FIRST Certification & Its Impact

BOHEMIA, NY—A rapid-fire survey of nearly 300 package printing and converting professionals holding Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications and Tolerances (FIRST) certifications, indicates widespread appreciation for the benefits it brings.

Results, issued by the Flexographic Technical Association, Jan. 27, 2025, reveal that 91 percent of respondents are satisfied with the training and its ensuing rewards. Of those, 39 percent report being “very satisfied.”

Sixty-five percent of the audience hold Level 1 certification, while 47 percent hold Level 2 and 56 percent, Level 3. The programs build on each other with individuals electing to advance from one level to the next upon completion of each course of study.

Fifty-three percent of those polled have first-time certification, 19 percent have renewed, 8 percent intend to renew and 8 percent will act upon expiration. Press operators constitute 16 percent of the sample; technical specialists, 11 percent; production managers, 10 percent; prepress pros, 9 percent; and sales/marketing executives, 9 percent. The remaining 45 percent fit other classifications amounting to small percentages.

Speaking to what FIRST certification has done for them as an individual:

• 94 percent of poll participants say it helps establish a vast understanding of best practices
• 89 percent describe it as a “confidence builder”
• 88 percent credit it with enhancing their job performance, mirroring the 88 percent who attribute it to having improved their technical skills
• 82 percent identify FIRST training as making them more competitive in the job market
• 55 percent believe it helped them secure a promotion
• 47 percent indicate it offers an assist in winning a salary increase

Commenting on the motivation behind their decision to enroll in FIRST training, poll participants list out “professional development” and assign it a rating of 56 percent. “Improving job knowledge” follows at 46 percent with 35 percent appreciating personal growth opportunities, 25 percent saying, “It’s employer required,” and 18 percent liking the industry recognition it garners.

Similar results apply to findings that relate to the value of maintaining FIRST certification. Personnel development opportunities inspire 43 percent to re-enroll. Thirty-five percent see it as contingent to further growth, 32 percent believe it builds knowledge and 25 percent tout the recognition it brings.

FTA’s FIRST Certification Impact Survey collates responses of 285 certification holders. Forty-five percent hail from organizations employing more than 250 people, 31 percent have a workforce of 51-250 and the remaining 25 percent have less than 50 members in the workforce.

Sixty-six percent of FIRST certification survey participants have worked in package printing and converting for more than a decade with some 45 percent eclipsing the two-decade barrier.  Three quarters of the audience are males; 25 percent, female. Better than one-third say they stand ready to share details on their success with FIRST training with others that might share interest in pursuing certification.

Success Stories
“We decreased customer complaints by 30 percent after running 11 people through FTA FIRST in our facility,” reports Don Shoberg, printing graphics manager, Hood Packaging, Sibley, IA.

Jaime Agudelo or Miraclon Corp, contends, “This training standardized knowledge across our team, allowing us to communicate better with customers and each other.”

Brand Owner Paul Filso, Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee testifies, “I can now work more effectively with printers during press approvals and achieve better results.”

Robert Edukugho of tesa tape, professes, “It gave me a sense of pride within my company—I am the only employee with the FTA Level 3 Certification.”

Michelle Fontain-Calkins, Midagraphics, Baltic, CT, explains, “The program provided a path forward for starting up our new facility and training employees correctly from day one.”

Association Assessment 

“FTA FIRST is the best way to ensure that your print and production staff have the core knowledge to troubleshoot systems and processes, communicate effectively with their teammates and customers, and, most importantly, produce the highest quality package printing,” declares Nathan Ridnouer, FTA president. “FIRST certification is a win-win-win for any individual and company willing to make the investment!”

Kenny Tucker, manager, training services tells potential certification seekers, “Professional development, job knowledge, and personal growth are the top reasons people pursue FIRST training.”

“Investing in employee development not only enhances skills but also boosts retention—94 percent of employees say they’d stay longer if their company invested in their growth according to LinkedIn’s 2023 Workplace Learning Report,” he notes. “FIRST training is a powerful tool for building a stronger, more committed team!”