• About 54 percent of all jewelers and precious stone and metal workers are self- employed.
• Jewelers usually learn their trade in vocational or technical schools, through distance-learning centers, or on the job.
• Prospects for bench jewelers and other skilled jewelers should be favorable; keen competition is expected for lower skilled manufacturing jobs, such as assemblers and polishers.

Disclaimer: Links to non-Kuder Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.

Information on job opportunities and training programs for jewelers and gemologists is available from:

• Gemological Institute of America, 5345 Armada Dr., Carlsbad, CA 92008. Internet: http://www.gia.edu

For more information about bench jeweler certification and careers in jewelry design and retail, including different career paths, training options, and schools, contact:

• Jewelers of America, 52 Vanderbilt Ave., 19th Floor, New York, NY 10017. Internet: http://www.jewelers.org

For information on jewelry design and manufacturing, training, and schools offering jewelry-related programs and degrees by State, contact:

• Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America, 57 John L. Dietsch Square Attleboro Falls, MA 02763. Internet: http://www.mjsa.org

To receive a list of accredited technical schools that have programs in gemology, contact:

• Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, 2101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 302, Arlington, VA 22201. Internet: http://www.accsc.org