Back in 1972, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) began as a noble concept.

IICRC certification was a way to set apart and to designate those individuals who were committed to professionalism.

The IICRC registry was intended to be a means by which consumers could identify who those committed professionals were and where they could be found.

Even before it became a non-profit in the late 1980’s, the IICRC vision for a unified industry was attracting some of the brightest volunteers in the industry to work tirelessly toward its goals.

And did those volunteers have synergy! Working together, exploring what could be done and what couldn’t, but needed to be done, IICRC volunteers never thought to ask “Why?” but rather, “Why not?”

They were so busy identifying industry needs and filling them through incredible displays of teamwork and persistence, that they never had time to rest on their laurels or even take pride in what was being accomplished.

Although certification categories grew the ranks of IICRC registrants, it probably was the standard writing effort that gained the most attention from our allied industry associates.

Organizations like the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the American Furniture Manufacturers Association, as well as many insurance industry-related organizations — all deferred to the technical expertise of the IICRC when it came to writing practical industry standards that could be applied by all industry professionals consistently and effectively.

During this time, the cleaning/restoration service industry spoke with one unified voice, and that was the voice of the IICRC.

Today, all four IICRC standards are recognized and quoted internationally by such diversified groups as the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, the U.S. EPA, the U.S. Army, Health Canada, and many others.

IICRC-certified technicians are recommended by major carpet manufacturers, fiber producers, chemical and equipment manufacturers, and by radio talk show hosts, newspaper and magazine writers, and television personalities nationwide.

Never has the recognition and prestige of the cleaning and restoration industry been so high.

Maintaining that organizational credibility takes teamwork. It takes buy-in and support from all professionals in the inspection, cleaning and restoration service industry, if the momentum is to be continued.

Individual firms and technicians who obtain and maintain their certification are the whole foundation of IICRC credibility in the market place.

IICRC can write the standards, set the certification categories, and jump the public relations hurdles; but if individual firms and technicians don’t support IICRC programs consistently, the organization’s credibility is diminished.

The strength of the IICRC lies in the support, both financially and philosophically, of each IICRC-Certified Firm and IICRC-Certified Technician.

Collectively, we must earn and re-earn the recognition and support of allied industry associates daily.

It’s popular, even fun, to criticize IICRC programs from time to time. We all do it. Indeed, no organization is perfect, and constructive criticism is justified.

But harsh, destructive criticism from arm-chair quarterbacks, who refuse to join the game, does the entire industry a disservice.

It diverts attention from the goal that all of us advocate; that of building a better industry in which professionals can work and achieve our personal and family goals and be recognized for the effort.

And what is the indicator of IICRC success?

Is it the writing of four industry standards since 1991? Is it our growth from one to 22 certification categories over the past 30 years? Is it our growth to 3500 Certified Firms or some 35,000 certified registrants? Is it the broadening of our international scope into 21 countries?

We would submit that the real indicator of IICRC’s success is your success in your profession.

You see, while the individual technicians, just like you, who have led the IICRC over many years, may have the same shortcomings that are common to all business leaders, they always returned to the ultimate IICRC decision making criterion, our single most important guiding principle: “What’s right for the registrants?”

Bottom line: If the IICRC is to grow the industry, it must be done collectively with your active participation and support.

This brings us to the question: What is the IICRC?

It’s mom-and-pop and family firms; it’s multi-national corporations; it’s franchises both big and small; it’s individual technicians; it’s building maintenance and restoration professionals; it’s your fellow association members; it’s your competitors both good and bad; it’s insurance adjusters, fiber producers, carpet manufacturers… it’s all who make up the complex and colorful fabric of a great American service industry. It’s us.

We’re all in this together.

With all due respect to Mr. Dobbins, the IICRC and all cleaning organizations out there, I by no means am trying to bash or discredit, but the true question here is if certification is needed to be successful in the cleaning and restoration industry.

While Mr. Dobbins quotes some numbers and history, with every study performed there is always some information missing or neglected. 

Non-certified cleaners are just as professional and have noble concepts as do certified cleaners.

Having previously been a certified firm, I believe our values and certainly our integrity has not changed nor diminished.

We all have the same common goals and perspectives as certified and that is to be successful, professional, and to promote the positive side of our industry. 

Sure, there are the good just like the bad, and we will find this in certified and non-certified people such as automotive mechanics, doctors, engineers, cosmetologists and many more.

You just know never to go back to a certain barber after a bad haircut. Hair will grow back, but a bad cleaning job with inappropriate cleaning agents is a problem that will not go away. 

It is these certain ones that give the industry in whole a bad reputation. 

Many will argue that all certified people are the same, but in truth we all know different.

Maybe we need to address the issue of certification and how it is handed out. 

We can go through the classes and afterwards we have the option of taking the test. 

It’s taking and passing the test that determines certification. These organizations are for the members that they certify. I suggest some changes.

Those who don’t wish to take the test but who have gone through the classes should have the option of joining the organization, but those who take the test and pass should be certified and the companies they are with become certified firms.

If adjustments need to be made with dues or tuition, let it be so. Those who don’t wish to take the test should not be discredited or penalized. This really is a questionable form of being bias.

As I review several phone books from various areas, I see something interesting. I would suggest that everyone look at our large franchises in this industry. How many of them display certification?

Many of these large corporations have their own training facilities, and they decline to be part of other certifying organizations, such as the IICRC.

Is there a trend here?

Displaying a logo of certification generally will not sway a person one way or another.

It is the recommendation of your own cheerleaders and not of your decision to become certified or not.

For certification to be effective, we need to raise standards and requirements for such a privilege. 

Many associations do background checks with their application.

People have the right to know who comes into their home and what their past work experience entails.  Sometimes “seals of approvals” can give homeowners a false sense of security.

I truly believe that certification is not the key for success. Education is the true path.

It is not about the money we pay for dues, but many of us need to see the value in what we receive.

Do one more study and find out why some of our most knowledgeable people, the master cleaners and restorers, have left their association. 

Many of us felt as if the associations have abandoned us. 

If the certification boards are for the cleaners, let the cleaners speak and make the decisions. 

By doing so, I wouldn’t be surprised to see more come back and ask to test out on their knowledge instead of having to wait three years to get their master status back again.

If you can do it in college, then we should be able to do it in front of a certifying board. 

Then watch the numbers of certified people. 

We are the cleaners and restorers that make the certifying bodies look good.

You can’t judge a book by its cover, and certainly never judge a man by the way he dresses.

What does this have to do with certification? 

Just because a person is certified doesn’t necessarily mean you will get a great cleaning experience.

I know many people who are not certified and do rather well for themselves.

Understand your subject, take classes and seminars, network with other cleaners and apply what you learn: That is the true sign of success.

One shouldn’t be judged by certifications that he holds.  

For example, a good friend of mine in Detroit Lakes, MN, is not certified and has an excellent cleaning and restoration reputation in his market area. 

His integrity, honesty, hard work, and dedication towards his customers have given him all the opportunities for success. 

These things far outweigh any certification. He has taken numerous classes and seminars, and yet hasn’t paid for the certification. 

That doesn’t mean those that are certified aren’t qualified or don’t do terrific work. If they didn’t have certification, they still have the knowledge.

There’s another twist to this debate: Keeping your certification after you receive it.

Many successful cleaners have higher education degrees.

Once you have graduated with that status, they can’t take that away from you.

Why should we have to keep paying dues and retake a class every four years just to say we are certified?

That would be like telling a college graduate after four years that their degree is no longer valuable unless they take another couple of classes and pay more money.

Does this make sense? 

It is just the exchange of money that makes us certified. Is this really necessary just for a status? 

I feel association with other cleaners after the class is the best education. 

There is no comparison in getting together with fellow cleaners/restorers and discussing marketing, cleaning techniques, equipment and products.

I firmly believe education is necessary, and having the certification is nice, but I strongly disagree of paying money to remain certified.

Just because you are certified does not mean you are qualified. 

There are too many examples of people with no experience, taking a two-day course and test and going home not knowing what to do next. 

I know of several people who proudly display the logo of their certifying body but yet will not adhere to their rules and regulations.   

Being a previous master cleaning technician and master restoration technician with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree, I have not seen a decline in my business because I am not certified. 

Instead, I see a steady, constant growth due to my experience and ability to stay on top of the information in the industry. 

Many of us who lost our master status due to the additional course structure feel as if we have been cheated. 

It is times like this that have made us all think realistically about certification.

Foremost, there isn’t much here that’s debatable. Basically, we’re all saying that:

Many people are successful without certification or even without education, which certainly is true. But, historically, that’s the exception rather than the rule. The fact that many industry professionals have advanced-education degrees demonstrates the value they place on education. Otherwise, they would attend necessary classes, and then, not bother to pick up their diploma to verify their considerable investment in time and money.

