How To Become An IICRC Certified Firm

Earning your IICRC certification is a milestone for professionals in cleaning, restoration, and inspection. But if you own (or plan to start) a restoration or cleaning company, there's another credential that elevates your entire business: IICRC Certified Firm status.

An IICRC Certified Firm is a business that meets IICRC requirements and maintains at least one active IICRC‑certified technician. For business owners, it delivers credibility, visibility, admin tools, continuing education, and exclusive business benefits — all designed for the restoration and cleaning industry.

And the requirements to get started are relatively straightforward.

What Is an IICRC Certified Firm?

It's a company recognized by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) as meeting the standards for Certified Firm status. This is different from an individual technician certification (e.g., WRT, FSRT, CCT, CPT, TCST). Certified Firm status applies to the company itself — pairing your personal certification with company‑level recognition.

What Are the Requirements to Become an IICRC Certified Firm?

According to information provided by IICRC, there are two primary requirements:

1. Have at least one active IICRC-certified technician
Your company must have at least one active IICRC technician associated with the firm.
That technician can be:

• You, as the business owner
• An employee
• Another qualifying technician within your company

This means that if you recently completed an IICRC course and earned your certification, you may already be on your way toward satisfying this requirement.

2. Maintain current commercial general liability insurance
Your company must also have up-to-date commercial general liability insurance.
Once you have both requirements in place, you can begin the Certified Firm application process.

How to Apply

The process is fairly simple.

Step 1: Confirm your technician certification
Make sure at least one technician associated with your company has an active IICRC certification.

Step 2: Verify your insurance
Make sure your company's commercial general liability insurance is current.

Step 3: Submit the Certified Firm application
You can begin the application directly through IICRC:
Apply to Become an IICRC Certified Firm

Step 4: Allow time for processing
After submitting your application, IICRC advises allowing approximately 1–5 business days for processing.
You should then receive an email with instructions for paying the applicable startup cost.

Step 5: Pay the startup cost
IICRC Certified Firm renewals operate on a December-to-December cycle.
Because of this, your initial startup cost may be prorated depending on when during the year your application is completed.
Once your startup costs are paid and the process is completed, your company can begin operating as an IICRC Certified Firm.
IICRC will also mail your company a Certified Firm welcome packet.

What Are the Benefits of Becoming an IICRC Certified Firm?

Certified Firm status is not simply another designation to display on your website.
IICRC provides several resources and business benefits that can help companies with visibility, hiring, education, administration, insurance, and day-to-day business operations.
Here are some of the benefits currently available to Certified Firms.

1. Total Truck Branding – offers large-scale printing and fleet branding. They will be offering a 20% discount on all decals, truck wraps, and more to our Certified Firms.
2. Blueground - offers premium, fully furnished, and equipped rentals for any length of stay in over 70 cities worldwide. They will offer a rebate to all Certified Firms on each booking, a 50%-70% discount on admin fees, and priority service with a dedicated account manager.
3. CRM Workforce Solutions - is a specialized national staffing agency provides labor for environmental, demolition, and abatement projects. Certified Firms receive complimentary network access to CRM Workforce.
4. The Helios Group, which offers guaranteed specialty insurance rates.
5. CareerPlug, which offers its base-level hiring tools to Certified Firms branded career pages, custom job templates, applicant screening tools, and more at no cost and a 50% discount on its upgraded version.
6. One Tap Connect - is a smart business card that uses NFC technology or QR codes to instantly share contact information, websites, and social profiles. They are offering a free accessories kit (which includes a Smart Card, Smart Bumpers, Smart Wristbands, Smart Keychains, and a Smart Sticker) to all Certified Firms that purchase a subscription to their service.
7. Skechers - 30% off all Skechers work shoes, including non-slip and steel-toe footwear. They will also offer a quarterly "Friends & Family" deal, allowing them to order over 3,600 styles of Skechers at a discounted rate.
8. Administrator Access – Manage technicians' contact information, renewals, exam registrations, etc
9. Verified Google Business Profile – Be approved for a Google Business profile to increase your company's visibility in search results and credibility with customers.
10. Global Locator Listing – Firm listed on our Global Locator so consumers seeking certified professionals can find one nearby.
11. Access to Third-Party Administrators – Find job opportunities through industry networks and partnerships (like Alacrity and Contractor Connection)
12. Free Monthly Continuing Education Webinars – All active IICRC technicians on the CF can earn 1 CEC per month at no additional cost!

Is Becoming an IICRC Certified Firm Worth It?

For an individual technician who simply wants to maintain a professional certification, Certified Firm status may not be necessary.
For someone who owns or is building a cleaning or restoration company, however, it can offer substantially more value.
Certified Firm status can provide your company with:

• Additional industry credibility
• Increased online visibility
• IICRC Global Locator exposure
• Administrative tools for managing technicians
• Continuing education opportunities
• Potential access to TPA networks
• Hiring resources
• Insurance benefits
• Vehicle branding discounts
• Business service discounts
• Other Certified Firm partner programs

It also allows a business owner to build on the investment already made in earning an individual IICRC certification.
If you've completed an IICRC certification through Restoration Certified and you're also a business owner, becoming an IICRC Certified Firm may be a logical next step.
You already understand the value of professional training and certification. Certified Firm status allows you to extend that professional recognition to your company while gaining access to additional tools and resources designed for restoration and cleaning businesses.

Before applying, make sure you have:

• At least one active IICRC-certified technician associated with the company
• Current commercial general liability insurance

Then complete the application directly through IICRC: