Taxidermy Schools and Classes Near You by State

School or Self-Taught? Here's the Real Answer

You can't learn taxidermy from YouTube alone. If you're still wondering what taxidermy actually involves, start there. Otherwise, you need to feel wet hide in your hands, seat clay under your fingers, and have someone watch you work and tell you "that eye's rotated wrong" or "you're applying too much pressure." That's why structured training, whether in-person intensive, community college, or a real apprenticeship, actually matters. The hands-on feedback is irreplaceable.

The good news: there are more routes than most people realize, spread across the country. One-day and weekend workshops, two to thirteen week intensives, part-time community college evenings, and free online material, so there's something for your schedule and budget. This guide breaks down your actual options so you can pick one that fits your life and goals.

Major Taxidermy Schools Directory

In-Person Intensive Programs

These are the heavyweight options, immersive, hands-on training that puts you on a professional path in weeks or months. They're expensive but effective.

Northwood Institute of Taxidermy (Pennsylvania)

Location: Friedens, Pennsylvania
Format: In-person intensive; full course or standalone partial courses
Duration: 13 weeks full course; 4 weeks fish; 3 weeks birds; 6 weeks fur
Program Types: Game fish, game birds, waterfowl, whitetail game heads, medium lifesize, rug
Cost: $9,895 full course; $2,495 fish; $2,395 birds; $5,995 fur. Housing is separate: $1,500 for the full course, $375-$750 for the partial courses
Notable: Tuition covers a tool kit, textbook and all supplies to complete 4 game fish, 2 game birds, 2 waterfowl, 2 whitetail game heads, 1 medium lifesize and 1 rug
Website: northwoodtaxidermy.com
Figures verified: 17 August 2026, from the school's own tuition page

Northwood runs the longest full curriculum on this list at 13 weeks, and it is priced accordingly. What you are buying is breadth: the tuition covers the specimens for every major category rather than one specialty, so you leave having mounted fish, birds, waterfowl, deer, a lifesize and a rug. If you only want one of those, the partial courses are cheaper than committing to the full thirteen weeks.

Dan Rinehart Taxidermy School (Wisconsin, with a Virginia branch)

Location: Edgerton, Wisconsin, plus Eastern Rinehart Taxidermy School in Abingdon, Virginia
Format: In-person, structured curriculum, modular
Duration: 4-week professional course (176 hours of instruction); one-week bird, medium-mammal and deerhead courses at 44 hours each, plus a one-week fish course; one-week turkey course; two-day fish reproduction
Program Types: Deer, birds, fish, medium mammals, fish reproductions, turkey
Cost: $4,600 for the 4-week professional course; $1,200 each for the one-week bird, mammal, deerhead and fish courses; $1,400 turkey; $495 fish reproduction. These are tuition only and do not cover specimens or supplies
Notable: Publishes its curriculum in hours of instruction, which makes it easy to compare against a community-college program
Website: taxidermyarts.com
Figures verified: 17 August 2026. Prices are from the school's enrollment form, which carries a revision date of 1 August 2022, so confirm them before enrolling

The useful thing here is the modularity. If you only want to learn birds, you can take one week of birds rather than paying for a full course built around deer. Read the tuition line carefully though: unlike most schools on this list, specimens and supplies are billed separately, so the sticker price is not the total.

Fanta Taxidermy (Michigan)

Location: East Lansing, Michigan
Format: Personalized training and instruction; classes and seminars for all levels
Duration: One-week course, with two weeks recommended for beginners to retain the skills taught. Daily sessions run about eight hours. Turkey training is treated as a separate course
Program Types: Bird taxidermy only, covering skinning, fleshing, washing, mounting and finishing. Over one week the studio says the average student mounts both an upland bird and a waterfowl
Cost: Not published on the site. Ask directly
Notable: Specializes exclusively in birds. The studio describes owner Charlie Fanta as having won World Champion Birds in 1995
Website: fantataxidermy.com
Figures verified: 17 August 2026, from the business's own site

If birds are your interest specifically, this is a different proposition from a general school: a full week on one discipline, taught by a specialist who takes bird work only. Two weeks is what they recommend if you are starting from nothing. Price is not published, so that part is a phone call.

