Registration Information

Summer Registration Now Open!

Register Online  

Registration/Session Dates: 

  • CE Winter/Spring Semester: January 16 – April 15 (plein air and extended courses through May 19)
  • Open Academy Semester (15-Wk BFA Classes): January 16 – May 3  
  • CE Studio Rental Program: January 16 – May 3
  • CE Summer Semester: May 15 – August 18 
    • Session 1: May 15 – June 30 (ten-week courses extend through Session 2; select six-week courses may overlap by one week)
    • Session 2: July 1 – August 18
  • Summer Studio/Critique Program: July 8 – August 16
  • CE Summer Deadlines:  Vary by start date – see course descriptions

Summer Holidays/Breaks: 

  • Memorial Day/Weekend, Saturday – Monday, May 25 - 27:  No classes in session for extended weekend. School and museum facilities closed on Monday holiday only.
  • Juneteenth, Wednesday, June 19:  No classes in Session. School and museum facilities closed.
  • Independence Day/Weekend, Thursday, July 4 – Sunday, July 7:  No classes in session for extended weekend. School and museum facilities closed on Thursday holiday only.

Save on Tuition

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PAFA Members Save 10% on CE Classes

PAFA is pleased to offer a 10% discount on regular CE courses and workshops for members at the Friend level and above.  Special programs such as Open Academy, Master Classes, Studio Rental, and Summer Studio/Critique are ineligible.

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Refer A Friend, Get 10% Off

Refer a first-time Continuing Education registrant, and you and the new student will receive a 10% discount on tuition for one regular CE class or workshop within the current semester (Master Classes and Special Programs Special programs such as Open Academy, Studio Rental, and Summer Studio/Critique are excluded).   Some restrictions apply.

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Financial Assistance Available

CE Community Scholarships offer partial tuition assistance to adult students who demonstrate financial need and dedication to their art.  Some restrictions apply.  Master Classes and Special Programs Special programs such as Open Academy, Studio Rental, and Summer Studio/Critique are ineligible for scholarship assistance.  Limit one scholarship per academic year for students enrolled in Certificate of Art (CA) Programs.

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Early Bird Discount for Summer Classes

Register for Summer classes by Friday, April 19, and receive a 10% discount!  Use the promo code EARLYBIRDSUMMER2024 at check-out (be sure to click the “+” symbol).  PAFA members at the Friend level and above will receive an additional 10% off this discounted rate.  (Master Classes and Special Programs such as Open Academy, Studio Rental, and Summer Studio/Critique are excluded from discounts.)

Tuition & Fees

Course Tuition

  • Course tuition prices are as posted in course descriptions in the online catalogCourse tuition varies based on length, live/Zoom contact hours, and asynchronous content on Canvas. 
  • Tuition rates vary for Special Programming such as Workshops, Lectures, Seminars, Studio Rental Programs, and Master Classes.  Please refer to individual course descriptions.
  • Full payment is due at the time of registration.  PAFA cannot prorate courses for late registration, withdrawals or missed classes.

Lab and Material Fees

Please consult individual course descriptions for any applicable lab or materials fees.


Model Fees 

Courses that incorporate the use of models include model fees—see individual course descriptions.


Locker Rentals (for On-Campus Courses Only)

Lockers are available on a first-come, first-served basis for $25.  Locker rental is not available for weekend workshops.  Limit one locker per student per semester.  Locker registration is available to enrolled students only, from course start date to end date each semester.  Lockers must be cleaned out at the end of each semester, per PAFA's security requirements, regardless of any student's enrollment status for the next semester. Lockers cannot be held, with items left inside, between semesters.

Payment Options

Registration and payment is available online via VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Card.  PayPal payment arrangements may be available upon request for international addresses.

Mailed and in-person check, money order, or cash payments may be accepted by special arrangement -- please confirm with the CE office prior to registration by calling 215-972-2029 or emailing continuinged@pafa.edu. Make checks or money orders payable to “PAFA” and mail to:

Continuing Education Programs
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
128 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Checks returned by the bank as unpaid will accrue an additional returned check fee of $35.

