The International Nail Technicians Association (INTA), a subsidiary group of Cosmetologists Chicago (CC), held a second meeting of the appointed INTA Certification Task Force, June 3-4 in Orlando, FL., to further work done at America’s Beauty Show in March towards a new Accreditation & Certification Program for nails technicians.
Cosmetologists Chicago CEO Paul Dykstra summarized the needs for this new program including the critical importance to the nail industry to designate nail technicians who have proven their requisite and critical knowledge of the profession. The objective of the second meeting was to define knowledge and skills needed to become an INTA certificate holder and to create a content framework outline to guide all future INTA certificate program development.
The INTA Certification Task Force, appointed by Cosmetologists Chicago President Denise Provenzano, includes: Jan Arnold, CND; Lorrene Conino, Salon Lorrene, Palatine, IL and treasurer of Cosmetologists Chicago; Amber Edwards, Mario Tricoci Hair Salons & Day Spas; Athena Elliott, Nail Talk Radio; Karen Hodges and Janet McCormick, Nailcare Academy; Dasha Minina, Maxus Nails; Sigourney Nuñez, NAILS Magazine; Lydia Sarfati, Sarkli-Repêchage; Douglas Schoon, Schoon Scientific; Robert Spaulding, MediNail.com; Trisha Trackman, nail care consultant; Jessica Vartoughian, Jessica Cosmetics and Katharin von Gavel, Footlogix.
“This long over-due program,” noted Dykstra following the meeting, “has an ambitious timetable to ensure all aspects of the program, including instruction, examination, certification and continuing education will be fully operational before America’s Beauty Show 2017 (March 25-27, 2017). Working with this highly motivated and credentialed Task Force will ensure that this certification elevates the status of the nail industry’s workers to a very professional level in the minds of the consumer.”
The INTA Certification Task Force worked together to develop criteria for those who are eligible to participate in the INTA Certification Program, as well as determine an appropriate process and standards by which INTA can certify nail technicians and accredit salons that meet minimum, yet rigorous, requirements. Topics covered in the INTA certificate program will include health and safety, anatomy and physiology, contamination and infection control, basic product chemistry, service skills, and more. A third meeting of the Task Force is planned for Las Vegas in July.
Karen Hodges, co-founder of Nailcare Academy, Fort Meyers, FL, commented after the meeting: “It’s been longtime dream of mine for nail technicians to create a self-policing organization with clout to bring about change in the states that have little or inadequate safety standards in place. We need to create standards of professionalism that are inclusive of all scenarios in a salon.” Hodges supports INTA’s mission of unification as a perfect outlet for rejuvenating a professional nail industry that has become tarnished by recent media sensationalism. “We want more stories about clients finding the help they need with their nail care in clean, safe salons,” Hodges concluded.