Restoration logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Restoration logo
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products & Technologies
    • Submit Your Product
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
  • EDUCATION
    • KnowHow.
    • Podcasts
    • Trade Shows & Expos
    • Training & Certification
    • Webinars
    • Whitepapers
  • TOPICS
    • Water Damage
    • Fire & Smoke Damage
    • Mold
    • Contamination
    • Odor
    • Contents
    • Architecture
    • Catastrophe
    • Cleaning
  • BUSINESS
    • Managing Your Business
    • Insurance/Legal Matters
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • VIDEOS
    • Ask Annissa
    • Ask the Expert
    • Ironclad Marketing Minute
    • TradeTalks
    • Video Channel
  • INFOCENTER
    • Mold and Mycotoxins
  • THE EXPERIENCE
    • Conference & Exhibition
    • Convention & Trade Show
    • R&R Special Issue
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP

Benefits of Industry Certifications & Education

By Patricia L. Harman
May 24, 2010


Restoration Industry Association certificants holding the Certified Restorer (CR) and Water Loss Specialist (WLS) certification have joined an elite group of professionals recognized by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Center for Healthy Homes (NCHH) as being among the top industry professionals to help Americans maintain safe and healthy homes.

The new database, managed by NCHH and commissioned by HUD’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, involved reviewing the credentials of more than 80 different certification programs. RIA’s WLS and CR certificants are among the 22 certification/credential programs selected for the public resource. The individuals holding the credentials will be included in a website (www.hhcontractors.org) designed to help consumers make informed decisions when considering a contractor or consultant to help resolve any healthy home issues.

Advanced industry certifications demonstrate that an individual takes his or her job and field seriously. Whether it’s carpet inspection, water or fire damage restoration, cleaning Oriental and specialty rugs, or residential or commercial carpet cleaning, clients expect that the individual performing the work knows the latest information that pertains to that field.

RIA Certifications

While RIA markets four different advanced certifications, several are currently undergoing a bit of “restoration” themselves.

RIA’s best known certification program, the CR, has implemented changes to the instructional delivery for its traditional week-long certification school with the launch of a “blended learning” format. This year, approved CR candidates will participate in the restructured format which includes diagnostic testing in September; three online live training courses in October; two days of live review in November; and the CR exam 2010 CR Prep Course, conducted immediately before the CR exam in mid-November.

Those interested in pursuing the CR certification in 2010 must have their application and prerequisite courses completed before Oct. 1.

Currently, one of the prerequisite CMP course tests, the Mold Remediation Supervisor (MRS), has been rewritten and will undergo beta testing early this summer with an anticipated rollout late in the third quarter of 2010 through a third-party testing company. The Certified Mold Professional exam will be the next to be rewritten.

The last traditional Water Loss Specialist course was held in September 2009. For 2011, two new prerequisite courses have been added, bringing the course requirement to six. A new WLS Prep Review course will be developed for those who have the knowledge and experience, but want a review before taking the WLS exam, which is also undergoing rewriting, beta testing and rollout through RIA’s third-party testing company.

Each specialty still requires a rigorous course of study and research, as well as meeting a number of pre-certification course requirements and successfully passing (with 80 percent or better) a standardized certification exam. Candidates must select a topic and submit a formal report and paper on a pre-approved subject (like a Master’s thesis in a university setting). Only after all of these steps have been completed and the final report approved will individuals be eligible to receive the Association’s appropriate certification.

And while every technician, owner or manager may not choose to pursue advanced certifications, knowledge may be attained through industry conferences, conventions or seminars. It is often the networking that takes place in the hallways between sessions, on the exhibition floor or in restaurants that are as valuable as the information gained in the actual education sessions.

RIA Fall Conference

RIA will be holding its annual Fall Conference in Albuquerque, NM, Oct. 6-8, which coincides with the city’s annual hot air balloon festival. The conference will return to its traditional lecture and panel format sessions, along with networking sessions featuring powerhouse speakers within the reconstruction industry.

As always, RIA’s conference is designed to encourage a dialogue between the attendees and the experts in the room. Registration details and more information on specific sessions and presenters can be found at the RIA website: www.restorationindustry.org.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Patricia L. Harman is the director of communications and standards for the Restoration Industry Association and editor-in-chief of Cleaning & Restoration magazine. For more information on RIA, visit www.restorationindustry.org

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • mold remediation

    Fighting Mold and Bacteria Damage

    Successful mold remediation can be multidisciplinary,...
    Contamination Restoration & Remediation​
    By: Josh Woolen
  • certifications and licenses for restoration professionals

    Certifications and Licenses Every Restoration Company Needs

    Restoration companies need to make sure they have the...
    Restoration Training/Education
    By: Sharon Elzarat
  • a wall covered in moss and fungus

    Zero Tolerance for Toxic Molds: Essential Steps for Successful Remediation

    Understanding the importance of zero tolerance for toxic...
    Mold Remediation
    By: Michael A. Pinto CSP, SMS, CMP, RTPE, FLS, ERS and Kendra Seymour
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Popular Stories

Pop Art Female Superhero Punches a Masked Villain

TPAs vs. Independence: The Restoration Industry’s Own Version of the Cola Wars

RIA Carrier Advocate Mark Springer

Turning the Page: A New Era of Trust and Collaboration in Restoration

particle count hands-on demonstration of a HEPA filter

The Truth About HEPA Filters

Submit Your New Product/Technology to R&R!

Would you like to promote a new restoration, remediation or cleaning product/technology with Restoration & Remediation? Fill out the question below to start your submission:

Events

September 3, 2025

The Experience Convention and Trade Show

The Experience Convention & Trade Show logoJoin us in Las Vegas for The Experience Convention & Trade Show, the leading event for cleaning, restoration, and remediation pros, packed with hands-on demos, expert speakers, and high-impact networking. Happening September 3–5, 2025 at Caesars Forum—this is where the industry comes to learn, connect, and grow!

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Doffing PPE

When you are doffing your PPE, do you sanitize between every step?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

The Cleaning, Restoration, Inspection, and Safety Glossary

The Cleaning, Restoration, Inspection, and Safety Glossary

The Cleaning, Restoration, Inspection, and Safety Glossary.

See More Products
Prepare for CATASTROPHE with R&R!

Related Articles

  • Industry Certifications & Education

    See More
  • Education is a Priority at RIA

    See More
  • Education Takes Center Stage at RIA

    See More
×

Stay ahead of the curve with our eNewsletters.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Submit a Press Release
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Reprints
    • Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing