how to become a gemologist?

[ccpotato]

Could anyone please exaplain to me what is the different between GG, GIA, CGA, AGS, FGA, IGI, ISA? i am kind of confused.
which one is the most famous, and international?
how to get start to become a gemmologist and how long does a program take?
do i need to take GG, GIA, CGA, AGS, FGA, IGI and other to become a gemmologist?
how many exam for a cert, dipolma or degree?

 

[oldminer]

GG(GIA) Graduate Gemologist, Gemological Institute of America.
CGA,AGS Certifed Gemologist Appraiser, American Gem Society
FGA Fellow, Gemmological Association of Great Britain
IGI Nothing I have ever heard of. IDI is a lab and does education in some countries, but no one in the USA worries about this education effort.
ISA Member of the International SOciety of Appraisers.

Which one is the most famous, and international? GIA, I suppose here. The FGA is very prestigious and world renowned.

How to get start to become a gemmologist and how long does a program take? Contact the GIA or FGA. Figure two years, more or less. Experience takes a lot longer anyway. AND, you do need experience, too.

Do i need to take GG, GIA, CGA, AGS, FGA, IGI and other to become a gemmologist? The GG or the FGA, yes.

How many exam for a cert, dipolma or degree? Figure three or four at a minimum.

 

[10X]

Hi ccpotato,

I would say that GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is the most well known and respected institution and they offer a GG (graduate Gemologist) diploma. They also have a variety of other certifications. Their main campus is in Carlsbad, CA and if you went there you could finish in approx. 6 months. They also have a home study program where they send you the materials and you take quizzes on line and exams through a proctor. You may have to travel for labs but they do visit many major cities for lab courses. It took me a little over a year, but you have 5 years to complete the program. I found the course work to be fairly easy. Their webpage is pretty comprehensive you should check it out. www.gia.org (I think)

Hope this helps and feel free to PM me if you have other questions about my studies.

 

[TinLemon]

Just out of curiosity.... how much does a rookie make in the business? Is it usually based of commission? And when you get certified, does that mean you are a certified gem appraiser? I went to a jewelry store and the woman helping me was certified by the GIA... so she was more of a salesperson than appraiser.

 

[oldminer]

You will not make a ton of money simply by being a newly minted GG or FGA. These folks are generally inexperienced and in need of years of training. It depends on where you live, but a new GG can make under $10 an hour in some places and not a whole lot more in costly cities. I understand we can hire an experienced GG in India for $200 a month, so location and country play a large part in salary expectations.

The GIA does NOT CERTIFY ANYONE. Clearly stated on the GIA website the GIA limits the use of its diplomas and titles.
Sales people and others frequently mis-represent or mis-state their qualifications and credentials. It confuses the consumer and it hurts credibility.....The American Gem Society does have a Certified Gemologist title. NAJA has a Certified Master Appraiser title. There are a few others, but very few. Most folks who tll you they are "certified" and full of BS....

 

[TinLemon]

Ok... so then I'm kind of confused about what she showed me. She explained that she did the 6 month GIA program mentioned earlier in this thread, and then I saw a fancy looking piece of paper hanging on that wall.... I guess it was the diploma. What credibility was that piece of paper supposed to represent? That she understands the GIA grading scale better than someone without the paper?

 

[strmrdr]

All any degree really means is that the person at one time knew how to study and pass tests.
While a degree of some kind is needed these days in a lot of fields it does not mean the person knows what they are doing.
Dont get me started on msce's in the computer field.

Its pretty much the same in any field you need the paper to get in the door but will learn the real job on the job IF your lucky enough to get someone to hire you in the first place to get the experence.

Also dont think for a moment that the places that will hire people with no experence dont know the true worth of just a degree.
There will be exceptions like the dot.com boom but next time your at comp-usa ask the computer repair person that makes $8.00 an hour if he is an msce and the likely answer will be yes.....

 

[GlitterGal]

----------------
On 5/26/2004 3:45:40 PM strmrdr wrote:

...next time your at comp-usa ask the computer repair person that makes $8.00 an hour if he is an msce and the likely answer will be yes.....
----------------

Strmrdr,

...and sometimes even then they don't know what they're doing and/or you get terrible customer service!

Kindest regards always,
Linda

 

[strmrdr]

----------------
On 5/26/2004 3:56:30 PM GlitterGal wrote:

----------------
On 5/26/2004 3:45:40 PM strmrdr wrote:

...next time your at comp-usa ask the computer repair person that makes $8.00 an hour if he is an msce and the likely answer will be yes.....
----------------

Strmrdr,

...and sometimes even then they don't know what they're doing and/or you get terrible customer service!

Kindest regards always,
Linda

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yep thats my point :}
He/She spent 1-2 years and $12000-$15000 on a cert and makes $8.00 an hour and dont know how to do much of anything so they make what they are worth.

During the boom they were getting hired on for $50k a year some places ROFL.

 

[LaserLady]

Graduated Gemologist?
Certified Diamondtologist?
I love the creativity these people have.

But, by all means, if I am wrong about these questionable titles PLEASE PLEASE correct me. I look at life as a learning experience, and welcome learning new things. I will be the first to admit I am wrong and should not snicker when I see such titles mentioned.

 

[oldminer]

Graduated Gemologist? A phoney term, something is wrong here.

Certified Diamondtologist? This is a legitimate title awarded by the Diamond Coucil of America to people who have passed a course similar to the GIA's Diamond Course. The DCA has mostly members working in chain store environments.

 

[GlitterGal]

----------------
On 5/26/2004 4:01:13 PM strmrdr wrote:

----------------

yep thats my point :}
He/She spent 1-2 years and $12000-$15000 on a cert and makes $8.00 an hour and dont know how to do much of anything so they make what they are worth.

During the boom they were getting hired on for $50k a year some places ROFL.

----------------

Strmrdr,

Don't get me wrong. I do happen to have a lot of respect and love for education (having 2 degrees myself), but I'm surprised when I see people with these educations who don't really apply themselves or give back what they have learned or just stop learning new things altogether. I'm also even more amazed at how difficult it is to find good customer service from these same people who have this higher education. You'd think that their expanded knowledge base would make them more ammenable or understanding and open-minded to helping others.

Again, pls. don't misunderstand - this is just a little afternoon discussion and not meant to be taken as a
generalization of educated people, AT ALL!!

Kindest regards always,
Linda

 

[LaserLady]

yeppers "Graduated" Gemologist

I stand corrected on the Diamondtologist.