ADMISSION
REGISTRATION PROCESS
Registration for the school year opens in February after the initial round of scholarships has been awarded. To learn more about financial assistance, please visit scholarships and tuition assistance.
Courses fill quicky. To register for courses, visit Courses page. You may pay in full or provide a $300 non-refundable deposit to hold your spot. If you choose the deposit option, the remaining course payment is due 45 days before your course start date.
Registered Diploma, current on their dues, students will receive priority in registration.
Course Prerequisites:
Some classes require completion of Introduction to Bookbinding Level 1 and/or Level 2. If you have prior experience, you may request to test out of introductory courses.
To test out of Level 1, upload photos of 3–5 bindings that demonstrate skill in multi-section sewing, case binding, and creating paper or cloth-covered boards.
To test out of Level 2, include a hard-cover, rounded and backed binding with a leather spine (either laced-in or case-bound).
Please note: Coptic bindings, accordions, single-signature pamphlets, flag books, and other folded structures do not satisfy the requirements for testing out of Level 1 or 2.
Portfolio Review:
Some classes require portfolio review. Any portfolio reviews will be listed in the course description. Returning students who have registered for a course will be notified within a week if a portfolio review is required.
If you’re unsure whether you meet the prerequisites for a course, feel free to contact us at aab@ahhaa.org.
New students applying for courses at the American Academy of Bookbinding need to fill
out the New Student Registration Form linked below. Please include 3-5 images of your
work, the image title, and a short description of the work in the fields below. This will ensure
you are placed in the appropriate course level. If you are registering for the Introduction to Bookbinding – Level 1 no portfolio is required.
Returning students may be required to submit work samples for certain classes. We will
contact you if it’s required and send you a link to a form for uploading images of your work.
Acceptance: Students will receive a confirmation email with a copy of the AAB Student Handbook. If a student registers for a course and does not meet the prerequisites, they will receive a refund of their deposit or tuition.
Waitlist: If the class has reached its maximum enrollment, students will be placed on a waitlist. No deposit payment is required for the waitlist. If a spot opens, the waitlisted student will be notified immediately, and payment will be due to secure enrollment.
Fill out the new student information form here
To Register for Courses, click here
PAYMENTS AND POLICIES
Registration is considered complete once a deposit or full payment is received.
Deposits: A non-refundable minimum deposit of $300 is required upon course registration. Students may pay the full amount at registration or pay the deposit, with the remaining balance due 45 days before the course begins.
CANCELLATION AND TRANSFER POLICY
Tuition is refunded in full for cancellations made more than 45 days before the course start date, minus the $300 non-refundable deposit per course. No refunds will be issued for student cancellations made within 45 days of the course start date. Refunds will not be issued to students who do not show up.
If AAB must cancel a class for any reason, students will receive a full refund plus deposit or the option to transfer their funds to an alternative course.
Transfer Process: To transfer enrollment to another course, students must do so at least 45 days before the start of their original course. No transfers will be approved within 45 days of the original course start. There is no fee to transfer courses.
Transfers are only permitted within the same calendar year. If a registered student wants to attend the following year, they will receive a refund minus the $300 deposit and must reapply.