The Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers (ACT) program has been created through the combined efforts of five organizations including; the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF), the International Masonry Institute (IMI), the International Union of Brick Layers and Allied Craftworkers (IUBAC), the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) and the Tile Contractors Association of America (TCAA).

The purpose of the ACT Certification program is to establish a testing mechanism which evaluates the skills and knowledge of tile installers who have been pre-qualified by being either a Certified Tile Installer (CTI) through the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) or a journeyman tile setter who has successfully completed the apprenticeship training program conducted by the International Union of Brick and Allied Craftworkers (IUBAC).

The intent of this Large Format Tile & Substrate Preparation certification is to determine the knowledge and skills presented by the pre-qualified tile installer. These skills must include the ability to distinguish if the substrate to be tiled meets applicable ANSI Specifications and TCNA methods. The tile installer must also have the skill and knowledge to be able to install the large format tile in a pre-designated pattern. This installation must also be able to meet all applicable ANSI Specifications and TCNA methods. If this criterion is met or exceeded and the accompanied written test is successfully completed, the tile installer will then be designated as certified in this particular program. A form of certification will be given to the installer to provide the customer the proof of expertise.