Levels and Requirements
Video Purchase is Required for Each

Prior farrier experience by apprenticing with another farrier, or self taught, attending a school in your past or other personal training you received in your lifetime are all taken into consideration. A conversation in advanced will go a long way at knowing where to start.

BWFA Apprentice I Certification

Three categories:

A person who has attended a (2) two week course at a horseshoeing school who has been trained to shoe his or her own horses. THIS PERSON SHOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF SHOEING HORSES OWNED BY OTHER INDIVIDUALS.

For Horseshoers with a very limited amount of education and experience.

A person who has attended up to a (4) week course at a horseshoeing school who plans to continue their education on to the Apprentice II Level within 6 months. A Certificate of Completion will be awarded. It will be up to this member to return to the school or to a BWFA TESTER to upgrade and test at the Apprentice II Level.

Written Test: based on the BWFA Trimming & Shoeing Video sent to you from Headquarters, graded and approved.
Oral Test with TESTER: Question and answers on lower limb charts, basic knowledge of training received
Shoeing: Time limit is 120 minutes. Student must shoe at least two hooves (one front and one hind) with factory made (keg) shoes. The hooves should be balanced, set at natural angles, ground surfaces level, and toe lengths correct.

Forging: No time limit. The student should be able to cold shape a symmetrical and balanced basic front and hind pattern from a keg shoe.

Testing fees:
Upon graduating from a BWFA Master Educator School, there is no testing fee expected.
Non school graduates, $100 paid directly to the BWFA TESTER.

Membership Dues are required prior to testing

Annual $95 or Lifetime $450 paid to the: BWFA

BWFA Apprentice II Certification

Designed primarily with the student in mind, approximating
the level of competence achieved after completing a (6) six week
session at a reputable horseshoeing school.

Written Test: based on the BWFA Trimming & Shoeing Video sent to you from Headquarters, graded and approved.
Oral Test with TESTER: Time limit is 60 minutes. Questions and Answers. Know all bones and joints from the knee down. Able to identify and label all parts of the hoof. Should have a basic understanding of equine movement.

Shoeing: Time limit is 90 minutes. Must shoe at least two hooves (one front and one hind) with factory made (keg) shoes. The hooves should be balanced, set at natural angles, ground surface level, and the toe lengths correct. Able to use some of the basic corrective principles, if needed.

Forging: No time limit. Must be able to make the following handmade shoes: basic front pattern & basic hind pattern (no clips or creases will be required, unless requested by tester). Must be able to make the following factory (keg) shoe modifications: square toe, toe clip, trailer and egg bar.

Testing fees:
Upon graduating from a BWFA Master Educator School, there is no testing fee expected.
Non school graduates, $100 paid directly to the BWFA TESTER

Membership Dues are required prior to testing

Annual $95 or Lifetime $450 paid to the: BWFA

Current Members Upgrade fee is $95 each time another certification level is achieved, paid to the: BWFA

BWFA Journeyman I Certification

Test for farriers having at least one full year of practical experience in shoeing live specimens.

Written Test: based on the BWFA Trimming & Shoeing Video sent to you from Headquarters, graded and approved.
Oral Test with TESTER: Time limit is 60 minutes. Questions and Answers. Know all bones and joints of the upper and lover limb. Able to identify and label all parts of the hoof, and all the tendons and ligaments of the lower limb. Must be able to answer questions on general shoeing practices, movement problems and some aspects of gait.

Shoeing: Time limit is 90 minutes. Must shoe at least 2 hooves (one front and one hind) with factory made (keg) shoes. The hooves should be balanced, set at natural angles, ground surface level, and the toe lengths correct. Able to use some of the basic corrective principles, if needed.

Forging: No time limit. Must be able to make any keg shoe modifications the tester requests (limited to 4 modifications)

Testing Fees: $125.00 paid directly to the BWFA TESTER or Master Educator school (School may choose to waive this fee.)

Membership Dues

Annual $95 or Lifetime $450 paid to the: BWFA

Current Members Upgrade fee is $95 each time another certification level is achieved, paid to the: BWFA

BWFA Journeyman II Certification

Test for farriers having at least three full years of practical experience and forge work as a full-time or part-time working farrier. * as of 2020, Video Testing with headquarters is available. Contact the office by phone or email.

