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OKTA Certification Program

The Oklahoma Taxidermists Association offers a certification program to its members.  Members earn points through
competing at the OKTA annual convention each summer.  There are eight categories in which a member may become
certified.  The categories are:  Life-size Mammals, Reptiles, Fish, Whitetails, Gameheads, Birds, Reproductions, and
Original Art.  All, except the Original Art category will count towards your master's certification.  A master's certification is
aquired when a member becomes certified in a minimum of four of the remaining seven categories and there has to be a
minimum of one blue ribbon in the points earned.  Each member competing collects points by the following points system.

Professional Divison
Blue Ribbon:  5 points towards that particular categories certification.
Red Ribbon :  3 points
White Ribbon :  1 point (Only 5 points may be earned with 3rds.

Master's Divison
Blue Ribbon:  6 points towards that particular categories certification.
Red Ribbon :  4 points
White Ribbon :  2 points

Only Professional and Master's pieces may earn points.  Amateur entries do not qualify for certification. Once a competitor
has earned a total of eleven points he or she is considered certified in that particular category.  Many taxidermists in our
state claim to be Oklahoma Certified Taxidermists.  The National Taxidermists Association offer similar certification
programs for their members.  This certification program is the only viable certification program in the state of Oklahoma.

Below is a list of the OKTA certified Taxidermists and the categories they have accomplished their certification.

OKTA Certified Master of Master Taxidermists

"Certified in all 7 Categories"
Karen Standford-Gerhardt

Danny Keener

Hal Clary

OKTA Certified Taxidermists

OKTA Certified Master Taxidermists

"Certified in 4 Categories"
Danny Keener
Karen Stanford-Gerhardt
Buck Jones
Kenneth Bauman
Terry Grace
Michael Beckman
Hal Clary
Keith Compton
Bob Rowe

Jason Delue

Bill Newman

Mark Pontius

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