Overview
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is an international nonprofit that certifies professional individuals and firms and develops certifications and standards within the inspection, cleaning, and restoration industries. Since its formation in 1972, the IICRC has been dedicated to promoting high standards of ethics, performance and technical proficiency among industry professionals. Today, there are more than 53,000 active IICRC Certified technicians and more than 6,000 IICRC Certified firms worldwide.
Industry standards
As an ANSI-accredited Standards Developing Organization (SDO), the IICRC has led the way in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, upholstery and fabric cleaning, water damage restoration, and mold remediation. Each IICRC standard takes years to develop and requires the coordination of several experts in the field, including manufacturers, public health professionals and other industry organizations. Standards are reviewed and updated at least every five years.
Certification/education programs
The IICRC offers a wide range of educational opportunities to professionals in the inspection, cleaning and restoration industries. Professionals can choose from nearly 30 certification courses, from Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (AMRT) to Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT). Additionally, the organization offers certification tracks for professionals who want to further expand their designations, as well as continuing education for keeping their certifications up-to-date.
Industry relationships
As part of its commitment to advancing industry standards, the IICRC actively pursues relationships with fiber producers, carpet and fabric mills, furnishing retailers, and equipment and chemical manufacturers and suppliers. It also works with various businesses and organizations to increase awareness of certified firms, from manufacturers like Shaw (which requires warranty work to be done by an IICRC Certified company) to government officials.
To learn more about IICRC, visit www.iicrc.org.