Here’s hoping you had a great finish to 2009 and are moving full speed ahead into the New Year. IICRC is looking forward to another busy year in 2010, processing an average of 130 Certification classes each month with an average attendance of 15 students per class.
Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT) continues to be the most popular certification category, followed by Carpet Cleaning Technician (CCT). With the economy showing signs of recovery, service companies are seeing a general upturn in business, and this is reflected in training class attendance.
The IICRC continues to make progress on the Carpet Installation Standard (S600), with committees hard at work preparing the technical chapters for the reference guide. While completion is estimated to be more than 2 years away, the excitement is beginning to build, as groups that some thought would never even be in the same room are working together.
The revision process of the Carpet Cleaning Standard (S100) has completed the peer review period and is nearing the final stages of ANSI accreditation and then publication. This will be the 5th Edition of the S100 and IICRC’s third ANSI-accredited Standard.
The newly established Commercial Drying Specialist (CDS) certification category is up and running. The first classes have been very well received, and there is a lot of enthusiasm for this specialty drying discipline. For details on classes in a specific area, check the class listing at www.iicrc.org. Work is also being done to communicate with major insurance carriers about recommending IICRC-certified restoration professionals and remediators.
Many IICRC-certified technicians are looking for ways to meet their continuing education requirements in order to maintain their credentials. There are hundreds of approved events that qualify for Continuing Education Credits (CECs) listed on the IICRC web site at www.iicrc.org, where you’ll find distance learning opportunities as well. The purpose of the CEC requirement is to assure that IICRC-certified technicians remain on the leading edge of technology and current on all industry best practices.
New IICRC President Patrick Winters has been very active in attending various industry events, working to reach out and maintain contact with IICRC registrants on a firsthand basis. In the past few months alone he has attended the ISSA Convention; Connections; The Starnet Convention; the Floor Covering Industry Issues Council; the IICRC Instructor Symposium and of course the IICRC Certification Council and Board of Directors meetings.
The IICRC will be exhibiting at Surface in February, with the Executive Committee meeting immediately following. Any inspection, cleaning or restoration professionals attending the show should be sure to stop by the IICRC booth to register for continuing education credits available for attending.
The IICRC Certified Firm program continues to provide benefits in the form of articles, press releases, marketing support, job referrals, and much more. Now at well over 5,000 Certified Firms, the highest number ever, IICRC Certification has been established as the preferred credential among industry professionals, insurance claim specialists, and carpet manufacturers. Having now grown beyond the 60,000 active technician level, IICRC is looking forward to continued growth through 2010.
Remember to promote your certification credentials in all your business promotions. We are working hard to maintain a high level of recognition and awareness of certification. Together we can truly make a difference.
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