Online courses are a dirty joke in the industry.
Apply for a job with an online "degree" or "certification" and you'll be lucky if all they do is laugh in your face as they kick you out.
Mail order courses are a not-quite-as-dirty joke in the industry. Apply with a degree from one of them and they probably won't laugh too hard until you leave, then they'll pitch your resume in the trash.
The problem with gunsmithing is while the potential harm that a jack leg "gunsmith" can do can be fatal, no actual license for competency is needed.
In many states I would have had to pass a test and get licensed to be a watchmaker. When I graduated from watchmaking school, the test I took to graduate was the state licensing test in that state, so I was licensed there.
People who do potentially dangerous work have to pass tests and get licensed, including engineers, water district employees, gas fitters and electricians, etc.
But gunsmiths don't have to prove competency so you can get a "certification" by simply printing one on your printer from "The Johnny Jones School of Master Gunsmiths and Bartenders" and it's as good as one from an internet or mail order school.
If you want to be a hobbyist who works on your OWN guns, one of the internet or mail order schools may get you started.
If you want to be a professional gunsmith qualified to work on OTHER peoples guns there's two main roads to that.
1. Find a REAL master gunsmith who's also able to teach it and will take on an apprentice. These are very few and even farther between.
If you intend to get a job, he better also be well known in the industry for turning out quality, competent apprentices.
Billy Bob who runs a small shop probably isn't known to very many people in the industry, so he's going to be no real help to you.
His reputation in the industry is going to be your resume.
2. Attend one of the top gunsmithing schools. There you have a Master gunsmith/instructor looking over your shoulder and telling you how to do it, and how to do it better/faster.
He'll also tell you if you're not doing it right, and one way or another if you simply aren't cut out to be a gunsmith, they'll let you know that too.
Top schools with the best reputation in the industry are schools like Colorado School of Trades, and Trinidad Junior College.
These are real professional schools. They take years and LOTs of money.
When you graduate, the certification or degree will get you a job interview anywhere, and they won't be laughing.
