Master Sewing and Design Professional Certification Program

certificateprogram@sewingprofessionals.org  1-855-(C)ALL-MSDP (855-255-6737)

You've mastered the skills - now become certified!

MSDP Certification Rewards First Scholarship

Limited Time offer - Grandfather Program

The Master Sewing and Design Professional (MSDP) Certification Program is a perfomance-based program that was developed by the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals (ASDP). It is based on ASDP's Standards of Quality and is open to anyone with a sewing-related business. MSDP certification provides the professional with the prestigious credentials that validate skills and expertise.

This evaluation of professional custom sewing and design work accomplishes five important goals:

1. It upholds high standards of workmanship.
2. It validates the sewing and design professional's skills.
3. It educates the sewing professional in the evaluation of her/his work, aiding in the development of skills.
4. It provides a benchmark of superior quality for the consumer.
5. It encourages and attracts new and talented people to be certified.

This program consists of seven modules, each with its own specific requirements and methods of testing. Upon successful completion of all seven modules, participants will receive a certificate proclaiming their achievement, along with the right to use the Master Sewing and Design Professional designation in his/her business. In addition,  members of ASDP who successfully complete the program will be listed on the National Referral List on the ASDP website, with the designation of Master Sewing and Design Professional (MSDP).

To qualify for certification an applicant must:

• Submit an application and pay the required fees.
• Complete all requirements as stated in the MSDP Packet.

Please click on the links below for more information about the program.

Master Certification Program Summary

Master Certification Continuing Education Requirements 

Suggested Texts

MSDP Certification Board Members

Meet the Evaluation Team

MSDP Certification  Registration

MSDP Grandfather Policy

Limited Time Offer - January 1. 2012 - December 31, 2013

Apply for Grandfathering into the Master Sewing and Design Professional Certification Program
See information below - Grandfather Policy requirements

MASTER SEWING AND DESIGN PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION

GRANDFATHERING PROGRAM

We are delighted that you are interested in the Grandfather Program of the Master Sewing and Design Professional Certification Program. You have mastered your skills and now you have an opportunity to become certified. MSDP certification is an asset to you and your business. You may be eligible to use the Master Sewing and Design Professional (MSDP) title in your business because of your years of success and productivity in the apparel field.

The application is designed for successful professionals who have been working in a sewing and design business for a minimum of fifteen years. The Grandfather Program is aimed towards entrepreneurs and professionals who have established a successful career and now wish to earn MSDP certification based on the body of their work and experience. Your years of experience and business success make you an ideal candidate to validate your skills and earn the prestigious right to MSDP certification. If you meet the requirements of this program you will not be required to take the certification tests required of other candidates.

The governing board of MSDP has designed an application that invites you to present the required information consisting of written and visual examples of your business mastery. If you meet the requirements, beginning with a minimum of fifteen years full time sewing and design business experience, then you are eligible to submit your application. The MSDP governing board will review your application and if you meet the criteria they will award you MSDP certification.

There is a limited time period of 2 years during which you are eligible to be Grandfathered into MSDP. This window is open from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2013. The cost for the Grandfather Program is $1000.00 for Association of Sewing and Design Professionals (ASDP) members and $1500.00 for non-ASDP members. Continuing Education requirements are also required for all participants to maintain MSDP certification. These requirements and further information about the MSDP Grandfathering Program are available by clicking on the link below.

MSDP Grandfather Program Registration Form

Please review the Grandfather policy requirements and contact us if you are interested or have further questions. certificateprogram@sewingprofessionals.org

ANNOUNCING OUR FIRST SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

BLONDELL HOWARD

Here is her winning essay!

My name is Blondell Howard. I have been a member of ASDP since 2007. I own the Sassy SEWer-Sewing Lounge in Baltimore, MD. I learned to sew at the ripe old age of 22, LMBO! My mother sewed and I have an aunt who worked in the garment industry in New York and Connecticut. However, neither had time to teach me. So, I decided to teach myself. I can honestly say it was a slow and sometimes painful process, but I persevered. In 1999 I took a part-time job with Husqvarna Viking Sewing Machines. My primary job was to sell machines. My primary goal was to develop my sewing skills. Viking provided me the opportunity to teach sewing machine/serger operation and creative class. I loved that job and met some amazing seamsters. However, most of the classes offered were geared towards quilting and machine embroidery. I wanted to sew apparel. After Viking, I began teaching various sewing classes for JoAnn Fabrics.

To gauge whether what I had taught myself was correct, I enrolled part-time in Baltimore City Community College's (BCCC) Fashion Design Program, all while working a full-time job. I successfully completed classes in Garment Construction, Advanced Garment Construction, Flat Pattern Design, Fashion Illustration, Draping and Textiles. BCCC's goal was to prepare students to work in the fashion industry. My goal was to develop my sewing and fashion design skills.

In 2007 my employer was purchased by a national bank. Therefore, my accounting position was eliminated. I wasn't worried because I knew how to sew and wanted to teach others fashion sewing. The time was ripe to open a sewing lounge. Project Runway had created a renewed interest in garment sewing.

Fast forward to today. I'm still in business, but need to take it to the next level. Finally this year I attended my first ASDP convention and fell in love. It was the best sewing conference I had ever attended. I left inspired, challenged and in admiration of the members of ASDP. These were my kind of gals, garment sewers. The skill level of ASDP members was outstanding. I knew that this is what I wanted to do in my second career. Most members I had never met before, but they embraced and encouraged me to pursue custom sewing. Before the 2012 conferende I was adamant about not sewing for people. After the conference, I knew I could do custom sewing.

I believe that the ASDP Master Certification will benefit me in various ways. Master certification will validate my sewing and fashion design skills. Most importantly, Master certification will allow me to offer custom sewing with confidence. Master certification will announce to the public that I am a skilled professional that will deliver superior custom clothing. Master certification will further develop my sewing and design skills. Master certification will allow me to mentor, encourage and attract sewers who want a career in fashion sewing. Lastly, Master certification will allow me to grow the ASDP membership.

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