Certification
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Copic Certified Designer Program Overview
The Copic Certification program is designed for papercrafters, scrapbookers, and rubber stampers. This one-day intensive program is available for teachers, store owners, and designers who wish to learn diverse applications for Copic products with the intent of sharing them with their classes, stores, workshops, or through their designs. The class is technique based and no finished projects will be produced.
All of the training you receive as a Copic Certified designer is intended to be shared with others. Once you are a Copic Certified Designer you will be listed above through our Copic Certified Instructor Search. Here people will be able to search for Certified Designers in their area.
Who can Become Certified
Classes are OPEN first to:
- Store Owners/Employees in the Papercrafting or Fine Art Industry
- Teachers who are affiliated with a store
- Designers registered with CHA or members of Design Team(s)
- Sales Reps for Copic or associated Distributors
- Media, Press
(limited seats available for people who have already been certified or attending half-day, see below)
Three weeks before the event, REMAINING SEATS will be opened to:
- Home Party Representatives (such as Stampin’ Up! or CTMH)
- Craft enthusiasts
How to become Copic Certified
The Copic Certification training program will be offered in select locations across the country. These sessions are limited to approx. 25 attendees per session and applications are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please follow the steps below to maximize your potential of getting into a certification session.
1. Get on the mailing list for a specific venue. As a location is chosen it will be listed. Sometimes we don’t have an exact date or location, but if we post a city and season then you can get added to the mailing list and specifics will be sent as they are arranged. Note: getting onto the mailing list does NOT guarantee a place in class, it only adds you to our mailing list.
Please e-mail Marianne Walker at office1@copicmarker.com if you have any specific questions.
2. About 2 months before an event applications and information will be e-mailed to everyone who has signed up for our mailing list. Complete your application and return it as quickly as possible. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first serve basis once registration opens. NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED EARLY. You can download applications and information on upcoming events
3. Once the class fills registration will close. If the class does not fill 3 weeks before the event it will be opened up to the public.
4. Once your application has been received you will get a confirmation e-mail with instructions on how to pay for the event. Payment will be done using Paypal.
Upcoming Certification Sessions
Class Goals, Outline, & supplies
People who take this class will be listed on our website as instructors who have completed training. It is still up to you to practice on your own and take the skills you learn and apply them to your own work.
This is a technique-based class. We will NOT make finished samples. Rather, we suggest that you make a Sample Book with techniques and color combos that you like during the class, or take the small images you work on and turn them into projects later.
A typical class runs:
- 9 am to 10:30 Papers, inks, and product overview (Basic Overview)
- 10 min break
- 10:40 to 12:30 pm Coloring, 4 blending methods, and the colorless blender
- 1 hr lunch break – Lunch is NOT provided
- 1:30 to 2:45 Blender effects, altered media, ink effects,
- 3pm to 4 Airbrushing, Q & A, signing of certificates
Supplies
You class fee includes an information packet with lots of useful literature and guides. There will also be a paper sampler in your packet. Most of the flyers and information sheets are downloadable off our website, and you can request copies of specific flyers for your future events by sending an e-mail to orders@copicmarker.com
Also included is a product packet. This is a sampler for you to use for teaching or demo purposes. We will be using Sketch Marker sduring the class. If you choose to bring your own markers make sure they are marked so they do not get mixed in with my classroom sets.
All other supplies are provided, however you may wish to bring the following:
- Your own stamps or stamped-off images
- Your own papers or inks to try (we provide our favorites, please test your own)
- Embellishments to alter or Airbrush (die-cuts, metal, silk flowers, etc)
What if I have already taken a Certification Class and I want to take it again?
There are usually a few spaces for people like you in each class. The way this works is:
1. There will be a small fee. This helps us cover catering and room rental, etc.
2. You don’t get a new packet unless you want to pay full price. Likewise, no new certificate.
3. Please complete your application at the same time I open registration to everyone and write on your application that you are a REPEAT.
4. When you come, please help the people around you. Especially with the 4 main blending techniques. Those slow down the class the most and having someone else at the table who can help is greatly appreciated.
5. Please bring your own markers and have them labeled. It takes us a while to check the classroom marker sets after each class and refill them, which I factor into the class cost.
6. If you can’t make it to the whole class, then please enter/exit at the breaks so you’re not disrupting other students.
After you are Certified
Once you are Copic Certified you get a Certificate and a notice for your blog upon request. Now you need to practice, practice, practice since attending the class does NOT guarantee proficiency. Other things you get from the class:
- Listed on the Copic online Instructor list- this is located on the Copic Website under Instructors. You can expect it to be updated within 2-3 weeks after each certification class. If your name or other details are incorrect or missing please send us an e-mail.
- Offer in-store demos- ask your local stamp store if they would like you to do a demo or make-n-take. You need to provide all your own product supplies and make ‘n take parts, though we are happy to offer literature and support materials. Please allow 2-3 weeks shipping if you request literature.
- Teach a papercrafting class- Take the techniques you learn and turn them into a workshop. You can print off any posts from the ilikemarkers blog as instructional material, though you need to credit where the information came from. Again, if you need literature, just let us know with advance warning and we’ll be happy to help.
If you are teaching a class and you will need markers please remember: Copic markers are in very high-demand and you will want to place your order at least 60 days (preferably 90 days if the colors are very specific) before your workshop especially if you order direct through Copic. Don’t set up a class before you have product arranged- this will just make people unhappy. Ditto for stores trying to set up a Copic Club. Please have product before you hype an event.
- Peace of mind- You’ll know that you heard information about Copics straight from our official representatives. If you ever have a question or problem just bug one of us and we either find the answer or take it straight to the manufacturer in Japan.
- Blog – Go ahead and share anything you learned in the class on your blog. Just cite where you learned the technique from if it is unusual or if others might have questions. If you have a blog and are certified and need the logo send me an e-mail with the city you were certified in and I will be happy to send that to you.
- Get asked by other people to teach – Occasionally we have a need for a demo or workshop across the country. We may contact you or another store might contact you. For this reason, be sure that your blog shows good, high-quality use of Copic products so that if someone comes looking for your services they’ll know what kinds of things you make.
- Use the status to get on design teams – I know that it means a lot to some design teams if one of their candidates is Copic Certified, however, you still need to prove though high-quality work that you know what you learned and to get them to pick you.
What you can’t do:
- Get Frustrated. If you’re certified you still need to practice, it won’t magically work the first time. Those of you who have taken the class know what I mean. Some of the blending techniques are tricky and you might not have mastered them during the class. Just keep practicing and you will improve. This is why you can re-take the class. We know you won’t get it all the first time.
- Certify others. Sorry, to be able to certify others is a long, involved process and we are NOT looking for new instructors at this time. You can teach local classes but not official Copic Certification classes.
As you can see, Certification is geared for people who plan on going and sharing what they have learned with others via store, classes, or online through their blog. We want everyone to be able to have access to high-quality Copic classes, even if they can’t attend a certification themselves.