Oxford Punch Needle Instructor Certification Program

Oxford Certified Instructors are world renowned for the quality of teaching and high standards they provide.  With punch needle rug hooking rapidly gaining popularity in North America and abroad, this an excellent opportunity to get a solid start in an exciting field!

The certification program is designed for anyone who is interested in becoming a punch needle rug hooking instructor. Punching experience is a must but no former teaching experience is required. The Oxford Rug Hooking School oversees the certification program, and the mandatory training component is offered independently by our Advanced Oxford Certified Instructors. The training follows our set Oxford Curriculum which involves approximately 60 hours of class learning and covers all the topics necessary to give you the skills and confidence needed to be successful. 

During the training program all students will learn potential problems, pitfalls, and “tricks of the trade,” both for punching, and for teaching the craft to others.  Where to teach, where to get supplies, how to write course descriptions, lesson plans, supply lists, contracts, and much more will all be covered.  Students will even have the opportunity to practice new teaching skills and will end the course with a personalized plan for starting on their teaching journey.

Many different technical skills will be taught including how to use all the Oxford Punch Needle sizes, shading, three-dimensional rug hooking, sculpting, and how to use novelty yarns and strips of fabric and more. Students will begin a special sampler in class that will illustrate these techniques and serve as an excellent teaching aid for when they start to teach their own classes.

Participants will also be required to design an original 2' x 3' rug ahead of time to be color planned in class (materials for this rug are supplied by the student themselves). Both the sampler and the 2' x 3' rug will be finished as homework, along with other assignments. 

All physical homework must be submitted for evaluation to the Advanced Instructor who is teaching their course, either by mail or personal delivery, and this is the responsibility of the student. 

Those who successfully complete the course and all homework assignments will be made a Certified Oxford Instructor by the Oxford Company/Oxford Rug Hooking School. They will be provided with ongoing support through the Oxford Company, the Dean of the Oxford Rug Hooking School, and will receive all the additional benefits that come with holding the distinguished title of Certified Oxford Instructor. 

Please note that this is a demanding and intensive program where much is given but much is also required. Come ready to work hard, to have fun and to learn a lot! 

Homework Deadline: The Homework Deadline is 4 months from the last day of your course. 

Program Structure:

You will notice that there are three main course formats that are being offered; In-person, Hybrid (combination of online, and in-person), and entirely online- to suit different needs and learning styles.

Each Advanced Oxford Instructor brings their own unique style, perspective and personal experience to the course, but all courses will cover the same core materials as outlined in the Instructor Training Manual, involve approximately the same number of classroom hours, and have the same homework requirements.

The cost for the Oxford Instructor Certification Program is standardised at $1595 USD which is payable to your instructor once you are accepted into the program.  Additional taxes may apply.  There are two scholarships available each year to help offset the costs of taking the course (see 'scholarships' tab below).

Please Note: Most Instructors require a minimum number of students to run the training course. Should those numbers not be met, students will be given the option to switch to another date/time and instructor.

How To Apply:

Read through ALL information on this page including the lower tabs (Prerequisites, Materials and Supplies, Scholarships, Application Information).

Look through the chart of dates,formats,instructors, and locations of the Instructor Certification Courses being offered in 2025 and find the one that suits you best. Follow the directions under the Application tab below. 

Oxford Punch Needle Rug Hooking Instructor Certification Programs being offered in 2025: