The mold industry can seem like the wild west. In most states, including Illinois, there are no requirements for someone to call themselves a mold inspector. You may find someone who advertises themselves as being “certified” and features all kinds of official looking seals and stamps on their website, but how do you know if those certifications are even worth the paper they’re printed on?
There are countless mold certification programs available. At Indoor Science our project managers carry certifications from the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC). ACAC certifications are independently accredited by the Council of Engineering & Scientific Specialty Boards. This third-party verifies that certification programs are developed and operate according to their requirements. Many “certifications” are as simple as: you send a company a check, take a short webinar, and they send you a certification. ACAC certifications require that applicants submit verifiable education and project history, and applicants must pass an exam which is proctored by a third-party. These are all steps which the ACAC takes to assure that their certifications are set above many of the others that are available.
In some states which require a license, the ACAC is the ONLY recognized certification program. ACAC exams are used for Florida, New Hampshire, and Maryland state regulatory programs.
So although Illinois doesn’t require ACAC certification, it is good practice to hire a company with ACAC-certified project managers.
In a future blog post, the owner Ian Cull, PE, CIH will describe the highest certification recognized in our field: the CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist).