IRVING, Texas, April 18 -- FIRSTPLUS Financial Group, Inc. announced that on May 8, 2008, its subsidiaries FirstPlus Restoration and FirstPlus Facility Services will officially open the FirstPlus Restoration & Facilities Services Training Academy. The Academy combines a technologically advanced classroom with simulated job-site locations for on-the-job training. The Academy is currently under review to become an IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) approved school.

Once the Academy achieves certification status, it will be one of a few schools in the U.S. to carry this award, according to the company. The Academy will have the ability to train franchisees on operating procedures as well as offer certifications in industry related courses and continuing education programs. Not limited only to franchisees, the Academy will be open to the public and serve as a training facility for insurance adjusters, public adjusters, home inspectors, as well as provide open enrollment to other restoration and facilities maintenance companies.

The Academy will initially offer certifications in WRT (water restoration), FSRT (Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician), CMT (Commercial Carpet Maintenance Technician), RCT (Rug Cleaning Technician), CCT (Carpet Cleaning Technician), UFT (Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning Technician), and OCT (Odor Control Technician). Other certifications will follow shortly.

Another aspect of the training facility is provision for education in the field of ASD (applied structural drying). Courses allow for flooding a 1,000 square foot home, which is located inside the training facility. The home is saturated with 1,500-2,000 gallons of water; students are instructed on how to use the most up-to-date technology to dry the entire structure within three days without the need to remove any of the building materials.

This training facility is one of nine in the world, seven of which are located in North America, one facility located in England, and one located in Australia.