The Best Woodworking Schools in the World

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You might not be aware, but when it comes to the world of craft and furniture-making, the essential ingredients extend far beyond the selection of tools and materials. As someone aspiring to join the ranks of professional woodworkers, it becomes crucial to immerse oneself in the foundational aspects of woodworking.

Fortunately, I have meticulously curated a list of exceptional woodworking schools. These institutions offer invaluable opportunities to refine your woodworking craft. This will be your guide through the woodworking programs that may align best with your goals and aspirations.

Before You Enroll

What are Your Special Skills?

Before you enroll in a woodworking class in San Jose, assess your current carpentry skills. Ask yourself questions like, are you familiar with the basic woodworking skills? 

As you may already know, the woodworking industry includes different projects requiring distinct crafting techniques and the ability and knowledge to handle different materials. So, for a beginner, a woodworking kit for starters is a must-have, which includes basic tools to accomplish simple projects. 

woodworking tools on table

After listing your skills down, determine what led you to learn woodworking. Are you fond of designing wood pieces and crafting precise details? If so, you may want to consider furniture-making courses. 

You may also shift your focus to mastering the joinery and finishing process, as these skills are readily available in most woodworking courses. 

You don’t have to worry if you have zero practical knowledge in the field. Most woodworking classes available in the market allow learners to progress from newbies to professionals. As long as you have the determination and interest in the craft, you can benefit from attending a fine woodworking school. 

Try Watching Youtube Videos First

Learning anything new can be intimidating for some, so I recommend familiarizing yourself with the industry through online videos. 

It may surprise you, but some professionals in the field didn’t learn woodworking through the best formal education programs. Some of them tried to grasp the craft through Youtube tutorial videos. 

youtube

Doing this could prepare you for the activities and projects required in an actual woodworking school. Youtube contents are highly specific. 

Besides showcasing different woodworking skills in the video, some creators would demonstrate how to use different tools and choose the right materials. 

However, Youtube videos are better than actual woodworking books and  programs. While these contents offer valuable knowledge to learners, you may find it difficult to pace with these learning materials. 

But if you’re set on it, go find Youtube channels solely dedicated to releasing woodworking-related content. 

Enroll in Online Courses

If you’re not yet ready to enroll in the best woodworking school, consider taking online courses as a great alternative. Online learning platforms provide extensive resources and, surprisingly, some of them offer advanced courses as well.

girl working on Grizzly G0766

You may want to check out online platforms like Lynda.com and Udemy. Besides easy accessibility, woodworking course options on these websites are inexpensive compared to regular woodworking classes. 

Find Classes in Your Area

Home Depot

For a beginner who’s not yet sure about enrolling in a traditional woodworking school, you may consider inquiring in your local Home Depot. If you’re lucky, they may have some weekend classes and workshops that you can finish in a few hours. 

Although they may not provide a complete woodworking program, these classes are mostly project-based. Upon closer look, you may notice that their typical offered classes revolve around furniture-making. In fact, you can request that Home Depot cut your plywood, usually used for furniture, to the size of your wooden project.

woodworking shop

Ask Your Art Center

Another alternative you can try before enrolling in woodworking schools is your neighborhood art center. It’s not new for these artistic establishments to offer painting, photography, and jewelry-making classes. However, occasionally, some will invite their local communities to join a woodworking program or workshop. 

If you’re not familiar with joining these events, don’t be too surprised to find out that their craftsman program is typically categorized based on woodworking techniques. You’ll find workshops under the name of cabinetry, dovetailing, or joinery.

Woodworking Colleges and Clubs

Did you know that community college and local high school programs also offer woodworking? Many community colleges like Vermont Woodworking School and Peter Sefton Furniture School are solely dedicated to providing professional programs for craftsmanship and design. 

And then there are also the likes of Northern Alberta Institute and Port Townsend School, where you can learn the basics of woodworking for a few days or weeks. 

Besides Vermont Woodworking School, you can consider associate’s degree programs at Western Technical College and Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. These associate degrees in woodworking only take up to two years to finish. 

woodworkers

If you were to pursue a bachelor’s degree in furniture design, I would highly recommend choosing to major in woodworking at colleges such as Northern Michigan University and Indiana University. You can also graduate as a Fine Arts major at Rhode Island School of Design Providence. 

If you’re not looking for advanced woodworking classes just yet, you can also search for local woodworking clubs. Rather than going into traditional woodworking classrooms, these clubs allow you to connect with fellow DIY enthusiasts and veteran woodworkers

As a newbie, it could be your golden opportunity to find a mentor you can learn from within the community. If you’re lucky, some may offer you internship programs.

