Where and how the CIFA system applies
The application areas classify different institutional contexts within the cosmetic and aesthetic professions and make transparent where and how the CIFA system is applied.
They serve three purposes: comparability between differing institutional settings, clarity about requirements and evaluation focus in each area, and compatibility with national structures.
Application areas are not industry categories.
They are an ordering principle within certification.
Every organisation is assigned to exactly one area. That assignment determines which structural aspects come to the fore.
Beauty institute · professional practice structures
Institutional classification of practice and service structures that deliver professional services and carry responsibility for quality, processes and ethical conduct. What is assessed is not the individual treatment but the practice structure as a whole.
Schools · educational institutions
Institutional classification of education and training structures that convey qualifications in cosmetics and aesthetics. The focus lies on education and qualification structures, not on individual courses.
Companies · industrial and commercial organisations
Institutional classification of companies and organisations connected to the industry — particularly regarding quality, responsibility and their handling of standards and regulatory requirements.
Certification follows the same core principles in every area, but with an area-specific focus. Depending on the area, the following are weighted differently:
This allows a differentiated and fair classification without imposing a single one-size-fits-all model on everyone.