Second, many argue that people don’t need to maintain their certification or pursue advanced designations, which may be true also. But that line of reasoning implies that little in our industry changes and there’s no need to keep up… unless you just want to. I would hate to think where water restoration technicians — and especially their customers — would be if they were still using the same techniques, equipment and procedures that prevailed in the market only five or six years ago. Huge changes! And the IICRC CEC requirement reminds technicians of their professional responsibility to keep up — if not for their sakes, then for their customer’s.

Third, the point is often made that you don’t lose your college degree if you don’t pay your dues and get CECs. Ignoring for the moment the fact that a college education costs many times the time and money required for IICRC certification, the fact is that, with many advanced degrees, especially in the medical field, if you don’t stay up to date, you lose your designation. A pediatrician I know just had to take a series of exams to confirm that he’s qualified to remain board certified. The cost was $1,100 and he must re-certify every seven years. Physical therapists must take a series of courses for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in order to maintain their status. All medical specialties are moving toward requirements for CEUs or examinations to maintain board certification to protect the consuming public. Lawyers, certified public accountants, architects, engineers, interior designers — all acknowledge the importance of continuing education, and they make that requirement mandatory for continued practice or certification. Looks like the IICRC is way ahead of most professions in this regard.

Next, many industry professionals have a clouded view of where their money for certification is being spent. Maybe that’s the IICRC’s fault. The IICRC spends its marketing dollars promoting IICRC-certified registrants and getting business for certified firms and registrants, rather than telling its registrants how good the organization is. Perhaps that is one beneficial outcome of debates like this. Of course, the IICRC sends out many press releases, most of which are published in industry magazines like CM/Cleanfax. But one must wonder if industry technicians actually are reading the wealth of beneficial information that’s published monthly.

In a perfect world, everyone would be trustworthy, loyal, friendly, courteous, kind, truthful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent – a regular Boy or Girl Scout! In a perfect world… However, this isn’t a perfect world. There are good and bad people in this world. So consumers, indeed, all of us, need some way of identifying the boy scouts from the rip-off artists, before inviting cleaning “professionals” (isn’t everyone?) into their homes and businesses. Certification is one method that’s used to separate the good guys from the bad. Someone can lie about their years in business, their experience; even certification status is abused. But for careful consumers, IICRC certification is a reasonable starting point to identify someone who has met basic industry requirements for education and, in the case of IICRC journeyman or master designations, someone who has completed multiple courses and exams, along with one to three years of experience as well. Still no guarantee of a quality job, but it’s way ahead of whaatever’s in second place.

Where IICRC certified firm status is concerned, it’s the consumer’s best bet that the firm will be licensed and insured, and that there will be a quality control process for complaint follow up. Consumers still need to check the status of any cleaning firm in their community by asking questions and getting recommendations from satisfied customers.

I think that all of us would agree that integrity, honesty, hard work and dedication towards customers are keys to success. To that list I would add a consistent marketing and public relations program and a satisfied customer base. But this begs the question: How does the consumer know how reliable a firm is, especially in a metropolitan market where people don’t even know their neighbors anymore? The answer is: Consumers look for and rely upon “seals of approval” such as Good Housekeeping or the Carpet and Rug Institute, or affiliations like the Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, and certifications such as ASE certified mechanics, CPAs, IICRC certified firms and technicians.

“But,” you say, “there are too many examples of people with no experience, taking a two-day course and test, and going home not knowing what to do next; either that, or they display the logo of their certifying body but don’t adhere to their rules and regulations.” I would submit that there are many more examples of people in all types of service professions who practice their trade in a marginal manner because education and certification is not available. We all meet them every day. This is one reason why many consumers decide to “do it themselves,” rather than hire trained, certified professionals. None of us need that.

Certification cost? An IICRC Certified Master Cleaner or Restorer pays a mere $60 annually to maintain his or her status. Compare that to what you pay for cable TV each month, for your monthly cell phone service, or even for going to the movies. Why, a decent dinner for two at a nice restaurant can cost that much or more — that’s a single meal! The great thing about living in America is that we all can make choices about how we earn and spend our income. I would submit that $60 is a small price to pay for the confidence, credibility and professionalism that IICRC Certification status confers.

Kirk Saiger is with Merle’s Steam Clean & Restoration, Bemidji, MN, and is a third-generation cleaner.

Joe Dobbins is the certification council chairman of the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification.