
AESF Education Foundation
A Non-Profit Organization that
Serves as NASF’s Training Arm
The Foundation’s three core areas are education, research and scholarship. AESF Foundation was formed in 2006 and offers several distinct learning platforms: Classroom Courses, Web-Based Courses, Home Study Courses and Custom Courses, which are tailored to the individual needs of public and private entities.
AESF is the gold standard in finishing industry education, and the exclusive grantor of industry certifications, from basic CEF (Certified Electroplater Finisher) to MSF (Master Surface Finisher).
View our 2022 course calendar. Have specific questions about our courses? View our list of Frequently Asked Questions.
Choose from 4 Study Platforms:

Classroom Courses:
- Live interaction with a certified instructor in a classroom setting
- Taught in select locations throughout the U.S.
- Instruction takes place over 2-4 days (add 1 day for optional exam)
Web-Based Courses:
- Foundation courses in a series of web-based sessions
- Live, online interaction with NASF/AESF Foundation instructors and other industry experts
- Sessions take place on pre-determined Tuesdays & Wednesdays between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM Eastern
- Session recordings are available upon request to students for 30-days after the original posting date if students wish to review or miss live sessions
Home Study Courses:
- Begin a Home Study training program at any time and complete at your own pace
- Course materials sent electronically to the email address provided during registration
- AESF Technical Director reviews chapter quizzes and provides feedback
- Proctored exams can be taken at your location
Custom Courses:
- Custom design a training program to meet your company’s needs
- Mix and match 154 available course modules
- An instructor will provide on-site training