Graduate Gemologist Program

Welcome to the world of gemstones.

You’ll venture from remote tanzanite mines in East Africa to the buzzing Diamond District of New York. Witness the magical trek of diamonds and colored stones across the world and through the supply chain – from natural source, to market, to the retail counter – eventually becoming heirlooms, treasured for generations. You’ll study every magnificent step across this timeless phenomenon we call gemology.

You’ll do it by earning the gem and jewelry industry’s most prestigious and coveted professional credential – the GIA Graduate Gemologist diploma.

You’ll learn, practice, and then learn some more. The Graduate Gemologist program equips you to identify hundreds of common and unusual gemstones and detect the latest treatments and synthetics. Buy and sell diamonds and colored stones effectively by understanding how external market factors affect the value of jewelry. You’ll also be able to intrigue your customers by sharing the romance and history of your product.

Graduate Gemologist students practice time-honored identifying and grading techniques using a microscope, polariscope, spectroscope, and other professional gemological equipment. Our hands-on, action-oriented approach provides a solid balance of both technical knowledge and practical skills necessary to work throughout the industry.

The Graduate Gemologist diploma program gives you the grading and identification skills to become a buyer, appraiser, retailer, and senior professional across the entire gem and jewelry industry.

Program at a Glance

Credentials You Earn
GIA Graduate Gemologist (G.G.) diploma
GIA Graduate Diamonds diploma
GIA Graduate Colored Stones diploma
Gemologist diploma (Distance Education only)

Program Highlights

Learn how to:
Understand the 4Cs effect on diamond value
Grade diamonds in the D-Z color range
Use gemological equipment to grade and identify gemstones and colored stones
Detect synthetics, treatments, simulants and fracture-filled diamonds and colored stones
Confidently speak the language of diamonds and colored stones to your suppliers and vendors
Knowledgeably guide your customers through the buying process

Learning Methods

Distance Education + Lab Classes
On Campus

Program Requirements

• Diamond Essentials - eLearning
• Diamonds & Diamond Grading - eLearning
• Colored Stone Essentials - eLearning
• Colored Stones - eLearning
• Gem Identification
• Diamond Grading Lab class
• Colored Stone Grading Lab class
• Gem Identification Lab class

• Graduate Gemologist Program - 26 week continuous program

Tuition

$7,800 approximately = Distance Education + Lab Class
$17,400 approximately = On Campus

See Fee Schedule for additional fees including applicable books, materials, and taxes.