Written Test: based on the BWFA Trimming & Shoeing Video sent to you from Headquarters, graded and approved.
Oral test with TESTER: Time limit is 120 minutes. Questions and Answers. Comprehensive test on: 1) all bones of the front and hind limbs 2) origin and function of tendons and ligaments 3) all hoof structures, internal and external 4) different horseshoes and their functions 5) gait analysis

Shoeing: Time limit is 3 ½ hours. Must shoe all 4 feet with handmade shoes. Fronts must be toe clipped. Hinds must be quarter clipped.

Forging: No time limit. Must be able to produce handmade bar shoes of any type requested by the tester; egg, heart, straight, etc. The tester may request some type of handmade shoe for the candidate to demonstrate a superior knowledge in use of forging tools and skilled techniques. This level of certification is designed to demonstrate a very high degree of skill by the farrier, and above average knowledge of equine motion and gait. To achieve this level, a farrier must have a comprehensive understanding of clinical and practical farrier science.

Testing Fees: $150.00 paid directly to the BWFA TESTER or Master Educator school.

Membership Dues

Annual $95 or Lifetime $450 paid to the: BWFA

Current Members Upgrade fee is $95 each time another certification level is achieved, paid to the: BWFA

BWFA Master Farrier Certification

For current BWFA certified farriers having seven or more years of practical shoeing experience, and currently working as a full-time farrier with a Journeyman II Certification. This is also offered to farriers with 15 years of verifiable practical experience with no previous certification, after having passed the Journeyman II and the Master Farrier written tests. This test is administered three times each year at B.W.F.A sanctioned Master Educator Horseshoeing Schools. This is a two-day comprehensive exam.
* as of 2020, Video Testing with headquarters is available. Contact the office by phone or email.

Written test: based on two BWFA Trimming & Shoeing Videos sent to you from Headquarters, graded and approved.
Oral test with TESTER: Time limit is 120 minutes. Similar to the Journeyman II level test, but more comprehensive in nature. Must have a complete understanding of joints, bones, tendons, ligaments and hoof structure. Must have a complete understanding of different types of horseshoes and the functions of each. A thorough knowledge of gait analysis and the application of all corrective principles.

Forging: No time limit. Must be able to make four handmade shoes along with the tester. These four shoes can be any pattern that the tester desires, as long as the tester makes the shoes of his choice on the same day as the testing farrier. The shoes of the candidate should be as well done as that of the tester.

Live Shoeing: Time limit is 4 ½ hours. Candidate will draw a horse from a pen of assorted types and breeds (gaited, hunter, draft, dressage, etc.) and shoe it to the Master Farrier Tester’s instructions, with all handmade shoes.

Testing Fees: $250.00 paid directly to the (3) three BWFA TESTERS to divide.

Membership Dues

Annual $95 or Lifetime $450 paid to the: BWFA

Current Members Upgrade fee is $95 each time another certification level is achieved, paid to the: BWFA

BWFA LIFETIME Master Farrier GOLD CARD MEMBER

In recognition for farriers over 65 years of age in respect and honor of their dedication and service in the farrier industry. A onetime payment of dues is required if age 65, or when the member turns 65, they will become a lifetime member.

BWFA LIFETIME MEMBER

BWFA Members who turn 65 no matter what the level of certification or membership status he or she holds.

BWFA TESTER

A farrier at the Journeyman II level or higher in the BWFA, tested and approved by the Board of Directors. This person must be a full-time working farrier and is required to attend the BWFA Educational Conventions in addition to sponsoring one annual horse owner and farrier educational clinic in their area each year.

BWFA Master Educator

The owner of a horseshoeing school or person who has at least one year of teaching experience in farriery. This person can offer certification testing up to the Apprentice II level unless personally tested for higher certification. This person must attend the BWFA continuing education events and sponsor one annual horse owner and farrier educational clinic in their area each year.

BWFA Horse Owner Membership

This person receives an annual membership card in return for annual dues, priority use of the National Referral Program, voting rights within the association and access to sponsoring and attending educational clinics.

Membership Dues
Annual $35 paid to the: BWFA

Note: All persons who desire to test should keep in mind that as the level of certification increases, so do the expectations of the tester. All areas of knowledge will be more closely scrutinized as the testing farrier moves higher up the ladder of certification levels.