There are numerous organizations promoting education and soundness throughout the farrier industry.  Perhaps the largest one of these is the American Farrier Association which you can find a link for on my home page.  The mission of the AFA is "To further the professional development of farriers, to provide leadership and resources for the benefit of the farrier industry, and to improve the welfare of the horse through continuing farrier education.  
   As well as being a member of the American Farrier Association, I am a proud member of the NMPHA, New Mexico Professional Horse Shoers Association.  Organizations like these are not gossip groups discussing (bad) clients.  It is rather, a support group, a career counselor, a surrounding of dedicated professionals all having the same basic goal. To help the horse.  Throughout these organizations and associations there are levels of proficiency that a farrier can attain.  With the AFA, a farrier can become a certified farrier and a certified journeyman farrier.  My goal is to become a certified journeyman farrier.
   To be a horse shoer you do not have to be certified nor attend clinics, read books, or practice in the forge.  However, it's been my experience that a professional farrier will undertake these tasks; most if not all.  You will find that most states have a professional farrier organization or association.  There is also the World Farrier Association, and the prestigious Worshipful Company of Farriers located in the UK, an organization established six hundred and fifty years ago.  Another goal of mine is to become a member of that fine organization.