IICRC certifications explained: WRT, AMRT, FSRT, S500 and S520

What is the IICRC?

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is a private certification body for the cleaning, inspection and restoration trades. It says it has issued certifications since 1972. It does two separate things that homeowners often blur together. First, it certifies people. A technician usually takes an approved course, passes an exam, and keeps the credential current with an annual renewal fee and 14 hours of continuing education every four years. Second, it publishes standards. These are ANSI-accredited documents that describe how the work should be done, written through a consensus process with industry input.

Neither is a government license, and IICRC certification is voluntary. That matters because a few states do require licenses. Florida, Texas, New York and Louisiana license mold assessment and remediation. Our mold licensing by state page has the details. Think of IICRC credentials as evidence of training, and the state license as legal permission to do the work. For the broader hiring process, start at our hire-a-pro hub.

Which IICRC certifications matter for water, mold and fire damage?

The IICRC lists more than two dozen certifications across cleaning, inspection and restoration. Most belong to carpet and floor care. For a home damaged by water, mold, sewage or fire, these are the ones to ask about.

The IICRC also lists Health and Safety Technician (HST), Building Moisture Inspection (BMI) and Commercial Drying Specialist (CDS) certifications in its restoration division.

What do WRT and ASD tell you about a water damage company?

WRT is the entry-level water credential and has no prerequisite. The IICRC says it shows the background to handle water losses, sewer backflows and contamination such as mold. It also says a WRT holder should be able to explain to an adjuster the difference between a Category 2 and a Category 3 water loss. That is a useful test question during your first meeting.

ASD builds on WRT. It covers drying structures and contents in a controlled drying environment while protecting workers and occupants, and it is taught in person only. A company with ASD-certified staff should be able to explain its drying plan in plain terms: how many air movers and dehumidifiers, where they go, and how it will measure progress with a moisture meter.

Both certifications are built on the S500 water standard. If your job involves sewage or floodwater, also read our guide to water damage categories and classes, because the category decides what has to be removed rather than dried.

What do AMRT and MRS tell you about a mold remediation company?

AMRT is the IICRC’s core hands-on mold credential. The IICRC says it emphasizes mold and sewage remediation techniques and protecting the health and safety of workers and occupants. WRT is required first, so an AMRT holder has water training too.

The IICRC also offers a Mold Remediation Specialist (MRS) certification. It has no course. Applicants must document at least one year of verifiable, hands-on mold remediation field experience, then pass an exam. The IICRC lists a $150 application fee and a $300 exam fee. MRS is meant to show competency in designing containment, controlling pressure differences, reviewing protocols and documenting the work.

Neither replaces a license. In Florida, mold remediation of more than 10 square feet requires a state license from DBPR, issued to individuals rather than companies. A licensed remediator there must carry at least $1,000,000 in general liability coverage that includes mold claims. The licensed assessor who tests your home also may not remediate a structure their company assessed within the past 12 months. See mold assessor vs remediator for why that separation protects you.

What do FSRT and OCT tell you about a fire restoration company?

FSRT covers scoping, mitigation, cleaning, deodorization and documentation of fire- and smoke-damaged buildings and contents. The IICRC also lists subrogation and spoliation, meaning the company should know how to preserve evidence when a fire may be someone else’s fault. It has no prerequisite.

OCT covers how odor works and how to control it, including odor from fire and smoke, decomposition, urine, mold and fuel oil. Odor control is where homeowners hear about ozone treatment, hydroxyl generators and thermal fogging. An OCT-trained technician should be able to explain which method they plan to use, why, and how long you need to stay out. EPA warns that ozone can be harmful to health and should only be used when people are not present.

Both certifications line up with the S700 fire and smoke standard. Our fire damage restoration process page walks through the stages of a fire job.

What are the S500, S520 and S700 standards?

IICRC standards describe how the work should be done. The certifications above train people on them. These three matter most at home.

Two details help you read a contractor’s paperwork. The S500 assumes that finding and fixing the source of the water is the property owner’s responsibility, not the restorer’s, unless you hire them for it. And in a 2026 position statement, the S500 consensus body said weather-related water, such as wind-driven rain, is not automatically Category 3. The restorer must decide based on inspection. The S700 says its scope excludes fires from wildfires.

Related IICRC standards include S540 (trauma and crime scene cleanup), S590 (assessing HVAC systems after water, fire or mold damage) and S530 (indoor environment assessment for suspected mold), which is still a draft “BSR” standard. EPA’s own mold guidance tells homeowners to ask contractors to follow EPA or IICRC guidelines.

How do you verify an IICRC certification?

Use the IICRC’s own tools rather than a logo on a truck or website.

1. Search the company on the IICRC Global Locator at iicrc.org. The IICRC says it lets you verify any IICRC Certified Firm and its qualifications.
2. If the company is not listed, call the IICRC at 844-464-4272 with the company name. The IICRC says it can verify credentials by phone.
3. Check the IICRC’s Invalid Firms page. It lists companies that used the IICRC logo without being registered Certified Firms.
4. Ask which technicians will be on your job. Certifications follow the individual, not the company, and a Certified Firm only needs to employ one or more certified technicians.

The IICRC also awards Master designations. The Master Water Restorer track requires WRT, ASD, AMRT, HST and other certifications plus at least three years as a certified technician. The IICRC says only 3.7% of its constituents have earned a Master designation. Then check the state license separately, because the IICRC does not issue licenses.