Reported in the most recent edition of the NTCA eNews, five of the largest organizations representing tile contractors, installers and manufacturers are pleased to announce that eight industry professionals are the first to successfully pass the ACT certification program.

Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers— ACT—addresses four technically-challenging installation areas of current importance:  Large Format Tile Installation and Substrate Preparation, Mudwork, Shower Pans and Membranes. A specific certification demonstrates the installer’s skill and knowledge in each of these four segments.

The eight professional installers not only passed all four certifications, they did so under the watchful eye of thousands of attendees at Coverings, the leading tile and stone show in the United States.  Because the program was in the developmental phase when the show was held in Atlanta in April, they just recently completed the on-line written test that comprises twenty-five percent of the certification score. 

The eight installers with this special honor are:

• Brent Monroe - Artcraft Granite Marble &Tile Company

• Tyler Nequist - Welch Marble &Tile

• Keith Tavshanjian - KT Marble & Tile

• Dan Welch - Welch Marble &Tile

• Gavin Collier - Trostrud Mosaic & Tile Co.

• Bill Dumas – Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Trainer

• Eric Manzaroli - Artisan Tile, Inc.

• Terrance Trame - Trendell Consulting, LLC

Partners in the development initiative are: Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF); Tile Contractors Association of America (TCAA), representing IUBAC signatory tile contractors; International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (IUBAC); International Masonry Institute (IMI), which provides professional and technical training for union masonry contractors, and National Tile Contractors Association, with membership open to all tile contracting companies. Tile Council of North America (TCNA) manufacturer members companies are contributing to development of the modules and tests.

For more information on this developing program go to www.tilecertifications.com.