Fly Tying Group
Certification of Fly Tiers

(first posted November 13, 2008; last updated November 18, 2009)

THE QUESTION OF CERTIFICATION

The question of certification of fly tiers has surfaced and re-surfaced many times over the past several years. Each time the conversation was lively, and sometimes heated, but the outcome was always the same. The general consensus was that the fly tying community is opposed to a certification program for fly tiers or fly tying instructors.

In 2005, all the living Buszek winners plus a few senior tiers met in Livingston, Montana, to consider certification of fly tiers as means to improve their teaching skills. These highly esteemed individuals vociferously rejected the proposal of certification. However, they did consider other ways/opportunities for tiers to enrich and enhance their skills as tying demonstrators and/or fly tying instructors. It was concluded that an educational program would be a more effective means of enhancing tiers’ teaching skills than a certification program. Thus, the “Tiers as Teachers Program” was created. This program has resulted in several workshops at the annual FFF Conclaves. Also, an online resource was developed to teach tiers how to improve their instructing and demonstration skills.

In 2007, the FFF Board of Directors created the FFF Fly Tying Group. They selected an interim Board of Governors from among former Buszek winners and other well-respected senior tyers. The topic of certification was discussed. The interim Board and the Chief Operating Officer of the FFF, Bob Wiltshire, with support of the Chief Executive Officer, Van Van Gytenbeek, decided that certification of fly tiers was not desirable and would not be a goal of the organization.

In 2008, an elected Fly Tying Group Board of Governors took office. This new group was asked to address the subject of a fly tier certification program by the FFF Board of Directors. They were also asked to consider certification of fly tying instructors as a separate and distinct issue. After lengthy deliberation, the decision was unanimous and unequivocal: certification of fly tiers and/or fly tying instructors is not in the best interest of the fly tying community for the following reasons:

1. Fly tying is a creative art and can not be regulated.
2. Diversity and individuality are core values in fly tying, and that certification would work against these core values.

The conclusion of the Fly Tying Group Board of Governors is that over the years, too much time and energy has been spent by different groups discussing these issues, with the same result. The Board of Governors considers the certification issue closed.

The Fly Tying Group Board of Governors exists to serve the interests of the fly tying community. They have chosen to direct the energies and efforts of the group in planning and implementing new and worthwhile programs, which are listed on our Projects Page.

Approve unanimously by the Board, November 13, 2008