Lone Leaf Custom Taxidermy (Ohio)

Location: Mt. Gilead, Ohio
Format: In-person, working commission studio that also runs a school
Duration: 1 to 5 days depending on the course
Program Types: 3-day beginner waterfowl; 2-day smallmouth reproduction fish painting; 5-day whitetail A to Z; 1-day one-on-one business course
Cost: $1,800 waterfowl; $1,250 fish painting; $2,650 whitetail; $500 business course
Notable: Class sizes are capped at 4 to 7 students depending on the course, and it is the only school here offering a standalone business course
Website: loneleaftaxidermy.com/taxidermy-school
Figures verified: 17 August 2026, from the school's own course page

This is the lowest-commitment in-person option here. One to five days means you can test whether you actually enjoy the work before spending thousands on a multi-week program, and the small class caps mean you get looked at. The standalone one-day business course is genuinely unusual, and worth noting if your problem is pricing and customers rather than technique.

Lone Star State School of Taxidermy (Texas)

Location: Llano, Texas
Format: In-person intensive, modular by week
Duration: 2-week or 6-week core course, plus single-week add-ons
Program Types: Core mounting, life-size and habitat, birds, rattlesnakes, novelty and velvet, plus a processing week during hunting season
Cost: $3,000 (2 weeks); $8,500 (6 weeks); add-on weeks $200-$3,000; $1,500 processing week. 50% deposit at enrollment
Notable: All supplies, tools, materials and equipment are included, and students take the finished mounts home
Website: texastaxidermyschool.com
Figures verified: 17 August 2026, from the school's own tuition page

This is the most granular pricing on the list, and it is worth understanding why that matters. You can start with two weeks for $3,000 and add exactly the specialties you want, rather than committing to a long program up front. The rattlesnake and velvet weeks are unusual additions.

Central Texas School of Taxidermy (Texas)

Location: Snyder, Texas
Format: In-person intensive
Duration: Two weeks. The school publishes per-subject hours across ten subjects, which sum to 80
Program Types: Game head mounting, tanning, antler board mounts, European skull mounts, painting and finishing, dry preserving, anatomy, reference filing, business practices, and state and federal law
Cost: $3,200, with a 10% deposit at enrollment. All specimens and forms included
Notable: Teaches business practices and state and federal law alongside the craft
Website: centraltexasschooloftaxidermy.com
Figures verified: 17 August 2026, from the school's own course page

Two weeks for $3,200 with specimens included is at the affordable end for a private intensive, and the curriculum covers ground most courses skip. Taxidermy is regulated, and a school that teaches you the state and federal law before you take in your first paying customer is doing you a real favor.

Western Pennsylvania School of Taxidermy (Pennsylvania)

Location: Oliveburg, Pennsylvania
Format: In-person intensive, plus short workshops
Duration: 8 weeks; a 5-day whitetail workshop is also offered
Cost: $9,950 total for the eight-week course ($150 application fee plus $9,800 tuition)
Program Types: Full curriculum; a strutting turkey can be added for $500
Notable: Tuition includes all specimens and forms, a set of basic hand tools, paints and an airbrush. Antlers and mammal-rug felting are not included
Website: pataxidermyschool.com
Figures verified: 17 August 2026, from the school's own tuition page

Including an airbrush and a set of paints in the tuition matters more than it sounds: finishing work is where beginner mounts usually fall down, and buying that kit separately is a real cost. Read the exclusions before budgeting, because antlers and rug felting are billed on top.

Community College & Vocational Programs

Community colleges and vocational schools offer more affordable, longer-format training, often part-time, which suits people balancing work or other commitments. This is the practical, budget-conscious route.

