What is certification in decorative painting?

Every faux finishing school in the country will offer a Certificate upon completion of a professional decorative painting class. A certificate of completion, however, does not a Certified Faux Finisher make! Certification or Mastery Programs in decorative painting take years of undying devotion. Under the tutelage of a master, the apprentice will study all aspects of decorative painting until the master feels he or she is ready for the rigorous testing process. The failure of an apprentice is a reflection of the master. Therefore, apprentices rarely complete the process in less than seven years. Unfortunately, “certification” in the United States, no matter how attractively packaged, is just a school certificate. It does not make one a “Certified Decorative Painter”. Certification for decorative painters is a loaded political issue in the United States. Several organizations have tried and failed to institute a certification process for decorative painters. The issues are many; the ...  more