As a salon manager in a city of 32,000 in the interior region of Alaska, there was a time when Jenna Gillen didn’t know the difference the right operator training could make. Then she saw it for herself. Visiting Sunsations Tanning in Anchorage, the state’s largest city, opened her eyes to a level of professionalism and expertise she had never experienced before in the tanning industry.

“My first experience with [Smart Tan training] was when I went to Sunsations, and I was blown away by the way they had everything structured. They were so knowledgeable and helpful. Their customer service was way beyond what we did. I was really inspired by them. I noticed their Smart Tan plaque in the window, and they had the Smart Tan Skin Type document,” Jenna says.

At the time, Jenna didn’t have the support of her employer to pursue advanced education and investments in improving the client experience, but when the current owners took charge of Turbo Tans in 2012, they trusted Jenna’s experience and advice. “When Michael took over, I stressed that [Smart Tan training] would benefit us, and we’ve stuck with it ever since,” she says.

In 2022, when Turbo Tans was featured as Smart Tan Member of the Month, owner Michael Rohl reflected on his decision to follow Jenna’s advice and pursue Smart Tan membership and certifications.

“I trust Jenna, and after looking at some of the materials, it really resonated with me because I feel my employees should know everything about the business and how to take care of our clients,” he says. “There’s vilification of tanning in the world, but there’s a way to do it. It’s about moderation and educating your staff and learning how to balance that. When you go somewhere and they don’t know their business, it’s very discouraging, and we get a lot of comments about how knowledgeable our staff is.”

In Alaska, one of several states where operator training is not required by state regulations, distinguished salons like Turbo Tans, Sunsations, and The Beach House – another long-time Smart Tan member – choose Smart Tan training not because they have to, but because they want to. While it’s an unfortunate reality that some salons only pursue standardized training only because their state requires it, the businesses that utilize operator training by choice choose Smart Tan because it’s the only training platform that is designed to actually make a difference.

Of course, the majority of tanning providers in regulated states also choose Smart Tan. Smart Tan is also the trusted training resource for the world’s largest tanning providers, utilized by the largest tanning franchise and the largest gym chains that offer tanning. From organizations with hundreds of storefronts to single location ‘mom and pops,’ salons choose Smart Tan because it’s the only operator training that isn’t just designed to help your staff members pass a test and earn certification, but to actually teach them how to perform their jobs, retain all the most pertinent knowledge, and use it to continue to progress throughout their tenures.

“As soon as we hire, we get them a user login and their UV Certification. It gives them the confidence and backbone, and a lot of the training almost gives them hands-on experience before they’re actually hands-on. It prepares them for when they’re in those situations and have to explain things to customers,” Gillen says.

“Even things as simple as is if it’s their first job, and it goes over handling when the phone rings and greeting people. I was so timid when I was 17 working in a new environment. I had no idea what I was in for. I did dabble with [a different training provider], and it’s not as comprehensive. Something about that training material with the questionnaires from screen to screen and between chapters is great, especially for this younger generation.”

More than a Requirement 

If you’re still thinking about technical training and certification as simply a necessary process to meet regulations, it’s definitely time for a change of perspective. While any training provider can help you meet your most minimal needs and requirements, Smart Tan is in a category of its own. So, sure you consider more than how much it costs to get that piece of paper on the wall. When you think about all the benefits of a better training option, the cheap option might not seem like the best deal at all anymore.

Smart Tan is more than training. It’s more than information. It’s a way of doing business. Unlike other training platforms that just provide enough information to pass a test and get a certification, Smart Tan behavior-based training is designed to change the way your employees, and your business, operate. It’s the type of training that helps define who you are as a tanning business. You care about your clients. You’re the best of the best. You’re investing in their wellbeing and quality experiences.

Like Jenna, Kim Brogna, owner of Sun Catchers Tanning Spa, is also in a state without an operator training mandate. When she purchased the business 10 years ago, the previous owner recommended sticking with it, and she has ever since.

“I’ve had the salon now for 10 years, and since day one, I’ve used Smart Tan. I know the previous owner did as well. When she recommended it to me, I actually went through it with her, because it just gave me knowledge that I didn’t have. I was always a tanner, but it gave me the knowledge I didn’t have as a business owner,” Brogna says.

“I continue it because I just find it beneficial. I will continue to have everybody trained. It doesn’t matter if the state requires it or not. It’s going to give them the knowledge and additional training beyond what I can give them. It’s worth the money.”

Up to Date

 Smart Tan, then known as Tanning Trends, introduced the first-edition UV Tanning Training Course in 1991. Today, 15 editions later, Smart Tan Training is a multi-media, interactive training staple used by more salons than all other training options combined. It is the industry’s only course built to meet American National Standards Institute training parameters for behavior-based training.

Over the years, Smart Tan has continued to build on to what it provides to this market. Simple training turned into a data-driven, behavior-based certificate program on par with the restaurant industry’s “Serve Safe” program for food handling. We redesigned and recreated Smart Tan Training to meet American National Standards Institute standards – a program worthy of a mature market.

While there are numerous differences, the most prominent feature of Smart Tan training that distinguishes it from the competition is its behavior-based design, constructed to meet the standards of the world’s most respected authority on training assessment systems.

When looking at improving our training, Smart Tan brought in a consultant from the most prominent institute in standard and conformity assessment systems. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) provides consulting for development assessments for more than 270,000 organizations, including government agencies, companies and academic and international bodies. ANSI was complimentary of Smart Tan’s training overall, but acknowledged that their standards favor behavior-based modules, rather than the knowledge-based structure of Smart Tan’s certifications at the time.