Top Woodworking Schools in the World Today

1. Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute

If you’re residing near Adrian, Georgia, you may want to consider enrolling in Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute. Unlike other woodworking schools, you don’t have to complete general education requirements when signing up for this institute. 

Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute website

It’s known as a great school of fine woodworking because they produced great carpenters and designers over the years. 

Besides that, it has a fine woodworking department that gives learners access to tools like dust collection systems, sand molders, mills, and many more. 

2. Lonnie Bird’s School of Fine Woodworking

Unlike other options, Lonnie Bird’s School of Fine Woodworking has been offering craft and design programs since 1982. Compared to its alternatives, Lonnie Bird School has affordable rates for the nine-month program they’re offering. 

On top of their top-notch class instructors, this school of woodworking is impressive for its luxurious workshop accessible to the learners. Considering that it has impressive facilities for furniture projects, the overall program cost seems reasonable.

3. Marc Adams School of Woodworking

It’s always great when woodworking schools offer apprenticeship programs. Because of this, I cannot deny that Marc Adams School of Woodworking belongs to the list of the top woodworking schools in the world. 

Marc Adams School of Woodworking website

It’s the best school to consider if you aim to learn architectural woodworking in a week. Their Master’s Program is quite fascinating as they focus more on technique-building than projects. Their instructions also have fellowship programs the students can sign up for.

4. The Chippendale International School of Furniture in Scotland

The basics of furniture and cabinet technology make The Chippendale International School of Furniture in Scotland stand out from the rest. Unlike other schools in the world that categorize their courses by technique or projects, they offer classes by skill level. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner, intermediate, or professional woodworker. You’ll find the right course to enhance your skills in this school. They also offer complementary courses if you want to learn specific projects. 

5. University of Tasmania Design Program

When you enroll in the University of Tasmania Design Program, you can take advantage of the school’s interactive studios. 

The most enticing offering of their program is you get to design projects for real clients. Through this, you can gain actual industry experience as you learn to master the craft.

6. Rosewood Studio in Canada

As a school founded way back in 2002, it’s no surprise that they offer a wide range of programs and courses. If you’re not up for their 12-week program, you can consider their workshops that last five days. 

Rose Studio website

7. Santa Fe Community College

Besides its Fine Woodworking Programs, Santa Fe Community College is known for its certificate and degree courses in the field of Arts & Design and Fine Arts. The school also focuses on small classes to give learners the attention they need while learning the craft. 

8. Long Beach City College

If you’re keen on learning specific woodworking projects, Long Beach City College’s course covers a long list of subjects from furniture-making to joinery. I personally liked that it includes both individual and group projects as it prepares the learners for actual industry experience. It only runs 9 hours a week, so you don’t need to worry if you have tight schedules.

9. Red Rocks Community College in Colorado

Red Rocks Community College in Colorado understands the complexity of the woodworking field, so they offer 12 certificate programs for learners to choose from. But if you intend to obtain a formal degree, I suggest enrolling in their program called Associates of Applied Science in Fine Woodworking.

10 Palomar College in California

For woodworkers located in California, Palomar College is a popular choice. This woodworking school has a dedicated department for cabinet and furniture technology. 

They offer several professional certificate programs and associate science degrees in Cabinetry, Woodworking Skills Technology, and Millworks. On top of their Fine Woodworking Program, the Palomar College facilities are also top-notch. 

FAQ

Is woodworking worth the money?

Yes, woodworking is worth the money. If you have the interest and dedication to be a skilled woodworker, earning from this profession is not farfetched. You must know the value of your work and where you can market your craft. Building connections through the industry can help your progress [1]

Can you make a good living from woodworking?

Yes, you can make a good living from woodworking. While some people consider this profession a hobby, skilled woodworkers can make it a full-time job as long as they are equipped with the right tools, materials, and techniques. Besides that, knowing your target market can also help you earn more. 

Conclusion

The top woodworking schools do not offer the same programs and perks. So before you decide on attending classes, you to heed these considerations before you go deeper into the world of woodworking. If full courses make you feel intimidated, you can always opt for short workshops to familiarize and pace yourself. 

robert headshot

Robert Johnson is a passionate furniture maker & carpenter, sought after for his knowledge on the craft.
You’ve probably seen his down-to-earth wisdom in USA Today, Bobvila, Family Handyman, and The Spruce, where he has shared commentary and guidance on various woodworking topics.

Robert is the brain behind Sawinery, where he aims to share tips, tricks, and a passion for all things carpentry.

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