How to Get a Chimney Cleaning Certification
Any time you are considering working inside a person's home, you want to make sure that your credentials are verifiable. Obtaining certification through the Chimney Safety Institute of America provides professional credentials that you and any potential clients will look highly upon.
- Obtain the proper reading materials to study for the exam. Study materials that should be reviewed include Successful Chimney Sweeping, and the NPFA 211: Standard for Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents and Solid Fuel Burning Appliances. All of these materials can be ordered online.
Register for a training review exam. To do this, you must attend a one day training and exam or attend a training school. The online review for a training school is a five-day review with one lesson per day. The exam must be passed with a score of 70 or higher. You are given three tries to pass the exam successful. If you are interested in taking the exam in person, contact the CSIA to find out when training and exams are held in your area and where.
Pass the actual qualifying exam. It is a closed book exam with 100 multiple-choice questions. Students must provide their own 2006 IRC booklet that can be purchased from the International Code Counsel. Make sure that you sign the code of ethics for the CSIA when you take the exam.
Once you have passed the exam, pay the annual fee for certification. In order to keep your certification valid, an annual fee is required. This keeps your license and credentials valid for another year. You are required to retake the exams every three years.