Piedmont Community College (North Carolina)

Location: Roxboro, North Carolina
Format: Community college course (lecture + hands-on lab)
Duration: Mondays and Tuesdays, 5:30pm to 9:30pm, 26 October to 8 December 2026
Program Types: "Fundamentals of Taxidermy: Basic and Advanced"
Cost: $199 tuition fee
Notable: Runs on the Person County Campus. This is a workforce and continuing-education short course, not a credit-bearing program, so do not expect it to stack toward a degree
Website: piedmontcc.edu
Figures verified: 17 August 2026, from the college's own course listing

Community college is the sleeper option, and the price gap is not subtle: $199 against $3,200 at the cheapest private intensive on this list. It runs two evenings a week for about six weeks, so you keep your job. The scope is narrower than a full-time program, but if you are testing whether you actually want to do this before committing thousands, start here.

Online & Hybrid Programs

Online video can't teach you taxidermy by itself, you need hands-on feedback. But video is perfect for learning theory and watching techniques in slow motion before you start in-person training. Smart people watch Free Taxidermy School first, then sign up for an intensive.

Free Taxidermy School (Online)

Location: Online, self-paced
Format: Free self-paced video instruction
Duration: Self-paced; no fixed length published
Cost: Free. The site states its instruction is available "without any pressure or cost"
Notable: Run by Dan Rinehart, who also owns the Dan Rinehart Taxidermy School listed above, so treat it as a free sample of that school's teaching rather than an independent second opinion
Website: freetaxidermyschool.com
Figures verified: 17 August 2026, from the site itself

It's free. Good foundational videos. Not a replacement for real training, but perfect for testing if this is actually something you want to spend money on. Most people watch their stuff first, then commit to an intensive. It's a low-risk way to explore.

Skillshare & Udemy Taxidermy Courses

Format: Video-based, self-paced
Duration: 2-8 hours of content (not a complete training program)
Cost: $10-$50 one-time (Skillshare $30/mo subscription; Udemy $10-$50 courses)
Best For: Learning specific techniques (eyes, ears, fish basics) as supplementary content
Limitation: These are skill snippets, not comprehensive training

Supplementary only. Use them for a specific technique if you're stuck, but these aren't training programs, they're skill snippets. Good for troubleshooting specific problems, not for foundational learning.

School vs. Apprenticeship

Pick school if: You want a few weeks of focused training, upfront cost doesn't scare you, or you can't find an apprenticeship. You'll know the fundamentals and be able to work independently faster. School compresses learning into an intensive timeframe.

Pick apprenticeship if: You find a real taxidermist willing to teach you, you have 12-24 months, and you can handle low or no pay while learning on the job. You'll understand the business side better and earn while learning. Apprenticeships are rare but valuable.

Real talk: Most pros do both. They take an intensive to nail foundational skills, then work with a shop afterward. It's the fastest path to competence and earning potential.

The Path from Beginner to Professional

If you're serious about this as a career, our detailed career guide walks through every step. Below is the condensed version.

Step 1: Get Your Foundation (4-12 weeks)

Pick one:

Short workshop (1-5 days): $500-$2,650
Intensive school (2-13 weeks, full-time): $3,000-$9,950, plus housing where it applies
Community college (evenings over about 6 weeks): around $199
Apprenticeship (6+ months, part-time pay or unpaid): $0 upfront

You'll learn anatomy, how to build a mount, prep hides, seat eyes and ears, and finish the thing. Most schools focus on deer because once you nail the fundamentals on a deer, you can adapt to other animals. Deer are the perfect teaching animal, complex enough to be challenging, common enough for multiple practice specimens.

Step 2: Pick a Specialty

After the basics, you'll narrow down. Big game (deer, elk) has the most demand. Birds are technical but there's a market. Fish is totally different technique-wise. Small mammals are competitive. Pick one, get good at it, then expand. Specialization matters for both quality and marketability.

Step 3: Build Your Portfolio & Business Sense

While you're learning, start taking commissions. Even cheap work at first, you need photos of your mounts and you need to understand how much things cost to price them right. Talk to hunters, guides, collectors. That's your customer base. Building a portfolio is the difference between hobbyist and professional.

Step 4: Handle Licensing & Credentials

Some states require a license for wildlife taxidermy, some don't. Check your state. The National Taxidermists Association runs an optional certification program, judged by category rather than as a single overall rank. It is not mandatory to work, but it establishes credibility with clients. Check the NTA directly for current categories and requirements.

Step 5: Start Working

Either launch a home studio, get hired at an existing shop, or both. Starting out from home at one or two mounts a month, and typical per-mount rates of $400-$800, that is roughly $400-$1,600 a month while you build up. Timeline: 6-12 months to decent income, 2-3 years to a solid reputation.

School Comparison: Quick Reference Table

School	Location	Format	Duration	Cost	Best For	Contact
Northwood Institute of Taxidermy	Friedens, PA	Intensive, in-person	13 wks full course	$9,895 full; $2,495 fish (4 wks); $2,395 birds (3 wks); $5,995 fur (6 wks). Housing extra: $1,500 full, $375-$750 partial	Longest full-curriculum program; tuition covers tool kit, textbook and all mounting supplies	northwoodtaxidermy.com
Western Pennsylvania School of Taxidermy	Oliveburg, PA	Intensive, in-person	8 wks	$9,950 ($150 application + $9,800 tuition)	Includes specimens, forms, hand tools, paints and an airbrush; antlers and strutting turkey cost extra	pataxidermyschool.com
Lone Star State School of Taxidermy	Llano, TX	Intensive, in-person, modular	2 or 6 wks, plus 1-wk add-ons	$3,000 (2 wks); $8,500 (6 wks); add-on weeks $200-$3,000; $1,500 processing week	Most modular pricing; all supplies, tools and equipment included	texastaxidermyschool.com
Central Texas School of Taxidermy	Snyder, TX	Intensive, in-person	2 wks (80 clock hours, summed from the school's published per-subject hours)	$3,200	Broad 10-subject curriculum including business practices and state/federal law	centraltexasschooloftaxidermy.com
Dan Rinehart Taxidermy School	Edgerton, WI, plus a branch in Abingdon, VA	Intensive, in-person, modular	4 wks (176 hrs); 1-wk bird, mammal and deerhead courses (44 hrs each), plus 1-wk fish; 1-wk turkey; 2-day fish reproduction	$4,600 (4 wks); $1,200 each 1-wk course (bird, mammal, deerhead, fish); $1,400 turkey; $495 fish reproduction. Tuition only, specimens and supplies extra	Modular one-week specialties	taxidermyarts.com
Fanta Taxidermy	East Lansing, MI	Personalized instruction and seminars	1 wk (2 wks recommended for beginners); ~8 hr days	Not published	Birds only; the studio describes owner Charlie Fanta as a 1995 World Champion Birds winner	fantataxidermy.com
Piedmont Community College	Roxboro, NC	Community college, part-time evenings	Mondays and Tuesdays, 5:30-9:30pm, 26 Oct to 8 Dec 2026	$199	By far the cheapest route; continuing-education short course, not a credit program	piedmontcc.edu
Lone Leaf Custom Taxidermy	Mt. Gilead, OH	Short courses in a working studio	1 to 5 days	$500 (1-day business); $1,250 (2-day fish painting); $1,800 (3-day waterfowl); $2,650 (5-day whitetail)	Shortest in-person commitment here; class caps of 4 to 7 students	loneleaftaxidermy.com
Free Taxidermy School	Online	Self-paced video	Self-paced	Free	Exploring the craft before paying for an in-person course	freetaxidermyschool.com

How we verified this table. Every school above was checked against its own website on 17 August 2026, and each row links to that school. Where a school does not publish a price or a course length, this table says "Not published" rather than estimating one, and where a figure is derived rather than published as a total, we say so. Tuition changes and some schools revise their forms infrequently, so treat these as the schools' published figures as of that date and confirm directly before enrolling.

Corrections made 17 August 2026. An earlier version of this table listed incorrect locations, course lengths and tuition figures for several of these schools, and one school's website address was mistyped. Every row has been re-checked against the school's own published pages and corrected, and each row now links to that school. We are noting this rather than changing it quietly, because the previous figures were wrong about real businesses and may have been copied elsewhere.

