How to Become
Image consulting is a rewarding career when you want to share your knowledge and expertise to help others excel in their personal and professional lives. To become an image consultant, follow these steps:
Discover the Career
The first step to becoming an image consultant is to understand what an image consultant does.
Who is an Image Consultant?
An image consultant is a professional who provides services for individuals and corporations through coaching, presentations, seminars, and workshops.
Image consultants offer assistance in image enhancement (appearance, body and color analysis, wardrobe development, and management), sound and effective communications, business and social etiquette, civility, branding, and more—all through coaching and training.
Trying it on for Size
Before you make the commitment to a career in image consulting, you can find out if you like this kind of work by volunteering at a local organization that provides professional clothing for underprivileged job seekers. Get ideas for how you might volunteer by reading about our Philanthropic Activities.
Join AICI and Develop Your Skills
Once you’ve made the commitment to becoming an image consultant, you need to develop your skills and knowledge so you can effectively offer your clients counsel. The Association of Image Consultants International (AICI) can help.
When you join AICI:
- You can network with professionals in your local chapter and throughout the world.
- A network of AICI professionals can help guide you in developing your area of interest in the field of image consulting.
- You can attend AICI educational programs and continuing professional development through Annual Conference workshops, Chapter Education Days, and teleconference classes and webinars.
Accelerate Your Learning
To get on the fast track, you can register for image training courses or participate in individual image training. AICI is pleased to be able to refer you to the industry’s best trainers and courses, where you can learn how to manage your consulting business as well as develop your image skills. Visit the Image Training & Resources Directory.
Try AICI’s Success Coaching Program
To find an experienced coach to help guide you to success, check out AICI’s Success Coaching Program. Our Success Coaches are available to help and advise you in your quest to become a successful image professional.
Build Your Credibility with Certification
Certification validates you as a professional and lends credibility to your work. When you’re certified, you can charge more for your work. The higher your certification, the higher your ranking on AICI’s membership directory, which ultimately gives you more exposure to the public. Read on to learn how to obtain certification.
Once you have a foundation of knowledge, skills and experience, you may apply for certification. There are three levels of certification:
1) AICI Certified Image Master (AICI CIM)
2) AICI Certified Image Professional (AICI CIP)
3) AICI First Level Certification (AICI FLC)
[See descriptions in sidebar.] For details of what’s required to attain each of these levels, please read about AICI’s certification program and review the application for the designation that interests you.