Registration Information For Online Courses

Continuing Education is pleased to continue availability of online course offerings. In addition to the required art-making materials indicated for each course, students typically need only a computer other device with a high-speed internet connection to participate, as well as a means of photographing artwork to upload for studio/critique-based courses -- a cell phone camera will suffice.  See detailed information for Zoom requirements below.

Online courses feature asynchronous instruction, allowing students to take advantage of posted course content any time of day, and/or synchronous instruction, scheduled for specific days and times via live Zoom videoconferencing sessions.  Many courses utilize combination of these formats.  See course descriptions. Standard courses consist of approximately 3 hours of weekly content, either Zoom-only or as a combination of synchronous Zoom instruction and asynchronous Canvas content in the form of assignments/feedback, artist references, and/or posted handouts or videos.  Condensed Courses are comprised of a greater number of content hours over fewer weeks. Live, Zoom-only lectures or mindfulness courses may meet for fewer hours.    

Note:  It is strongly recommended that you add the pafa.edu domain, as well as the Canvas and CourseStorm notification emails below, to your list of approved senders in your email, to ensure that you are receiving all pertinent information and communications regarding your enrollment. 

Asynchronous (Canvas) Online Instruction:

  • Courses with asynchronous online instruction utilize Canvas as their online learning platform. Canvas allows students to view course content (video, images, text), upload homework assignments for instructor feedback, and communicate both with the instructor one-on-one and with other students via message boards.  The course content is typically uploaded each Monday (or other designated start date), and enrolled students have 24-hour access to all posted content to pursue according to their personal schedule.
  • Enrolled students will receive an invitation to join Canvas by their course start date.  Emailed invitations will be sent via canvas@pafa.edu / notifications@instructure.comPlease be sure to check your email junk/spam or "All Mail" folders and approve sender. 
  • Registrations shortly before the course start date may receive Canvas information the day-of, or shortly following, the first day of class.  Usually this will not result in missed content:  Course information uploaded on Canvas is available for the duration of the course. 
  • For Canvas instructions (following acceptance of the emailed invitation to login) see PAFA's Canvas FAQs.  

Synchronous (Zoom) Online Instruction:

  • Courses with synchronous courses utilize Zoom for live videoconferencing. Review PAFA's list of Zoom Technical Requirements for details about participating in Zoom courses.
  • Course times are included in the course description.  All posted meetings take place in Eastern Time.
  • Enrolled students will be emailed instructions for accessing Zoom sessions via CourseStorm registration reminders two days before the course start date.  Registration reminders/receipts are emailed via notifications@coursestorm.comPlease be sure to check your email junk/spam or "All Mail" folders and approve sender. It is strongly recommended that students take advantage of the Zoom tutorials (included in the Zoom instructions, or via https://zoom.us) before the course begins. 
  • Registrations shortly before the course start date/time may receive Zoom instructions on their CourseStorm registration receipts or emailed separately. 
  • Zoom sessions may be recorded.  By registering for a Zoom class, students agree to participate in recorded sessions; however, students may elect to adjust setting so as to ensure that they are not visible to other participants/viewers. Recorded Zoom sessions may be viewed later by students registered in the course, but will not be shared beyond enrolled students.  Students are not to download and/or share class recordings.
  • Please note:  Faculty are not required to record or make recordings available to students; however, many instructors do provide this option.  Students requesting recordings must do so from the instructor -- the CE office cannot provide a faculty member's class recordings. 

Please contact Continuing Education with any questions at continuinged@pafa.edu.

COVID-19 Safety for On-Campus Classes

PAFA no longer requires COVID vaccination as of May 4, 2023, based on current science and City of Philadelphia regulations.  However, PAFA and the CDC strongly recommend full COVID vaccination and booster shots for all students and employees who are eligible, including the bivalent booster.  We will continue to monitor campus policies for COVID-19 safety and prevention, in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines.  (See Procedures and Policies for complete information.)