The Japan Cosmetic Association (JCAA) announced that it will begin offering a "Cosmetics Certification Exam" in November of this year, aimed at general consumers, cosmetics workers, and job seekers. The first two exams, scheduled to begin in November, will be the "Cosmetics Certification Exam (Cosme Meister)" and the "Cosmetics Basic Certification Exam (Cosme Meister Lite)." The association expects 500 to 600 test takers in the first year. The Cosmetics Certification Exam will be offered twice a year, with a planned exam fee of ¥5,000 and a certification issuance and registration fee of ¥3,000. The certification is renewable every three years, with training required for renewal. The Cosmetics Basic Certification Exam can be taken online at any time. The certification is permanent, with a planned exam fee of ¥1,000 and a certification issuance and registration fee of ¥3,000. Applications will begin in August of this year, with detailed fee details to be announced at the same time. In addition, a Q&A textbook, "Cosmetics Q&A 2013 - Preparation for the Japan Cosmetic Association Certification Exam," will be published in July. Starting in April 2014, the more specialized "Cosmetics and Beauty Comprehensive Certification Exam (Skin Care Meister Levels 3 and 2)" will be launched for related professionals (senior/in-house training officers, product developers, and researchers). A Level 1 exam is also planned for association-certified instructors. At a June 20 press conference, Makoto Kawashima, executive director of the association and professor in charge of the Department of Dermatology at Tokyo Women's Medical University, said, "Last year's survey on awareness and knowledge of cosmetics and skin care revealed that people lack basic knowledge about cosmetics and skin, preventing them from making correct decisions. By introducing a certification system, we hope to equip consumers with accurate knowledge while also cultivating personnel who can provide and disseminate accurate information." The association's chairperson is Iwamoto Mana (dermatologist), and in addition to Kawashima, the board members include Inoue Junichi (CEO of Medisite), Kobayashi Kazuhiro (Chairman of Wellaging Medical Corporation), Tsujino Yoshio (Professor of the Department of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba Institute of Science), Yamada Meyumi (Director of iStyle), and Tomioka Junichi (Secretary General of the Japan Cosmetic Association), and the auditor is Tsuchimoto Kazuhiko (Managing Director of Leica).