How Do I Get Licensed to Be an Airbrush Tanning Tech?

The damaging effects of the sun have some people looking to airbrush tanning for a safer alternative.

Sunless tanning was first introduced to the public in the 1960s and is poised to become one of the fastest-growing segments in the indoor tanning industry, according to The National Tanning Training Institute. Twenty-two percent of salons offer airbrush sunless tanning and 40 percent offer at least one stand-up sunless tanning booth.



Certification for airbrush tanning is not required, however it can set your salon apart, and several state boards of cosmetology are considering putting licensing requirements in place.

Instructions

Certification

1. Research airbrush tanning certification programs, such as one offered by the American Tanning Institute or the National Tanning Training Institute, which offer both in-person and online certification programs.

2. Register for the airbrush certification course. Once registered, training materials can be accessed via email, regular mail or website log-in. Register for either an in-person class or online courses, whichever best suits your schedule.

3. Study training manuals, which cover topics such as how dihydroxyacetone---the main ingredient in sunless tanner---works, operator safety, Food and Drug Administration sunless guidelines and application procedures, among others. If possible, practice tanning techniques on friends or family members to master concepts.

4. Take your final certification exam covering important safety and procedural airbrush tanning topics.

5. Pass your exam, and the certificate stating completion of airbrush tanning coursework will be sent via regular mail. For example, the American Tanning Institute requires a score of 75 percent or higher, and the National Tanning Training Institute requires a score of 90 percent of higher for certification.

Tips & Warnings

• Allot a sufficient amount of study time to cover all airbrush tanning topics.

• Pay special attention to FDA regulations

References

• National Tanning Training Institute: Introduction to Sunless Tanning
• American Tanning Institute: Sunless Tanning Certification

Resources

• Tanning Advisor: Let's Discuss Airbrush Tanning