750 hrs.
6. Hand tools 750 hrs.
Master Stock maker:
To receive this certificate you must have a journeyman Stock maker certificate recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor and have completed 8,000 hours of training by doubling the journeyman’s requirements. You can replace 1,750 hrs. with Checkering & stock Carving to meet this requirement
7. Checkering 750 hrs.
8. Stock Carving 1,000 hrs.
Total Hours: 8, 000 hrs.
Firearms Engraver: 8000 hrs. + Related instruction
1. Work experience in the safe use of tools.
2. Bench time
3. Lathe Operations
4. Milling machine operations
5. Fixture making
6. Stock making & fitting
7. Action work
8. Firearms theory
9 Metal coating
10 Barrel work
Total Hours: