revised 6/12/2001

NACCAS LAUNCHES NEW INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION PROGRAM
original posting 4/27/2000

CORRECTION: An earlier edition of this notice stated that the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) recognizes NACCAS as an international accrediting commission. The USDE recognizes Naccas as a national accreditor for purposes of schools in the United States that wish to participate in federal student financial aid programs. The USDE does not recognize NACCAS as an international accrediting commission.

Arlington, VA - USA Mark Gross; CEO of the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS) announces the launch of future International Accreditation for cosmetology schools. NACCAS remains the only accreditation commission specifically devoted to the professional cosmetology industry here in the United States.

Gross notes: "It is now within our scope to create and facilitate international cosmetology accreditation. The NACCAS Commission is now redesigning the complete set of accreditation standards and policies for this commitment to maintain a world leadership position, while ensuring tomorrow’s cosmetologists graduate with the most up-to-date education available."

NACCAS has had interests expressed in pursuing accreditation from various countries such as Canada, Pakistan, South Africa, and New Zealand, with the new global communications started by the World Wide Web via the Internet. The NACCAS web site, www.naccas.org remains one of the most heavily visited sites in the professional beauty industry, with more than 600, 000 hits over the last three months.

International accreditation could lead to international reciprocity and new Cosmetology Exchange Programs, much like regular high schools and colleges that offer Foreign Exchange Programs. Currently, there are Foreign Cosmetology Exchange Programs between New York and California with Japan, where students spend 6 weeks abroad. This offers the students a special prestigious opportunity when they return to their country of origin to begin work within a salon.

New international programs like this help United States schools assist their students to achieve a world class education. Students gain valuable networking and media relations opportunities as well as distinctively different cosmetology experiences. Participating US schools will help facilitate US Naturalization Service approvals. Today, some foreign countries help their schools and students with this process as well as to pay for this extra service. One future goal will be for each American cosmetology school to set up a specific Foreign Exchange Program with one international cosmetology school. The long-term effect will help American salons achieve an expanded new labor pool of experienced cosmetologists from foreign countries. It takes approximately 18 months to receive a VISA to work in the United States.

Professional beauty industry recognizes NACCAS as the industry's only accrediting commission. Earning accreditation means that a cosmetology school conforms to a common set of standards of excellence established by the commission. Schools are reevaluated at least once every five years to maintain the established accreditation standards. Earning national and international accreditation certification is a very comprehensive and important method to mark the achievements for meeting the highest recognized standards within the international cosmetology industry. Not all cosmetology schools are nationally accredited, thus this makes the NACCAS affiliated schools recognized as some of the most prestigious leaders by the professional beauty salon industry.

Currently, there are many exciting and positive creative career options in cosmetology. By research compiled in the recent 1999 NACCAS Job Demand Survey US cosmetologists have dramatically increased earning power today with zero unemployment due to a severe shortage of licensed salon professionals. Based upon a typical 50% commission factor, in 1998, the average income for all salon professionals was $18.54 per hour while salon owners averaged $22.03 per hour. The corresponding full-time salaries are $45,822 for US salon owners, $35,193 for salon employees and $38,563 for all professionals, both employees and salon owners, inclusive of tips. Today, the professional salon industry continues to offer terrific new employment opportunities to qualified job seekers. Whether it is to launch a new career or to begin a mid-life career change, cosmetology offers many new opportunities.

For further information, contact the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences, headquartered at 4401 Ford Avenue, Suite 1300, Arlington, VA USA, phone 703-600-7600. Visit their web site at www.naccas.org.