The American Farrier's Association (AFA) offers a voluntary farrier certification program which the LLHA, an AFA Chapter Member, strongly supports.

Through this excellent educational opportunity, farriers—even those who maintain busy, successful practices—gain valuable skills and insights. The process helps farriers to better evaluate their own work, and in most cases, improve it in some way.   As the AFA grows, more and more farriers and horse owners are recognizing this program's value and benefiting from the certification process.

The AFA's Certification Program consists of three categories: Classification, Certification, and Endorsement. As the program's name indicates, Certification is at the center of this program, yet Classification and Endorsement are integral and valuable components of the program—designed to make the program viable for the entire farrier community. Offering the Classification component provides opportunities for entry-level farriers, while offering the Endorsement component provides opportunities for accomplished farriers who have completed the highest level of Certification.

AFA Farrier Classification (AFA Farrier)

The entry-level component of the Farrier Certification Program, this classification focuses on basic concerns associated with safe, sound farriery, relieving the candidate from certain time constraints and higher level forge work associated with certification. The AFA Farrier Classification requires that candidates successfully complete written and practical testing, including the creation of a brief horseshoe display. This classification is not a pre-requisite for any subsequent certification level.

AFA Certified Farrier (CF)

The first level of certification, the Certified Farrier component is available to qualified farriers, with at least one year of horseshoeing experience, who have demonstrated knowledge and skill to perform hoofcare on a professional basis. The CF Certification process requires successful completion of written and practical testing, as well as the creation and explanation of a shoe display.

AFA Certified Journeyman Farrier (CJF)

The highest level of Certification, this component requires in-depth knowledge and performance skills greater than that required of the Certified Farrier. Candidates must have a minimum of two years horseshoeing experience and must have successfully completed the CF component of certification. Expectations at this level include: forging skills needed to make a wide variety of regular and specialty horseshoes, hoof trimming skills and techniques to meet everyday demands of correct hoofcare, and skills to apply horseshoes and other appliances to an exacting and demanding prescription. Testing and evaluation are critically applied to maintain the highest standards of workmanship and professionalism. The CJF Certification process requires successful completion of written and practical testing, as well as the forging of a Bar Shoe within a prescribed time limit.

Specialty Endorsements

Farriers who have achieved CJF status have the opportunity to continue their pursuit of education and professional development through the Specialty Endorsement component within the AFA Certification Program. Currently, Specialty Endorsement at the AFA Certified Journeyman Farrier level is available for Therapeutic Endorsement.