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A Few Frequent Questions
Q: I'm amazed that you offer so much, so fast, for so much less than any other University. How do you do it?
A: Phoenix State University is the leading ACCREDITED online trade school in the U.S. Because of our association with Smith Tactical (the largest employer of gunsmiths in the U.S., and a major bladesmithing clinic) and ETI (One of the world's largest LE/Military Distributors of knives and guns), we can offer far more to our students than just a great start. We simply don't stop until our grads are successful educationally AND financially!
Q: If I buy Journeyman, does it include the other two courses?
A: Yes, the Journeyman level includes both of the other two courses (Bladesmith and Master Bladesmith) at no extra cost, AND includes free access to the ETI Network.
Q: I saw that some other schools offer "tools" with their programs, but they take almost a year and cost over $750 compared to your $99. How do you differ?
A: We've seen that ad too! First, that school is NOT accredited and is not even in the top 20 (PSU is NUMBER ONE). Your certificate will NOT be recognized by the trade, wholesalers, manufacturers, customers, insurers or City and State business licensing departments. The "tools" they offer are a small caliper gauge and a screwdriver set you can get from Brownell's or Numrich for $29. How do you spell rip off? Reality... PSU is the ONLY accredited online University with a Bladesmithing program that offers grads equipment financing, wholesale trade acceptance, and approval by all major insurers, manufacturers and distributors.
Q: What does it mean that the advanced courses are dialectic or didactic?
A: In many online universities, a version of the old Socratic method is used, or what researchers would call "delphi" or "dialectic," and sometimes "didactic." This simply means, at the first Bladesmith level, you receive a course email or download with a brief exam at the end. At the advanced levels (Master Bladesmith and Journeyman Bladesmith), the ability to research and find answers is more important. The format is an email or download with questions, and online websites and links, in the advanced courses. You research and return the answers, and are given feedback. This back and forth "questioning" format is often called dialectic, because it hearkens back to the old Socratic method, yet also is very suited to modern online university teaching formats.
Q: I talked to one of your Graduate Bladesmiths who said you're the only school that could get him trade approval without brick and mortar. What is that about?
A: Because of our association with Smith Tactical and ETI, and due to being nationally accredited, your PSU Bladesmith Certificate allows you to buy wholesale from every leading manufacturer and distributor WITHOUT needing to prove you have a physical store or separate shop. This allows many of our bladesmithing grads to make $200,000 plus the first year with a spare bedroom or garage shop. PSU is the ONLY University that GUARANTEES trade acceptance without a brick and mortar store.
Q: Do I have to take and pass (and pay for) the basic first even if I have enough experience to start at the Master or Journeyman?
A: If you buy the Journeyman course (for example), you GET the other two courses included for no additional money. Yes, you have to take them and pass the brief exams, but NO, not sequentially, you can do all three at once if you have the time and experience. Journeyman students with good knowledge of knifemaking get their certificate between three weeks and three months, depending on how much time they put into it. However, the Basic certificate (to be honest) is accepted by 99% of wholesalers and licensing depts. and you can get it for under $100 and before your inspection is even scheduled. It compares to between $800 and $15,000 at other schools!
Q: Can I contact my advisor by phone?
A: Phoenix State University policy on phone contact is that resident (on campus) students are allowed phone contact, web (online) students must communicate by email. The reason for this is that your communications, progress, questions, etc. are logged and become part of your transcript, which keeps our accreditation (and your certificate/license) healthy. You also get only one instructor/ advisor to answer your questions with deep knowledge of the subject and your progress/situation, rather than some random operator at a phone bank in India or the Phillipines like many schools today.
Q: Does the $99 Bladesmith course require additional hidden expenses in tools or other materials before completion? What does my certificate say?
A: The Basic Certificate has your name and "Bladesmith" on the cert. NO, there are no additional or hidden charges, your purchase takes you right through your successful certificate, including shipping it 2 day Priority to you. We hear you, we know of one course being offered for $900 that then requires you to purchase over $2,800 in tools before they will send your certification, and they are not even accredited! We have a Fortune 500 company behind us, and actually finance, lease and floorplan tools, equipment and inventory for our grads, but do not require any additional purchases.
Q: I ordered the Journeyman Bladesmith course and LOVE it. I can't believe I can be certified this fast by an accredited program! I want to protect my knife rights AND start a great new home business, probably just selling knives at first, then making them as I get experience. Quick question: I noticed a shipping charge, but I ordered the online course, what are you shipping?
A: Thank you! We hear from hundreds of new students each week who start selling knives first, then move into their own custom pieces. The shipping charge you paid for is for shipment of your Certificate. Once you've completed your course, and give us the correct name, your certificate will read "John Doe, Bladesmith" (Master Bladesmith, Journeyman... etc.). Your Certificate is shipped Priority 2-3 day mail to your home or Paypal address. Any other school, customer, employer, wholesaler, trade manufacturer, City, County or State Licensing agency, tool or equipment supplier etc. who requests your transcript and validation of your Bladesmith status will receive that report at no additional cost to you, unlike many Universities who charge up to $100 for EACH transcript!
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PSU VS. Next Leading BLADESMITH School |
| What’s Included |
PSU Certificate |
#2 School |
| Accredited? |
YES |
NO |
| Extra Income? |
YES |
NO |
| Smith Tactical? |
YES |
NO |
| Under $200? |
YES |
NO |
| Finish 2 Months?? |
YES |
NO |
| City Licensure? |
YES |
NO |
| State Licensure? |
YES |
NO |
| Govt. Accepted? |
YES |
NO |
| Transcript Transferrable? |
YES |
NO |
| Trade References? |
YES |
NO |
| Buy Components? |
YES |
NO |
| Tools Wholesale? |
YES |
NO |
| RFP Referrals? |
YES |
NO |
| Equipment Leasing? |
YES |
NO |
| Insurer Accepted? |
YES |
NO |
| Trade Accepted? |
YES |
NO |
| FREE Transcripts? |
YES |
NO |
| Save collection? |
YES |
NO |
| Military Customers? |
YES |
NO |
| Law Enforcement? |
YES |
NO |
| Wholesale Knives? |
YES |
NO |
| Wholesale Parts? |
YES |
NO |
| Wholesale Machines? |
YES |
NO |
| Shop Financing? |
YES |
NO |
| Related Courses? |
YES |
NO |
| Accepted Worldwide? |
YES |
NO |
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