IICRC stands for Institute for Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. Carpet Cleaning Technician, S100, is a designation that a carpet cleaner needs to demonstrate that they meet the most prevalent standards in the carpet cleaning industry. It has become increasingly important for a professional who performs carpet cleaning services to have the “CCT” designation. There are some new carpets manufactured where certification is not only suggested, but required. In other words, if you are cleaning carpets that require you to be certified and you are not certified, the warranty on the carpet will be voided and you will be liable.
I took my first class about 19 years ago and took my first exam shortly after. The material and the test have evolved a lot since then. This year a new addition arrives. The CCT community has been working diligently on new material for the last few years and it looks better than ever.
Here are some things to know about the test:
Obtain your Instructor’s manual prior to attending the class (if possible). Read a few pages every day. Usually the parts highlighted in the manual are extremely important to know and will likely show up on your test. The test has a total of 160 multiple choice questions. The correct answer is not always the only correct answer, but the best answer. Currently, responses must be completed on a Scan-tron sheet with a #2 pencil. There is no time limit to complete the test. You need to get 75% to pass. Results can take up to six weeks and will be mailed directly to you. It is also available in Spanish if you request to take it in Spanish when registering. The certification you earn is a personal certification and stays with you regardless of who you work for. The cost of the test is currently $50. Cash, personal check, business check and credit cards are accepted. Checks should be made payable to IICRC.
Although I can’t tell you the test questions, I can give you a good example of what you’ll see on the test. Answering the questions below will also help you determine how well you will do on the test.
Examples of IICRC tests:
1) Which of the following fibers are protein based: (A) Olefin (B) Wool and Silk (C) Polyester (D) Cotton and Jute
2) The temperature at which a dry solvent will ignite is called: (A) Explosion (B) Ignition (C) Flash point (D) Emulsion
3) When primary backup and secondary backup are separated, what is it called? (A) Messy (B) Delamination (C) Separation (D) Spongy
4) What percentage of soil is insoluble in water? (A) 43 to 45% (B) 74 to 79% (C) 22 to 26% (D) Varies
5) Where should you empty your waste tank? (A) Storm drain (B) Street (C) Sanitary sewer (D) Your fresh water tank
6) TACT is an acronym for what? (A) Clean truck action time (B) Chemical agitation time Temperature (C) Tufted carpet (D) Fourth generation carpet
7) Is the drying process called? (A) Absorption (B) Capillary action (C) A and B above (D) None of the above
The purpose of the test is to make sure a technician learns as much as possible to do their job well. If you need carpet cleaning supplies or just want to talk, you can contact me. I will be happy to help you in your quest to learn. You can also find answers to these questions in the Articles tab and then Quiz Answers.
