Metal Clay Training
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In this section you will find everything you need to know about the metal clay training available. All external links open in a new window.
Art Clay Certification
Art Clay Diploma
Art Clay Higher Diploma
PMC Certification
Camp PMC Certification
Accreditation Program for Hadar’s Clay™ Teachers
Online Programmes from Hadar Jacobson
Guidance on Choosing a Metal Clay Teacher
The best place to start if you’re looking for a metal clay teacher is to think about what you want to do with metal clay. Consider the following questions…
Do you want to dip your toe in the water and see if you like working with metal clay? If so look for a teacher who offers taster sessions of maybe a few hours or half a day. By choosing a short taster you can find out if you like working with metal clay and also find out if you like the teachers’ training style. This also allows you to see the facility the teacher trains in – is it clean and tidy, well equipped, free from distractions, safe? Can you see yourself enjoying a longer course here?
Do you want to jump right in and learn as much as possible about metal clay in a weekend? There are lots of teachers offering weekend beginners courses in PMC and Art Clay. Have a look at our metal clay training pages to see what’s available in your area. Again, this allows you to find out the teacher’s style and their facilities without spending too much money.
Do you want to do a metal clay certification or diploma training course? There are several ways of doing this and these courses have specific merits so read on to find out the one that’s right for you. This is a more expensive and risky option though. The calibre of the teaching is not linked to the level of training or certification the teacher has. These courses are also not recognised by those outside the metal clay community and have no external moderation or quality control.
Finally, do you want to do a qualification that’s recognised by colleges, universities or employers, is accredited by a nationally authorised awarding body and is taught by people who are trained teachers and validated by the Adult Education Department? Look at your local Adult Education Department for evening or weekend classes which offer subsidised qualification courses and see if anything suits your needs.
One thing to bear in mind is that very few teachers delivering metal clay training have had any formal teacher training. This doesn’t mean they’re bad teachers though.
When someone passes the Art Clay Certification or Diploma, they’re authorised to train Art Clay qualification classes but you should be aware that there is no specific teacher training in the Art Clay Certification/Diploma. Someone simply has to prove they can make jewelry items to a consistent standard, NOT that they can then pass that knowledge on to others.
Look carefully at the way the teacher has worded their qualifications. Attending a course isn’t the same as passing a course. Studying to certification or diploma level isn’t the same as passing the course either. If in doubt, ask to see their certificate(s) or qualification.
You might want to ask the teacher what formal teacher training they’ve had before booking a course with them. Remember though that they may still be an excellent teacher without formal qualifications. Likewise, someone who has teaching qualifications may not be a good teacher!
Make sure the teacher or organisation you intend to train with has valid insurance so you are protected in case of an accident. It’s perfectly valid to ask to see the insurance certificate of an organisation before booking training with them.
A really good way to find out the quality of the training is to ask other students who have trained with the teacher.
Recommendations from others is a great way to choose a teacher. And a good teacher will be very happy to give you the names of others who have trained with them and should also have testimonials on their website, their social media, on Trip Advisor or other online sources.
Art Clay Certification
Art Clay Certification follows a syllabus set by Aida Chemicals, the manufacturer of Art Clay. It is administered by the Art Clay Distributors in each country. Only people who have passed the Art Clay Certification can run classes called “Art Clay Certification” or “Art Clay Diploma”.
Art Clay Certification is slightly different in each country and the qualification is not internationally recognised. This means that if you qualify in the USA, you will not be authorised to teach in the UK/EU and vice versa. Qualifications across the EU will be recognised though.
In order to become a certified instructor, you must successfully complete the courses as laid out in your own country. This course is designed to provide an in-depth knowledge of Art Clay.
At Level one in the UK, the name changed from Certification to Diploma. The Level 1 Diploma has six projects. Once the Level One Diploma is passed, holders are authorised to teach introductory/ beginners Art Clay classes and project based classes. They will get a 15% discount on buying Art Clay from the official distributors. The Level 2 Diploma covers more advanced techniques and runs over 2.5 – 4 days. Four pieces have to be completed during the course.
Once the Level 2 Diploma is passed, holders are authorised to teach introductory/ beginners Art Clay classes and project based classes. They will get a 20% discount on buying Art Clay from the official distributors.
Those who have passed the Level 2 class projects can submit three pieces for evaluation to gain the Higher Diploma. These three pieces must be independently designed by the student to specific criteria. They are submitted to a local distributor and evaluated by a panel.
Successful completion of the Higher Diploma authorises the holder to run Art Clay Diploma classes. It also provides a discount of 30% on buying Art Clay from the official distributors of Art Clay.
There were two main companies offerering PMC Certification training in the US with a set syllabus; Rio Grande (which began running this certification in 1999) and PMC Connection. Rio Grande ceased offering their certification in 2014 and PMC Connection in 2018.
Camp PMC
In 2019, Camp PMC Certification was established in the USA. Sawtooth School for Visual Art in Winston-Salem, NC is the headquarters for the Camp PMC Certification Program. It is supported by Mitsubishi Materials Trading Corporation – the manufacturer of PMC, Sawtooth School for Visual Art, Clay Revolution and Rio Grande Jewelry Supply.
After completing the core class, Camp PMC Course 101, students can choose to advance their metal clay skills in artisan classes, become a PMC Instructor, or both! Students completing Camp PMC Course 101 will receive a 8% discount on PMC clays at Clay Revolution and Rio Grande Jewelry Supply.
Artisan classes include specialty techniques such as glass incorporation, enameling on metal clay, stone setting, and much more!
Instructor classes include two levels, PMC Instructor and PMC Principal Instructor. PMC Instructors will be eligible to teach Camp PMC Course 101. PMC Principal Instructors will be eligible to teach PMC Instructor Course 201. Students completing PMC Instructor Course 201 will receive a 10% discount on PMC clays at Clay Revolution and Rio Grande Jewelry Supply.
In the UK, in 2020, The PMC Studio introduced the Camp PMC Certification program as both in-person and online classes. This follows the same curriculum as the USA and includes a crossover certification for instructors who already hold a metal clay certification. The successful completion of the Camp PMC Certification levels are linked to discounts on PMC from The PMC Studio and Cooksongold in the UK.
The PMC Studio also has their own certification program. It is structured in three modules that can be taken in any order. It has a flexible format which allows students to choose the Module they want to do during any Certification session. Suitable for those who have completed the Introduction to PMC or Creative Copper Clay, each module takes three days to complete and is taught in small groups. Teachers are authorised by the PMC Studio to train certification classes in other venues around the UK.
In France, PMC Studio France is the only training centre running full certification classes in France and Continental Europe. This certification is totally independent of any other programme. Their certification courses are modular (three in total), three days long. Some of their students complete the full course over nine days, some spread them out over several months, others complete them as part of a learning holiday.
Accreditation Program for Hadar’s Clay™ Teachers
Hadar Jacobson has an accreditation program for her own brand of Bronze and Copper clays.
Online and Distance Learning Programmes from Hadar Jacobson
Hadar Jacobson has a number of distance learning programmes.
Metal clay work from our Gallery
