Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, Restoration Certification

"The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has served as the Industry Guardian for the cleaning, inspection and restoration service industries for more than 30 years. As a non-profit certification organization, the IICRC helps ensure that you have access to trusted and trained cleaning professionals by establishing and monitoring certification programs and standards for these industries."

"To qualify for IICRC-Certified Firm status businesses must demonstrate proof of insurance, maintain a written customer complaint policy with documented follow-up and provide ongoing education and training leading to certification for all technicians. IICRC Certified Firms are also required to abide by the IICRC Code of Ethics. Services provided by IICRC–Certified professionals range from flooring inspection and cleaning to mold remediation to water and fire damage restoration."  www.iicrc.org/default.shtml 

Several cleaning and restoraton organizations came together to create the IICRC in 1972. The IICRC became a non-profit organization 25 years later. The IICRC's mission is to promote high standards of professionalism, technical excellence, and ethics for those working in the industry.

The IICRC approves instructors and schools; all of which are independent of the IICRC as the organization maintains none of its own. At this time there are approximately 150 IICRC approved teachers. The nearest actual school is in Phoenix, though instructors will come to other areas to teach approved courses.

Althouse Cleaning has hosted the Smoke & Fire Damage Restoration, and the Water Damage Restoration classes in El Paso. The Applied Structural Drying course requires an actual house to be flooded so that students will experience hands on experience in addition to classroom training. Six Althouse technicians have completed the ASD course at ATEX School in Houston and the Winner's Circle in Phoenix, where houses were built soley to provide this training. 

In addition to certifying committed individuals and firms, the IICRC also writes and publishes reference books that are used by cleaning and restoration technicians, by government agencies, and to decide liability cases in court.

IICRC Certifications

(Certifications held by Althouse Cleaning employees in bold)

1. Applied Structural Drying Technician 
2. Applied Microbial Remediation Technician 
3. Carpet Cleaning Technician 
4. Commercial Carpet Maintenance Technician 
5. Rug Cleaning Technician
6. Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician 
7. Water Damage Restoration Technician 
8. Odor Control Technician 
9. Carpet Color Repair Technician 
10. Carpet Repair & Reinstallation Technician 
11. Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technician 
12. Floor Care Technician (Hard Surfaces) 
13. Leather Cleaning Technician
14. Resilient Floor Maintenance Technician
15. Health and Safety Technician 
16. Stone, Masonry & Ceramic Tile Cleaning
17. Introduction to Substrate Subfloor Inspection 
18. Resilient Flooring Inspector
19. Marble and Stone Inspector 
20. Ceramic Tile Inspector
21. Wood Laminate Flooring Inspector
22. Senior Carpet Inspector 

Locate a pro http://www.certifiedcleaners.org/locator.shtml in El Paso/ Las Cruces.

More about Althouse Cleaning's certifications ...