Home stager certification is earned by satisfactorily completing a home staging training program in any of their many possible forms. Certification, no matter where it comes from, holds no legal merit whatsoever and is only a measure of the institution from which the decree is issued. Home staging certificates can be earned by graduating from a property staging school, an online home staging course or a home-study program. Just remember that not all certifications are created equal.
This essay examines the value of becoming certified as a property stager, as well as detailing why certification is almost always an asset in this competitive vocational path.
Home Stager Certification Explained
Certification is a reward for completing an educational course centered on real estate home staging theory and methods. There is no single standardized certification offered within the industry, so certified home stagers do not have identical credentials by any means.
Anyone with a certificate of completion from any staging program can claim to be certified, even if the course they graduated from is completely worthless. In fact, there are many internet companies which openly sell certification certificates for a wide range of professions, including home staging, without any course completion requirements whatsoever.
Being that there is no government regulation of the industry, including standards and practices for certification, stagers can claim whatever they want about how well trained they are and how many staging certificates they may have.
Home Stager Certification Benefits
Graduating from a quality home staging school will be widely recognized within the industry and will earn you a mark of distinction among your peers. It is unlikely that your clients will know anything about your training and most will not even care. The majority of people will judge you not based on your classroom training, but instead on your creativity, success in fulfilling their goals, professionalism, reputation and referrals. These “real-world” criteria are far more meaningful than any number of certifications could ever be.
Being certified by a well-known and reputable staging school will certainly help you to get a better job in the industry and may have some other benefits, as well. Some home stager associations may only accept members who are certified by approved learning institutions. Additionally, if the government ever decides to regulate the home staging industry, certification may finally become mandatory.
Home Stager Certification Opinions
If you are thinking about investing the time, money and effort into learning to become a home stager, make sure to do it the right way. Do not join some fly-by-night company which promises fast training for a small fee. You are unlikely to enjoy any benefits from these types of programs. Instead, research your options and consider contacting a home stager association for advice.
There are many quality programs which will serve you well, by providing useful training and skills that you will use throughout your new career. Do not simply go for the fastest and cheapest option, as you will surely be disappointed.