Registered Master Farrier?
RJF: Registered Journeyman Farrier. The minimum membership credential of the Guild of Professional Farriers which denotes a fully competent professional farrier. To be eligible to apply for the RJF, a farrier must have at least four years’ practical experience and be a full-time practicing farrier. The written RJF exam includes dual-aspect questions designed to test the applicant’s real understanding of farrier science rather than his ability to memorize answers. The forgework phase of the RJF exam requires the applicant to demonstrate a combination of skills that would allow him to fabricate any functional horseshoe that may be required in practice. There are no restrictions on what equipment may be used to fabricate/modify the shoes. The live shoeing phase requires the applicant to shoe a horse all ‘round with handmade shoes of the type and style suitable to the animal’s use and condition (as determined in writing by a previous evaluation). The RJF exams are designed to evaluate practical ability to serve the public and are not based on contest standards. Time guidelines are flexible and fairly generous. Journeyman-level certifications from the AFA, WCF, and IUJH may be accepted in lieu of taking the RJF exams if the applicant meets the other RJF requirements.
RMF: Registered Master Farrier. The highest credential issued by the Guild of Professional Farriers which denotes a highly advanced farrier qualified to train apprentices. To become an RMF, the applicant must first prove practical competence as a farrier by achieving the RJF. He must also have a minimum of eight years’ full-time experience as a practicing farrier. He may then submit to the Guild a proposal for an original project or thesis designed to demonstrate sophisticated understanding of applied farriery and the ability to clearly express that insight to others. If approved, the applicant may complete the project and submit it. The project is then evaluated by a panel of farriers who are not allowed to know whose work they are evaluating. There is no grandfather program for achieving the RMF. All farriers holding the RMF earned it through the process detailed here. The RMF should not be confused with any “master” certifications offered by schools or associations.