The American Indoor Air Quality Council applauded the news that the sponsor of a Florida bill regulating the mold inspection industry supports the use of accredited certifications as prerequisites for state licensing.

Florida state representative Carl Domino, sponsor of HB 1399 creating a licensing system for mold inspectors, delivered an open letter to the state-wide chapter meeting of the Indoor Air Quality Association on March 6.

Calling certifications “crucially important” in the drive to raise professional standards in the indoor air quality field, Representative Domino described three features that characterize quality certification programs.

“First, they verify the knowledge and experience of their candidates using credible instruments,” said Domino. He gave as examples psychometrically qualified exams, documented field experience and board-awarding by industry peers.

“Second, [quality certifications] are accredited by nationally recognized, third-party accreditation bodies,” he said. “Third, they are operated independently of training organizations and industry associations.”

“I support the inclusion of such certifications as requirements for individuals performing indoor air quality services in Florida,” said Domino.

IAQ Council executive director Charlie Wiles hailed the letter. “This goes to show that our work in raising the standards for certification in the indoor air quality industry is having an effect,” said Wiles. “We look forward to the day when credible certifications are relied upon to support licensing requirements in every state.”

The American Indoor Air Quality Council is a non-profit certifying body founded in 1993 to serve the indoor air quality industry. The IAQ Council operates third-party accredited certification programs for indoor environmental consultants, microbial consultants, microbial remediators, indoor air quality administrators and residential mold inspectors. The Council certifies more than 5,000 professionals in the United States, Canada and overseas.