Red Flags & Green Flags When Picking a School

Are the instructors still doing the work? Ask straight up. If they stopped mounting 10 years ago, you're getting old information. Current practitioners know the latest techniques and materials.

How many students per class? Ask, because it drives how much individual attention you get, and schools that cap it usually say so. Lone Leaf publishes caps of 4 to 7 students on its courses, which gives you a sense of what a small class looks like in this field.

What's included in tuition? Good schools include your practice forms and clay. If not, budget another $200-$500 for materials alone.

Do they help after graduation? Can you call them with questions? Good schools stay reachable. This matters more than you might think.

Talk to graduates. Ask the school for contact info. Real graduates will tell you if the training worked for them, if communication was good, if the investment was worthwhile.

Visit the shop. Or ask for a video. Clean, organized, well-lit? That matters for learning. Professional environment signals professional instruction.

Match their strength to your interest. Some are game mounts, some are birds. Don't pay for expertise you don't need, but do pick a school strong in your area.

Start Learning While You Decide

While you're picking a school, watch some YouTube, read about supplies to practice at home, and if you can get your hands on a practice form, play with clay. Small mammals and fish are more forgiving than deer when you're learning eyes and ears. This early exploration costs almost nothing and helps you make a better decision.

FAQ

How long is school?

It depends entirely on the route. The schools listed above run from one-day workshops up to a 13-week full curriculum, with two to eight weeks being the common range for a full-time intensive, and community college running a couple of evenings a week for about six weeks. After school, expect to spend 6-12 months doing the work before you feel solid. Real mastery is 2-3 years of consistent practice.

How much does it cost?

Based on the published figures in the comparison table above: full-time intensives run from $1,200 for a single-week specialty course up to $9,950 for a full curriculum, and the longest one charges for housing on top. Short courses of one to five days run $500 to $2,650. Community college is the cheapest structured route by a wide margin, at $199 for the Piedmont course. Free online material costs nothing but is not enough on its own. An apprenticeship costs nothing upfront but requires finding one and investing the time.

Read what tuition includes, because it varies more than the headline price suggests. Some schools include every specimen, form and tool; at least one charges tuition only and bills specimens and supplies separately. For a full breakdown of what you'll spend, see our training cost overview.

Can I learn online?

Not as your only training. Video is great for theory and watching techniques, but you can't feel hide through a screen or get live feedback on your eye placement. You need hands-on work with someone watching. That's non-negotiable.

Smart move: Watch free videos or Free Taxidermy School first to make sure you're interested, then do a full-time course in person. Video after that? Sure, for specific techniques. But not as a replacement.

Do I need a license?

Depends on your state and what you're mounting. Most states require a license for native wildlife (deer, elk, birds). You'll test on wildlife laws and techniques. Exotics might be different. Pets and composites are usually unregulated. Check your state wildlife agency, it matters before you pick a school.

NTA certification is optional but looks professional and helps with client confidence.

What's the money like?

It depends on specialization, location, and whether you own the studio or work for one. Rural areas with more hunters mean more demand, and big game generally pays better per mount than birds.

The honest way to size it is from your own numbers rather than a salary band. Take the rate you can charge per mount and the number you can realistically finish in a month: at $400-$800 a mount, three to five mounts works out at roughly $1,200-$4,000 a month before costs. Your own pricing research for your species and region is a better guide than any national average, and for employed roles the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes current wage data by state.

Pick Your Path

Want intensive, proven training? Northwood or Dan Rinehart. Want affordable? Piedmont CC at $199, or start free. Interested in birds specifically? Fanta Taxidermy in Michigan, or Dan Rinehart's one-week bird course. Want the shortest commitment? Lone Leaf's one to five day courses. Need flexibility? Community college evenings. Just testing it out? Free videos first, then a short workshop. You can also find classes in your area for local options.

Talk to the schools before applying. Ask about graduate outcomes, watch a class if they'll let you, and call some alumni. This is real money and time, it deserves a real call.

Taxidermy Schools: Find the Right Program for Your Skills and Budget