Get Certified at Conference!

Executive DirectorHSCG Annual Conference, Membership & Benefits3 Comments

See that? That’s the fist pump of glory, which you may be doing upon gaining one certification (or several, because you got it like that) at this year’s conference. That’s right, this year is the year you’re going to throw down and show off your soapmaking virtuosity, all while communing with 400 of us for 3 days in the sun (or conference rooms, from which we may or may not just peer out at the sun, but really, you’ll be too busy to notice and any way, outdoor temperatures in Tucson in May may not be your bag) at the lovely Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson, Arizona.

this could be you, minus perhaps the fancy dress

Annual conferences are the perfect place to get certified. We provide the testing location and a proctor – you only have to bring yourself and your great big brain. Have some questions about the logistics of certification at the conference? Well, my friends, you have come to the right post. Without further ado:

What do I need to do when I check in at the conference?
Find the Certification table (usually near the Exhibitor Area, but we can help steer you in the right direction when you check in) and submit your soap samples and required documentation as soon as humanly possible.

How soon do I need to make soap?
Yesterday! No, we kid – continue to breathe. You’ve probably already been perfecting your recipe, but you likely want to give yourself a good 6 weeks to cure your hot and cold process soaps and a month to perfect your melt and pour designs. We have a little less than 11 weeks until conference, so no time like the present to get cracking on those soap samples.

Can I sign up for certification at the conference?
Totally (but it will cost you more). Save yourself some change (so you can win it all in the raffle) and register for certification here on the website before the conference.

taking a certification test is not as scary as this looks

When can I take the tests?
We have two slots for certification testing: Monday, May 19, at 6:00pm and Wednesday, May 21 at 7:00am.

Can I take multiple certification tests?
Absolutely! Members often take both the Basic Melt and Pour and Cold Process/Hot Process certification tests at the same time.

I want to take a basic and an advanced certification test.
Go for it! You have to pass the basic before you take next level test, so plan to take your basic exam on Monday evening and your advanced exam Wednesday morning (unless, of course you’re taking a basic MP and an advanced CP and you have already obtained a basic CP certification – in this case, you’re welcome to take both tests during the same time slot, if you like, all Rambo-style).

Does anybody really take a test at 7:00 am?
You betcha. Just remember that Tuesday night when you are boogie-ing down at the special evening events. Certified soapmakers need their beauty scientific rest.

if your ancestors took a soapmaking certification test, it may have looked like this

How long do I have to take the tests?
You have 1 hour to complete each test.

What should I bring with me?
Bring a pen or pencil. Unless you have a great fondness for long division, bring a simple calculator (adds, divides, multiplies, subtracts, but is not a scientific graphing or programmable calculator). For both Melt and Pour and Cold Process/Hot Process advanced tests, don’t forget that you need to bring soap samples as specificed in your certification requirement documents.

But wait, I have more questions…what if? Will I need? What about? Can I?
First, breathe. Then ask away – here or anywhere you see us online. Don’t worry, our friendly Certification Chair, Barb De Los Santos is here to help. Contact her through certification@soapguild.org and have all of your burning questions answered before test day.

Most importantly, make sure to check out the website sections dedicated to certification. It’s truly a pot of gold at the end (err, beginning?) of the studying rainbow (it wasn’t good, but we went there). You’ll find loads of information regarding each test, requirements, and practice exams to build your confidence. Be an informed test taker and boldly go where all the certified soapmakers go!

Best of luck to all of our certification hopefuls! Happy studying and see you in Tucson!

3 Comments on “Get Certified at Conference!”

  1. The paragraph in which the question “How long do I have to take the test?” is a bit misleading. Test takers will have one hour in which to complete all tests they’re taking that testing session. If they’ve signed up to take the Basic and the Advanced CP/HP Certification exam, they’ll have 1 hour in which to complete both.

    It’s so worth it to sign up and pay online ahead of time then have no worries until you arrive for the test. It’s not hard, it will make you think, there are practice tests to prepare you and you’ll get the results the next day. Our record number, 52 certification recipients, got theirs the next day, too though it remains to be seen if the scorers got any sleep that night. If they didn’t they’re not talking. I’m very happy with being certified on the Basic level and ready to complete the steps for the advance soon! Thank you HSCG for being our Northern Star for Handcrafted Cosmetics and Soapers!

    1. Thank you, Denise, for that important clarification. In the past, the certification chair was allowing only one test at a time, but you’re absolutely right. Isn’t Barb and her certification committee awesome? I’m not sure they sleep!!

A Penny For Your Thoughts...