Western College of Auctioneering

What Western College of Auctioneering does

Western College of Auctioneering (WCA) is a privately held vocational school founded in 1948 in Bozeman, Montana, specializing in auctioneer pre-licensing and continuing education. Its flagship product is an 85-hour state-approved Pre-Licensing Course delivered in a hybrid format - approximately 80 hours online via the DigitalChalk LMS followed by a 4-day in-person residency in Montana. The curriculum is taught by champion-caliber auctioneers, including the 2021 International Auctioneer Champion, and spans livestock, real estate, auto, charity, antiques, and benefit auctioneering niches.

WCA's product portfolio includes the 85-hour pre-licensing course ($2,795), a 4-day Advanced Bid Calling Seminar ($1,595), Online Auction Seminar 101 ($450), and Auction Industry Fundamentals. Pricing is structured as direct-to-consumer tuition with no enterprise or institutional contracts evidenced. The business has produced 6,000+ graduates since inception and recruits across the U.S. and Canada.

The school operates with a small administrative team and transitioned to a hybrid delivery model using DigitalChalk, reducing dependence on physical facilities while preserving the in-person bid-calling component. Ownership changed hands in 2013 to Nick Bennett and again in 2025 to Cole Morrison (President), with Ashley Morrison in Admin/Finance. No external funding, acquisition activity, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Name

Western College of Auctioneering

Legal name

Western College of Auctioneering

Website

https://auctionschools.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Western College of Auctioneering is a Bozeman, Montana-based vocational school founded in 1948 that delivers state-approved auctioneer pre-licensing and advanced bid-calling training to aspiring and working auctioneers across North America via hybrid online and in-person formats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bozeman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 85-Hour Pre-Licensing Tuition: Tuition for the flagship hybrid pre-licensing course that meets most state licensing requirements. Offered in two options: Option A at $2,195 and Option B at $2,795 (includes additional individual bid call training). A $500 deposit is required to reserve a seat.
2. Refresher Course Tuition: $450 for previous 85-Hour Pre-Licensing graduates to retake the course
3. Bid Calling Seminar Tuition: $1,595 for the 3-day Advanced Bid Calling Seminar for graduates and industry professionals
4. Auction Industry Fundamentals Online Course: $995 for the 28-hour online-only course covering auction industry business aspects without bid call training

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Western College of Auctioneering is a vocational trade school that trains individuals to become licensed, professional auctioneers. Its flagship 85-Hour Pre-Licensing Course uses a hybrid format of online modules plus four days of intensive in-person bid-calling training in Bozeman, Montana, and satisfies most U.S. state auctioneer licensing requirements. Supplemental offerings include online-only courses (Auction Industry Fundamentals, Online Auction Seminar 101) and an Advanced Bid Calling Seminar for working professionals.

Product overview

Western College of Auctioneering is a vocational auctioneering school offering a portfolio of training programs for aspiring and professional auctioneers. The core offering is the 85-Hour Pre-Licensing Course (available as Option A or Option B with additional bid call training), supplemented by Online Auction Seminar 101 and Auction Industry Fundamentals (online-only courses), plus an Advanced Bid Calling Seminar for advanced skill development. The school also provides specialized training across 12 auction industry niches including livestock, real estate, art, estate, and online auctions. The institution uses DigitalChalk as its learning management system for online course delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 85-Hour Pre-Licensing Course Hybrid course combining online and in-person instruction that delivers a comprehensive foundation for a career in the auction industry. Includes Option A ($2,195, 85 hours) and Option B ($2,795, with additional individual bid call training), plus a $450 Refresher Course for previous students. Covers bid calling, auction technology, laws & licensing, advertising, professionalism & ethics, clerking, contracts, and various auction types. Meets most state licensing requirements.
• Online Auction Seminar 101 Online-only course providing students with essential tools and best practices for conducting online auctions. Does not include bid-call training and does not meet state licensing requirements.
• Auction Industry Fundamentals 28-hour online on-demand course diving into the business behind the auction industry. Covers auction niches, business practices, technology, laws, contracts, marketing, and more. Does not include bid-call training and does not meet state licensing requirements. Priced at $995.
• Advanced Bid Calling Seminar 3-day in-person seminar providing individual and small-group bid-call training to elevate auction chant skills. Tailored for graduates of the 85-Hour Pre-Licensing course and industry professionals. Priced at $1,595.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates report successful career outcomes including starting own auction companies, winning state and national championships, and building multi-state auction businesses

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Missouri Auction School: Another well-known auctioneer training institution offering online and in-person pre-licensing courses. Competes head-to-head with WCA on hybrid course formats and state licensing preparation.
• Reppert School of Auctioneering: Long-established auctioneer trade school based in Louisiana offering pre-licensing and continuing education courses for aspiring auctioneers. Directly competes with WCA for the same national student base seeking formal auctioneer credentials.
• World Wide College of Auctioneering: Iowa-based auctioneer trade school offering live and online pre-licensing instruction. Closely comparable to WCA in curriculum breadth, hybrid delivery model, and target student demographic.
• Nashville Auction School: Tennessee-based auctioneer training school with hybrid online and in-person coursework. Competes directly with WCA for aspiring auctioneers across the southern and midwestern US.
• Texas Auction Academy: Auctioneer training program based in Texas offering pre-licensing and continuing education. Direct competitor with regional strength in Texas where WCA's licensing course is not formally accepted.
• Mendenhall School of Auctioneering: Auctioneer training institution offering similar pre-licensing coursework and bid-calling instruction. Direct comparable in the auctioneer trade school category targeting the same SMB and career-changer student segments.

Others

• Certified Auctioneer Institute (CAI): Advanced designation program offered through the National Auctioneers Association for experienced auctioneers. Complements WCA's pre-licensing curriculum by serving the alumni base as the next career-development milestone.
• National Auctioneers Association: US industry body for professional auctioneers offering continuing education, certifications (CAI, BAS), and conferences. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but a key channel for auctioneer training, networking, and credentialing referenced in WCA's marketing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=PfJZSLRks1U
• Facebookfacebook.com/westerncollegeofauctioneering

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Western College of Auctioneering