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In today’s fiscal climate, there is no shortage of often ill-qualified people offering to clean and restore your valuable possessions, but how do you determine who truly knows what they are doing – i.e., how do you tell the “Masters” from the “Jacks-of-all-Trades”? In a word: Certification. [Note: Ad or content links featured on this page are not necessarily affiliated with IICRC (The cleantrust) and should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by IICRC (The cleantrust)].
Specifically, certification by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Registrants of the IICRC are industry experts — recognized by the cleantrust designation or logo — who have passed stringent and current knowledge and skills exams from approved industry schools, and have kept up to date on the latest cleaning and restoration information.
The cleantrust designation associated with firms you hire indicates you are dealing with qualified professionals who have done their homework in the field of cleaning rugs, carpet, and leather or upholstered furniture, and in restoring homes after mold, water, or fire/smoke damage. You can be confident when hiring a cleantrust firm that the technicians are qualified to clean and restore your valuable possessions.
IICRC certification helps to immediately identify the cleaning, restoration and inspection industries’ most skilled and dedicated technicians and businesses.
IICRC Master Cleaners: The Best of the Best
While you can always be confident when hiring a cleantrust credentialed firm, a select few have cleaners/restorers on staff that have continued their industry training and earned designation as master cleaners/restorers.
According to Tom Hill, IICRC Executive Administrator, earning the "master" designation is a process: “Industry professionals that have achieved their certificate in one or more of the IICRC designations have completed a specialized training course and passed a standardized exam covering each of those specialized areas. When a technician has earned a certificate in additional related disciplines and can demonstrate a minimum of one year of field experience in the general category, the technician may qualify for 'journeyman' status. After earning certificates in still more (total of 5) additional specialty categories and demonstrating a minimum of three years of experience in the field, the technician may then achieve the master-level credential.”
“Master cleaners are recognized for their expanded depth of knowledge and experience in several related areas of their specialty,” notes Hill.
Journeyman First, Then Master
A JOURNEYMAN TEXTILE CLEANER (JTC) has at least one year of active service in the industry after his/her original certification date, plus attainment of specific designations (See Sidebar: Guide to General IICRC Certification Credentials or Designations). Journeyman designation will automatically be awarded upon attainment of the proper credits, and must include CCT or CCMT, UFT, OCT, and CRT or RRT.
A JOURNEYMAN FIRE & SMOKE RESTORER (JSR) has at least one year of active service in the industry after his/her original certification date plus attainment of specific categories, including UFT, OCT and FSRT.
A JOURNEYMAN WATER RESTORER (JWR) has at least one year of active service in the industry after his/her original certification date plus attainment of specific categories, including CCT or CCMT, WRT, and RRT.
A MASTER TEXTILE CLEANER (MTC) has a minimum of three years after his/her original certification date plus attainment of specific certifications, including CCT or CCMT, UFT, OCT, RRT, and CRT.
A MASTER FIRE AND SMOKE RESTORER (MSR) has a minimum of three years after his/her original certification date plus attainment of specific certifications, including CCT or CCMT, UFT, OCT, FSRT, and HST or equivalent.
A MASTER WATER RESTORER (MWR)has a minimum of three years after his/her original certification date plus attainment of specific certifications, including CCT or CCMT, RRT, WRT, ASD, AMRT or AMRS, and HST or equivalent.
More information is available on the IICRC website - http://iicrc.org/education-certification/certification-tracks/.
How to Find a Master Cleaner or Restorer
To locate an IICRC Certified Firm with a master technician on staff visit www.iicrc.org/locate-a-certified-professional. Select the correct country from the “services” list, then scroll down to select Master Textile Cleaner, Master Water Restorer, or Master Fire and Smoke Restorer. Enter your zip code, select a search radius, and click “search”. A list will come up of all IICRC Certified Firms with a master technician on staff within the search radius area of the zip code entered.
If someone claims to be a master technician, this can also be verified on the “Locate a Certified Professional” www.iicrc.org/locate-a-certified-professional section of the IICRC website by entering their name in the designated area and clicking “search”.
