Application Areas
Scope of Application Within the CIFA Certification System
Scope of application in CIFA
Certification System
The Application Areas describe the application and scope of the CIFA Certification System.
They serve to provide a structured classification of different institutional contexts within the cosmetic and aesthetic professions and create transparency about where and how the CIFA system is applied.
Purpose of the Application Areas
The assignment to Application Areas pursues three goals:
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Comparability between different institutional frameworks
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Clarity regarding requirements, criteria, and evaluation focus for each area
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Compatibility with national structures and different regulatory contexts
The Application Areas are not industry or product categories. They are a systemic organizing principle within the certification process.
The three Application Areas
CIFA distinguishes three areas of application within its Certification System:
Professional Practices
(Beauty salon / professional practice structures)
Institutional classification of professional practice and service structures in the context of cosmetic and aesthetic professions.
Educational Institutions
(School operations / educational institutions)
Institutional classification of educational and training structures that impart qualifications in the field of cosmetics and aesthetics.
Industry & Enterprises
(Companies / industrial and economic organizations)
Institutional classification of companies and organizations related to the industry, particularly in the context of quality, responsibility and standards.
Evaluation logic per scope
Certification is carried out in each area of application on the basis of the same basic principles – but with an area-specific focus.
Depending on the application area, different structural aspects are emphasized, for example:
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Institutional responsibility and governance
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Quality assurance and standards
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Education and qualification structures
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ethical guidelines and integrity
The Application Areas thus enable a differentiated and fair classification without uniform “one-size-fits-all” models.
Relationship to Standards and Education
The Application Areas are directly related to:
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the CIFA Standards (content-related principles)
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the CIFA Education Framework (educational reference where relevant)
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the governance principles (institutional integrity)
They are part of the certification system and serve to ensure the consistent application of the frameworks in different institutional contexts.
A clear scope creates clarity.
Clarity creates trust.
Confédération Internationale de la Formation et
de l'Esthétique (CIFA)
International non-profit organization · Switzerland