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Once you’ve identified potential image consultant candidates, check their qualifications in order to find the image professional that most closely matches your needs.
Check the Candidates’ Certifications
Certification helps you quickly identify a candidate’s level of expertise. AICI assesses and certifies image consultants at three levels:
- AICI Certified Image Master (AICI CIM)
- AICI Certified Image Professional (AICI CIP)
- AICI First Level Certification (AICI FLC)
You can recognize a consultant’s certification level by the designation after his or her name. For example:
Madelyn Masters, AICI CIM - (AICI Certified Image Master)
Madelyn has attained AICI’s highest level of certification. It identifies exceptional, dedicated consultants, who have a recognized brand in the industry and demonstrate exceptional levels of competence in their own successful image businesses. To earn the AICI CIM certification, consultants must maintain AICI CIP certification for at least five years and have an approved AICI CIM Application and professional portfolio. AICI CIM certification confirms a consultant’s status as an industry leader and respected expert.
Paul Professional, AICI CIP - (AICI Certified Image Professional)
Paul has attained AICI’s mid-level certification. It identifies experienced, professional image consultants who own established image businesses. To earn AICI CIP certification, consultants must pass the AICI FLC test and submit proof of education, experience and ownership of an image business. AICI CIP status recognizes competent consultants with extensive hands-on experience.
Carolyn Consultant, AICI FLC - (AICI First Level Certification)
Caroline has attained AICI’s basic-level certification. It identifies consultants whose AICI FLC Application has been approved and who have passed the AICI FLC entry level written exam, which measures core knowledge of personal image consulting. Many consultants successfully apply for AICI First Level Certification as soon as they have completed their initial image consulting training. The AICI FLC designation recognizes consultants who have made a commitment to professional development, and confers credibility to those who are starting to build a solid image business.
When you engage an AICI certified image consultant, you can be sure they are committed, knowledgeable, and experienced in producing results because AICI has verified that they meet rigorous certification requirements.
Choose the Certification Level that Matches Your Needs
To select an image consultant with the right level of expertise for your needs, you need to understand the value and depth of the experience each level of AICI certification represents.
To achieve AICI First Level Certification (AICI FLC), the candidate has:
- Maintained membership in a professional image association for one full year.
- Pledged to follow the AICI Code of Ethics, and remained in good standing with AICI and its Ethics Committee.
- Taken and passed the AICI First Level Certification exam.
- Submitted a presentation binder that demonstrates solid professionalism and passes the AICI FLC image and presentation criteria.
- Shown proof of professional preparation and education in the image field.
- Demonstrated a professional appearance and strong personal image.
- Developed a business identity that promotes professional image knowledge and services.
- Worked with at least five clients.
In addition to these requirements, an AICI Certified Image Professional (AICI CIP) has:
- Maintained membership in a professional image association for two full years and served as a leader.
- Submitted a presentation binder that demonstrates a high level of professionalism and passes the AICI CIP image and presentation criteria.
- Shown proof of continuing education at the level required for AICI Certified Image Professionals.
- Maintained a personal image and appearance appropriate for a high-level image consultant.
- Promoted image knowledge through writing, media appearances, and/or speaking engagements.
- Contributed image skills to charitable and/or philanthropic causes.
- Submitted exemplary evaluations from current AICI CIP or AICI CIM members.
- Worked with fee-paying clients for a minimum of two years (full time) or four years (part time) and submitted exemplary evaluations from clients.
In addition to these requirements, an AICI Certified Image Master (AICI CIM) has:
- Maintained AICI Certified Image Professional (AICI CIP) certification for at least four years.
- Served in high-level leadership roles within AICI or other associations, and in community outreach or philanthropic organizations.
- Taken at least 50 hours of training or professional educational courses within the previous five years.
- Maintained a personal image that consistently represents image mastery.
- Submitted a presentation folder and essay that demonstrates professional mastery and passes AICI CIM image and presentation criteria.
- Submitted exemplary evaluations from professional associates, co-workers or peers.
- Submitted exemplary evaluations from clients.
- Maintained an active, successful business presence including marketing, web site and promotional materials for the preceding six years.
- Created a wide range of professional courses and/or consulting materials and used them to educate clients.
In short, an AICI Certified Image Master has proven to be an exceptional image consultant, with a recognized brand in the image community as well as skills and experience that equal those of any master coach or consultant in any industry.
Interview Your Candidates
Contact each candidate and introduce yourself. To determine whether you feel comfortable with each image consultant, set up a phone interview or, if possible, a face-to-face meeting.
Be prepared to take notes during your meeting. Describe the kind of help you need. Provide enough detail to make your challenges clear, and encourage the candidate to ask you questions.
Ask questions that will draw out the candidate’s experience with similar situations. Start with, “Tell me about a time when,” or “Give me an example of.” Probe for more information by saying, “Tell me more about….”
Ask the candidate about her specialties. Make sure that you understand her experience in related areas. Ask for references. Ask for an estimate of what it will cost to reach your goal.
When you conclude the interview, communicate to the candidate the next steps you plan to take, and when you expect to make a decision.
Check References
When you call the references a candidate provides, ask, “Would you work with this person again?” Also inquire about the image consultant’s work habits and professionalism, as well as whether he was able to assist the client in achieving her goals.
AICI membership and certification can help you ascertain a candidate’s qualifications. AICI consultants have:
- Been exposed to the best practices of the profession.
- Demonstrated high levels of expertise in all facets of image.
- Shown dedication to offering quality services.
- Access to the latest image-building products and services.
But beware: You might encounter someone who is dishonestly claiming AICI membership and certification.
For example, imagine that your favorite image candidate uses the designation CIP after her name, but you can’t find her on our list of current members. To verify that her certification is valid, call AICI headquarters (515-282-5500) and inquire about her status. You might discover:
- She received her certification from AICI, but she chose not to become a member or renew her membership.
- She received her certification from AICI, but it expired because she did not meet our requirements for continuing education.
- She did not receive a certification from AICI, and her claim is unethical.
Protect yourself. If you have any questions about the authenticity of an image consultant’s claims, do not hesitate to call AICI headquarters for information.
Heather Tamminga, Executive Director
Association of Image Consultants International (AICI)
Phone: 515-282-5500
 info@aici.org
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