What to expect when taking the IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Exam
IICRC stands for Institute for Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. Carpet Cleaning Technician, S100, is a designation a carpet cleaner needs to demonstrate that they meet the most prevalent standards in the carpet cleaning industry. It has become increasingly important that a professional performing carpet cleaning services 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 carpet that requires you to be certified and you are not certified, the carpet warranty will be voided and you will be responsible.
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 comes a new addition. The CCT community has been working diligently on the new material for the past few years and it looks better than ever.
Here are some things to know about the test:
Obtain your Instructor’s manual before attending class (if possible). Read a few pages every day. Generally, the highlighted parts 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 at registration. 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 questions on the exam, I can give you a good example of what you’ll see on the exam. Answering the questions below will also help you determine how well you will perform 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 deposit? (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) Tufting carpet (D) Fourth generation carpet
7) Is it called the drying process? (A) Absorption (B) Capillary action (C) A and B above (D) None of the above
The purpose of the test is to make sure that a technician learns as much as possible to do their job well. If you need carpet cleaning supplies or just want to talk, you are welcome to contact me. I will be happy to help you in your endeavor to learn. You can also find answers to these questions in the Articles tab and then Quiz Answers.