THE ASSOCIATION OF BEAUTICIANS AND COSMETOLOGISTS CIDESCO SECTION

THE ASSOCIATION OF BEAUTICIANS AND COSMETOLOGISTS - CIDESCO SECTION LATVIA

HISTORY established in 1995, non-profit professional association registered in the Commercial Registry of Latvia the members are individuals: beauticians and physicians - cosmetologists in 2004 the Association joined the CIDESCO in 2012 the Association joined the CEPEC

THE GOALS AND TASKS to develop the National Vocational Educational system in the field of Beauty Therapy to promote the national expierence and the new global discoveries in cosmetology to organize training, support the improvement of professional knowledge and skills to get involved in the activities of other International Beauty Therapy associations

THE PARTICULAR NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BEAUTICIANS AND BEAUTY SPECIALISTS (IN COSMETOLOGY) both of these professions are regulated (reglamented) by the State these beauty therapy specialists are medical professionals they are registered in the State Registry of Medical Professionals since 1996 Beauticians have to take the certifications exam and are awarded the State recognized Certificate, which gives them the right to practice the Beauticians have to be recertified every 5 years

BASIC ACTIVITIES organizing the process of certification of Beauticians under the supervision of Certification body organizinig lectures, seminars, conferences, discussions about professional issues organize the joined conferences with the major Health and Beauty companies about: - the latest technologies and achievements in dermatology and cosmetology - the cooperation between physicians and beauticians in solving the medical and aesthetic problems organizing various professional qualification improvement courses on treatment methods and techniques solving various problems connected with occasional professional incompetence in order to maintain professional prestige as well as the clients‘ health and safety

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES as a member of the Beauty and Tourism industry Expert Council solving verious vocational education issues periodically organizing the professional competitions for Beauticians (2008, 2012) annually presentating the association at the International professional competition for Beauticians organized by CIDESCO- Russia in St. Petersburg initiating the Centralized State Professional Qualification Examination for Beauticians

THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR BEAUTY THERAPISTS IN LATVIA When Latvia regained its independence in 1991 the first Vocational Secondary Educational institution was Rigas Kosmetikas skola (Riga School of Cosmetics), established by a private company in 1996. In 2003 the school became the CIDESCO school Today there are 3 Vocational Secondary schools that educate Beauticians in Latvia Today there are two colleges that educate Beauty Specialists (in cosmetology) in Latvia

THE FORMAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM FOR BEAUTY THERAPISTS Profession Beautician Programs Qualification levels (LQF) (EQF) National level ISCED level 1999 2010 Vocational Secondary Education The National Vocational Secondary Education 3 4 4 for the individuals with a General Program in Cosmetology (2 - year program) Secondary Education background Vocational Secondary Education The National Vocational Secondary for the individuals with a background Continuous Program (1 - year program) in Vocational Secondary Medical Education 3 4 4 Beauty Specialist (in cosmetology)* The National Vocational Higher (college) the Professional Higher (College) Education program (3 - year program) Education for the individuals with a General Secondary Education background (*Beauty Specialists have their own Association) 4 5 5 P. S. The new* LQF, similary to the EQF , consists of 8 reference levels and types of education (including a secondary, higher; general, vocational, academic and professional ) * the old LQF consisted of 5 levels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE LATVIAN FORMAL EDUCATION SYSTEM the Latvian education system consists of pre-school education, basic education, secondary education and higher education general education in Latvia in total lasts 12 years consisting of compulsory 9 -years basic education and 3 -years secondary education. Additionally pre-school education at age of 5 -6 is compulsory in Latvia basic education stage comprises general basic education (grades 1 -9) and vocational basic education (grades 7 -9) secondary education stage comprises general secondary education, vocational secondary education and vocational education higher education comprises both academic and professional study programs

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Nelly Janaus The Board member, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Beauticians and Cosmetologists –CIDESCO section Latvia