IICRC certifications — at a glance
- IICRC = Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. The U.S. industry standard body for restoration.
- WRT = Water Damage Restoration Technician.
- ASD = Applied Structural Drying.
- AMRT = Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (mold).
- OCT = Odor Control Technician.
- FSRT = Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician.
- Firm certification is separate from individual tech certification. Ask for both numbers; verify at iicrc.org.
- Vault’s: IICRC AMRT #319482 and OCT #319482-OCT firm numbers; WRT, ASD, AMRT, OCT held across the team.
What IICRC is (and isn’t)
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification is a nonprofit certification body founded in 1972. It writes the industry standards (S500 for water damage, S520 for mold, S700 for fire) that insurance carriers, regulators, and professional restoration companies follow.
IICRC is not a government licensing body. In Utah, the state doesn’t require IICRC certification to do restoration work — the state’s licensing requirement is handled through DOPL (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing). What IICRC provides is a national technical standard that insurance adjusters recognize and rely on.
When a restoration company says “IICRC certified” without a specific certification name and number, it’s marketing. Ask for the actual cert.
The core restoration certifications
WRT — Water Damage Restoration Technician
The foundational water damage certification. Covers IICRC S500 standard: categories of water (1 clean, 2 grey, 3 black), classes of water loss (how much material is affected), extraction, drying principles, moisture mapping, and documentation. If a company doesn’t have WRT, they shouldn’t be doing water damage work.
ASD — Applied Structural Drying
The advanced drying certification. Covers psychrometrics (the science of how air holds moisture), equipment calculation (how many air movers, how many dehumidifiers), controlled drying for hardwood and sensitive materials, and verification that structures are dried to target moisture content before equipment is removed. WRT teaches what to do; ASD teaches how to do it right.
AMRT — Applied Microbial Remediation Technician
The mold remediation certification. Covers IICRC S520 standard: containment design, HEPA filtration, source removal, decontamination, post-remediation clearance, and worker protection. Required for any professional mold remediation. Vault’s firm number: #319482.
OCT — Odor Control Technician
The odor remediation certification. Covers smoke, biological, pet, and chemical odor removal. Includes thermal fogging, hydroxyl generation, ozone treatment, and source removal. Important for fire/smoke jobs and sewage work. Vault’s firm number: #319482-OCT.
FSRT — Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician
Specialized fire and smoke damage certification. Covers IICRC S700 standard: structural cleaning after fire, soot removal from various surfaces, HVAC smoke penetration, and content cleaning.
Other IICRC certifications you may see
- CCT — Carpet Cleaning Technician
- UFT — Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning Technician
- RRT — Rug Cleaning Technician
- SCT — Stone, Masonry, and Ceramic Tile Cleaning
- LCT — Leather Cleaning Technician
- JTS — Journeyman Textile Specialist
- MCT — Master Certification
For water, mold, sewage, and fire restoration, the ones that matter are WRT, ASD, AMRT, OCT, and FSRT.
Firm certification vs individual tech certification
IICRC certifies both firms (companies) and individual technicians. Both numbers matter for different reasons:
- Firm certification indicates the company has committed to IICRC standards, carries required insurance, and has at least one certified technician on staff. Firm numbers appear in company documentation.
- Individual tech certification indicates a specific person has passed the training and exam for that cert. Individual numbers appear on IDs, badges, and job documentation.
A legitimate restoration company has both: a firm number and multiple individual tech certifications across the crew. When vetting, ask: “What’s your firm cert number, and which of your techs hold WRT/ASD/AMRT?”
How to verify an IICRC certification
- Get the firm name and/or technician name and number.
- Go to iicrc.org.
- Use the “Find a Firm” or “Verify a Certification” tool.
- Confirm the certification is listed and current.
Vault’s IICRC firm registration: AMRT #319482, OCT #319482-OCT. Individual technician certifications are listed on our team page.
What IICRC does not guarantee
IICRC certification is a technical standard — not a guarantee of ethics, pricing fairness, or business practices. A certified technician can still do substandard work, overcharge, or disappear. Verify IICRC as one of several checks, alongside Utah DOPL license, insurance (COI), warranty, local office, and real reviews. See how to choose a restoration company.
Want to see Vault’s IICRC credentials?
Call (385) 250-2825. Our firm numbers, individual tech certs, and training records are all available on request.
All credentials · Meet the team · How to choose a restoration company · Why Vault
More guides: Post-remediation clearance · Negative air containment
Our Provo water damage restoration crew is an IICRC Certified Firm that bills your insurer directly. Call (385) 250-2825.