EDUCATION AT IAQA


IAQA takes education very seriously. Each education program starts with a Value Proposition to define the scope of information a student is expected to learn. Core Skills for each course offering, a corresponding Knowledge Base of industry standards and guidelines are created by the IAQA Education Committee. Dozens of IAQA members serve as volunteers on the committee and its six active subcommittees to make sure the association provides the highest standard of IAQ education. The diverse background of our Education Committee – comprised of Ph.D.s, Masters in Education, and many IAQ Council-certified professionals – has ensured that IAQA courses are well-rounded, comprehensive, and based on adult-learning principles.

IAQA courses are delivered by Certified Course Providers. To become a Certified Course Provider, a training entity must meet rigorous qualifications and pass through a comprehensive review that covers all aspects of their operations, from administrative competency through technical expertise.

This page serves as an introduction to IAQA’s education program. For more information about IAQA courses, please contact IAQA Headquarters in Rockville, Maryland.

IAQA Educational Programs

IAQA has a variety of courses designed to match your needs. These are divided into two distinct groups: the Certified Courses and the Specialized Courses.


Certified Courses
IAQA Certified Courses are divided into three “tracks.” These courses provide outstanding training and also serve to prepare candidates for American IAQ Council certification examinations.

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Consulting Track
Training and exam preparation for students seeking the CIEC, CIE, CIEA
    

IAQA Certified Indoor Environmentalist Course (CIE)
An Environmental Consultant is a professional who can identify the causes of poor indoor air quality – even when problems seem vague or unrelated to visible causes. The Environmental Consultant is trained to see a building the way a general practitioner sees the body of his patient – as an organic whole with dozens of interrelated systems contributing to overall health. In order to diagnose the patient properly, the Consultant must be able to gather and interpret data from various systems operating in a building.
 
    
Microbial Remediation Track
Training and exam preparation for students seeking the CMRS, CMR, CMRA
    

IAQA Certified Microbial Remediation Course (CMR)
The actual work of removing microbial contamination from a building is performed by the Microbial Remediator. This professional is trained to conduct remediation projects safely and thoroughly according to project specifications and in compliance with relevant government regulations and industry standards. Microbial Remediators have thorough knowledge and verified field experience in containment engineering, safety and emergency procedures, remediation equipment operation, cleaning, removal and restoration procedures, and project documentation.
 
  
Microbial Assessment Track
Training and exam preparation for students seeking the CMC, CMI, CMIA, CRMI
  

IAQA Certified Microbial Investigator Course
If the Environmental Consultant is a general practitioner, the Microbial Consultant is a specialist – a professional who concentrates on diagnosis and treatment in a single area of expertise: microbial contamination. Though mold is only one of many potential causes of IAQ problems, it presents unique challenges to building owners and facilities managers, and is therefore a crucial area of concern. The Microbial Consultant relies on detailed scientific knowledge of microbial agents to identify and account for microbial contamination and to recommend appropriate remediation strategies. The Consultant's field experience in the design and execution of sampling regimens and his or her ability to interpret results responsibly allow him or her to conduct meaningful microbial investigations and to verify the results of remediation projects.
   

IAQA Certified Residential Mold Inspector Course
  A structural inspection is a key element in any real estate transaction. A mold inspection, conducted as part of this structural inspection, increases its value by alerting homeowners or prospective buyers to the presence of mold contamination. The Residential Mold Inspector is trained to conduct a basic sampling regimen designed to confirm suspected mold contamination. The Inspector recommends the services of a Consultant or Remediator when contamination is present.
   
Facilities Management Track

IAQA Certified Indoor Air Quality Manager Course
Training and exam preparation for students seeking the CIAQM

The CIAQM course is for individuals who want to understand the relationship between their careers in corporate policy-making, risk management, facilities management, asset management or property management and the various disciplines related to indoor air quality.

Some tracks include multiple courses for individuals of varying levels of expertise, whereas other tracks include only a single course. For example, the Indoor Environmental Quality Consulting Track consists of a single course. Students interested in certification from the American IAQ Council may be eligible for CIE or CIEC certification, depending on their level of experience and education. All students at IAQA Certified Courses are eligible for Apprentice level American IAQ Council certification.

In some cases, courses are highly specialized. For instance, there is a 2-day course for those seeking Residential Mold Inspector training and CRMI certification that is substantially different from the other courses in the Microbial Assessment Track.


Specialized Courses

IAQAware™ courses are introductory programs created to expand awareness of a particular IAQ subject for those who may be unfamiliar with the subject matter. IAQAdvanced™ courses are for experienced practitioners seeking to advance their education in a certain specialty area of IAQ.

IAQAware™ Classes

Mold Remediation Technician

Fundamentals of IAQ and HVAC
 
IAQAdvanced™ Classes

Advanced Building Diagnostics