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1. What courses does JIA offer?JIA offers four main tracks — Beginner Bench Jeweler, Diamond Setting, Hand Engraving, and Goldsmith Technician — plus a specialty Grillz Fabrication program covering digital design, wax carving, and setting. The Goldsmith Technician program is delivered in Katy, Houston, TX.

2. Do I need experience to enroll?
It depends on the course. Every track has a true beginner starting point with no prerequisite — Preparation Class for Diamond Setting, Hand Engraving I for Hand Engraving, Bench Fundamentals for Goldsmith Technician. More advanced or specialty courses build on those fundamentals and list their specific prerequisite on the course page.

3. Can I enroll in a single class, or do I have to commit to a full program?
A single class is completely fine — in fact, it's how most students start. Nearly every course in our catalog runs as a standalone week you can book on its own, with no obligation to continue. If you decide you want the full track later, a diploma program bundles the complete sequence, usually at a real discount over booking each week individually.

4. How does enrollment and scheduling work?
Classes run on a published seasonal calendar — each course has a specific scheduled week (or weeks), and you enroll for that date. This isn't a flexible year-round "start whenever" model — check the current schedule for exact dates and available seats.

5. How long do courses run?
Individual courses run 3 to 5 days. Diploma programs run longer: the Beginner Bench jeweler is 4 weeks, Hand Engraving diploma is 7 weeks, Goldsmith Technician is 9 weeks, and the Diamond Setting diploma is the longest at 13 weeks.

6. What are the class sizes?
Most classes are capped at 4 students for close, hands-on instruction. Goldsmith Technician runs slightly larger, at 6 students, with two instructors present.

7. Will I get hands-on experience?
Yes — every course is hands-on from day one, in a fully equipped workshop, under direct instructor guidance. This isn't lecture-based learning.

8. Do I keep the tools and materials I use in class?
Tools are provided for in-class use. Materials and whatever you make — your finished practice pieces — are yours to keep. A few courses, like Grillz Wax, include a take-home toolkit; that's noted on the individual course page.

9. Who teaches the classes?
Gabriel Owen, JIA's founder and a second-generation jeweler with 37 years of experience and a GIA Graduate Gemologist certification, teaches Diamond Setting, Hand Engraving, Grillz Classes, and Goldsmith Technician.

10. What career paths can this lead to?Graduates go on to work as bench jewelers, diamond setters, hand engravers, or goldsmiths, or start their own custom jewelry or grillz businesses. Each track — including Beginner Bench Jeweler — builds toward real, marketable production skills, not just hobby-level technique.

11. How do I apply?
Visit jewelryinstitute.org/enroll, choose your course from the current schedule, and complete tuition payment online.

12. Is financial aid or a payment plan available?
No, at this time we do not offer financial aid or payment plans, but we will keep you updated if that changes.

13. Is JIA accredited?
JIA is not currently accredited. In this trade, most employers care far more about what you can actually do than about a certificate — you'll build a real portfolio throughout your training, and most jewelry shops will ask you to complete a hands-on bench test as part of hiring, regardless of where you trained. Your work speaks for itself more than a diploma does.

14. What if not enough students sign up for a class?
Classes run regardless of enrollment — even if you're the only student registered, your class will run as scheduled. We don't cancel classes for low enrollment. The only exception is a circumstance beyond our reasonable control (force majeure), including but not limited to natural disasters, extreme weather, government-mandated closures or public health emergencies, power or utility failures, or instructor incapacitation. In such cases, affected students will receive a full refund or the option to transfer to a future course date.

15. What's your cancellation and refund policy?
You can cancel by emailing info@jewelryinstitute.org before your course's start date — we'll confirm receipt by email. Refund amount depends on timing:

• More than 14 days before your start date: 95% refunded (a 5% processing fee is retained), minus any non-refundable registration or materials fee.

• 8–14 days before your start date: 45% refunded (a 55% cancellation and processing fee is retained).

• 7 days or fewer before your start date, no-shows, or cancellations after the class has started: No refund.

Approved refunds are processed within 90 days of your cancellation confirmation.

16. Are gemstones and materials included in tuition, or billed separately?
CZ (cubic zirconia) gemstones are provided at no additional cost. Practice sheet metal and wire in copper, brass, and bronze are included in every class. Each student also receives 10 grams of silver at no charge — additional silver or gold beyond that is billed separately if you want to work with it.

17. Is there a minimum age to enroll?
Yes — students must be at least 16 years old. Enrollment for minors requires a signed parent or guardian consent form.

18. Can I tour the workshop before enrolling?
Yes — we encourage it. Workshop tours are available by appointment only; contact us to schedule one.

19. Do you accept GI Bill benefits or other U.S. military education funding?
No — JIA does not currently accept GI Bill benefits or other U.S. armed forces education funding programs.

20. Do I need to sign a liability waiver?
Yes — all students sign a liability waiver before or during orientation, prior to starting hands-on work.

21. What should I wear or bring?
Closed-toe shoes are required, and loose jewelry or clothing should be avoided near torches and rotating tools.

22. Is this physically demanding?
Some familiarity with hand tools — hammers, drills — is a plus, though not required. The bigger factor is stamina: bench work often means sitting and focusing for extended stretches, up to 6 hours with only a few short breaks. Patience and the ability to stay calm through repetitive, detailed work matter more than raw physical strength.

23. Do you support international students?
Yes. International students need a visitor visa, and JIA can help — after full tuition payment — by providing documentation to support your visa application at a U.S. embassy abroad. If your visa application is unsuccessful, you'll receive a refund of your tuition minus a 10% fee.

24. Are classes taught in English?
Yes, all classes are taught in English. An Arabic-speaking instructor is also available for students who need it.

25. What happens if I miss a day during a diploma program?
Absences are allowed up to a limit based on program length: Beginner Bench Jeweler (4 weeks) — up to 2 missed days; Hand Engraving diploma (7 weeks) — up to 4 missed days; Goldsmith Technician (9 weeks) — up to 5 missed days; Diamond Setting diploma (13 weeks) — up to 6 missed days.

26. Do you help with job placement after graduation?
We have industry connections, and job placement support depends on demand at the time you graduate. The MJSA career board is always avalible to see what job opening there is.

27. Do you offer group or corporate enrollment?
Yes — we're glad to enroll multiple employees from the same company at once, and we can also travel to a company's own facility to teach on-site if that's preferred.

28. Is the workshop accessible?
Parking is limited but available. The workshop is wheelchair accessible with instructor assistance.