The National Spray Tan Professionals Association (NSTPA) certifies sunless technicians through the Sunless Master Course — an online, self-paced certification built by working spray tan professionals.
The sunless industry is full of two-hour "certifications" that teach you to pull a trigger and little else. They skip skin science, skip troubleshooting, and skip the business side — the parts that decide whether you build a career or a side hustle that burns out in eighteen months.
The Sunless Master Course was built as the opposite: 8 chapters, 32 lessons, covering:
- Skin structure, the renewal cycle, and Fitzpatrick tones
- Client preparation and technician readiness
- Formula selection — shades, undertones, and mixology
- Application technique, step by step
- Aftercare and maintenance
- Troubleshooting — uneven tans, orange development, and how to fix each
- A full chapter on running a profitable studio
Each chapter unlocks only after you pass its quiz, and certification requires 80% or higher on the final exam. It's earned, not handed out for completion.
Every graduate receives a unique Certification ID and a public verification page at nstpa.com/verify — so clients, salons, and employers can confirm your training in seconds instead of taking your word for it. A downloadable certificate with QR code is included, and a printed, signed certificate is available as an add-on.
Enrollment is $75, one time. No subscription, no expiration, and lifetime access to revisit the material.
NSTPA has certified spray tan professionals since 2012.