The ANSI consultant audited everything written in the training, how it was created, how it evaluates, the design format, and how it presents information. One key factor in ANSI’s standards is gearing training to accomplish specific objectives, so Smart Tan worked with salon owners to determine the most important objectives necessary for salon operations.

The result is the current Interactive UV Tanning Certification. This program is designed to go beyond the simple science of tanning and teach employees how to properly utilize the tools and information with which they are provided. It’s the only operator training that goes beyond conventional knowledge-based training, offering an interactive format and behavior-based design that puts operators through exercises that will change the way they interact with customers. The ultimate goal of Smart Tan’s Interactive UV Tanning Certification is to show your customers, with every interaction, that your salon’s operators are trained to act.

Smart Tan’s Interactive UV Certification is the industry’s only fully interactive multi-media training that keeps employees engaged, educates them effectively, helps them apply their knowledge accurately and tests them to make sure they’ve comprehended the information successfully.

Perhaps the biggest challenge of reengineering the training was the test portion of the certification. To meet ANSI standards, the final test operators must pass to be certified had to be completely reformulated, with carefully worded questions weighted toward the 32 learning objectives. We also developed a test bank of 400 questions, of which only 100 are used on each test. So, no test is the same, and you can be assured that those who pass it are well prepared for their jobs.

Less beneficial certification tests are designed only to have participants memorize names and items. Though your operator might remember the name of the person who developed a skin-typing program, this does nothing for changing how the operator performs their duties and impacts your business.

Smart Tan training and test questions are based on the 32 defined learning objectives – practical information that will benefit your employees in real-life interactions. Ownership and management can rest assured that if an employee passes the Smart Tan certification program, they are well prepared to do their job the right way.

Think about it this way. If you’ve ever used another technical training platform, what would you tell a customer about it that would enhance their confidence in your level of education? Again, we’re admittedly biased, but there’s really just not much to say. Other training providers simply haven’t made the type of investments in training development to make it worth talking about.

Backed by the Experts

Beyond the direct advantages of Smart Tan training modules, Smart Tan is the only industry training provider backed by a full-scale educational association that has been dedicated to the success of the entire tanning industry for decades.

“The main thing is that Smart Tan is a community. It gives you the resources to succeed whether you’re a new business owner or employee. It gives you everything you need. I love the magazine and articles on research and new services,” Gillen says.

As a Smart Tan member, your training is backed by the expertise of Smart Tan CEO Matt Russell, a 40-plus year tanning industry veteran, and the entire Smart Tan staff.

“I’ve been a member since the beginning. I’ve dealt with [Smart Tan Member Services Manager] Michele [Hemminger] since the beginning, and she’s been great and accommodating. We appreciate all the literature and posters and so forth. For me. its been good for the last 10 years,” Brogna says.

Smart Tan not only truly offers the best tanning education, but it’s also the only training provider with a distinctive brand that resonates with tanners. Many tanning consumers around the world already know the Smart Tan logo and visual branding. They see the certificates on the wall, the logo on the skin typing sheets, and the posters and other marketing and décor materials you can purchase. As a Smart Tan affiliated salon, you can tell your clients that Smart Tan has been providing training for more than 30 years, and it’s the only full-service educational association in the industry. Also, tell them about how Smart Tan training is based on ANSI standards for safety training, much like the ServSafe training that restaurant employees take to ensure safety when you eat there.

Smart Tan’s motto is “Tan With Confidence,” and that slogan applies on several different levels. First, Smart Tan training and resources give your employees the knowledge and confidence necessary to give your customers the tans they want in the way that’s best for them. But, also, Smart Tan training is designed to help you help your customers “Tan With Confidence,” and understand that you have their best interests in mind. That’s why it’s important to not only be well educated and pass that education on to your clients, but also to reinforce the importance and validity of that information by letting them know that it comes from the industry’s preeminent educational organization, and you work with Smart Tan because you want nothing but the best for your clients.

Smart Tan is also the only industry training provider that offers the additional training modules featured in these advanced-level certifications. The additional modules on spray tanning, sales, customer service, customer communication, new employee orientation and a variety of leadership and managerial topics prepares new hires to be more well-rounded employees from the start, and can help develop tenured employees or prepare them to step into a managerial role.

Brogna’s manager has achieved Ambassador Certification, and over the years, Gillen and Turbo Tans have used advanced training as an opportunity to help motivated employees grow in their role while also feeling motivated and supported by their employer.

“We’ve had a couple employees stress they want more certifications, and we give them the option if they complete the Ambassador or Master, we will give them a higher wage,” Gillen says. “Especially if they’ve been with us over a year, we’re like, are you ready for something more?”

Setting the Standard

Smart Tan training is more than a box to check or a piece of paper on the wall—it’s a transformative approach to operating a tanning salon. For managers like Jenna Gillen and owners like Kim Brogna, it’s a cornerstone of their business success, creating a foundation of confidence, professionalism, and care that resonates with employees and clients alike.

The right training isn’t just about meeting the minimum. It’s about creating an environment where your team feels empowered, knowledgeable, and motivated to provide the best possible experience. This is what Smart Tan does best—it’s not just a training program, but a partner in your business’s growth and evolution.

Whether you’re operating in a regulated state or one without training mandates, choosing Smart Tan means choosing a commitment to excellence. It’s an investment that pays dividends in the form of safer operations, happier clients, and a reputation that speaks for itself.

From its roots as the first UV tanning training course in 1991 to its current status as the industry’s most trusted training provider, Smart Tan continues to set the standard. And for those who believe in going above and beyond—not because they have to, but because they want to—there is no better partner than Smart Tan. So, if you’re looking to elevate your salon, empower your employees, and build a brand rooted in safety and professionalism, there’s only one choice.