The American Academy of Bookbinding has designed diploma programs in fine bookbinding and conservation for professional students. Diplomas will be awarded to students who have completed a combination of in-class and independent study and practical work at the Academy and at home. Since each student will enter the program at a different level, each will have different diploma requirements based on personal skills and speed of learning. The average length of time it takes a student to complete his or her diploma requirements is five years; however, this is not a mandatory time schedule.

At the end of the student's first course at the Academy, the Director will meet with the student to discuss his/her level and the necessary requirements for a diploma.

Summary of Requirements for Conservation
To graduate, the following projects need to be completed:

• Two treated textblocks
• Two full leather bindings with titling on spine
• One clamshell box
• Sample sheets repaired with Japanese paper and sheets repaired with heat set tissue
• Eight bindings completed in class
• Eight bindings completed at home

Summary of Requirements for Fine Binding
To graduate, the following projects need to be completed:

• One half leather binding
• Two full leather bindings with design, one chemise and slipcase, one clamshell box
   (may be part of twenty total bindings)
• Ten bindings completed in class
• Ten bindings completed at home

Upon completion of all projects, a panel of jurors will critique and judge the student¹s work. A diploma from the American Academy of Bookbinding will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of these requirements. A full description of diploma requirements is provided to the student at the beginning of their course of study.

During the past four years, the American Academy of Bookbinding has graduated four students who have completed the five-year course of study and independent work. Cathy Adelman, Jeffrey Altepeter, Cynthia Fields-Bélanger and Mark Kirchner have been awarded diplomas in professional bookbinding. The students not only satisfied five years of course requirements, they completed over twenty bindings, both in class and independently, and a research paper — all judged by a juried panel. Jury members included Tini Miura, Einen Miura, Daniel Tucker, Eleanore Ramsey, Monique Lallier, and Frank Mowery.