The Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF), which provides education and installer certification for professionals working in the ceramic tile and stone industry, has unveiled a redesigned logo.

“The new CTEF logo represents an evolution in the mission of the CTEF and in the maturity of the tile installation certification programs that CTEF sponsors,” said Scott Carothers, director of certification and training for CTEF. “The tile industry is experiencing a significant shortage of qualified labor to properly install ceramic and porcelain products correctly the first time. Only through ongoing training of existing talent as well as enticing high school students to enter the tile trade, will it survive. Our job is to train, certify, and fill the marketplace with enough skilled installers to meet the need.”

The updated CTEF logo includes the tagline, “Qualified Labor. Certification. Tile Industry Recognized.” This is recognition that the installer certification programs (i.e., CTI and ACT programs) are tile industry recognized and define a tile installer with those designations as being “Quality Labor.”

Through the many hours of proposal writing and encouragement to the architectural and design communities, language now exists to aid the architect, specifier, and designer in the preparation of job specifications. This language is now a part of the Tile Council of America (TCNA) Handbook. One portion of that section says it all, “Because tile is a permanent finish, the lowest bid should not be the driving factor, but rather, who is the most qualified to perform the scope of the work specified.”

The Handbook Installer and Contractor Qualifications Guide provides an exhaustive list of the associations and organizations that provide the training and education necessary to produce an installer who has the skills and knowledge necessary to be known as Qualified Labor. The Handbook also includes the section entitled, “Sample Language for Including Installer and Contractor Qualification in Specifications.” Here, specific language calls for installer and contractor qualifications and quality assurance based on the training and certifications provided by the recognized entities.

For more information, visit www.ceramictilefoundation.org.