American Council for Accredited Certification

The Certification Council, Inc (CCI), the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC) and the The American Indoor Air Quality Council (AIAQC) are predominantly a Charlie Wiles family owned, environmental credentialing organisation that markets and sells various professional certification credentials, primarily in the United States and Canada. Incorporated as a non profit tax exempt organization, the council has 2,713 US Members and 56 international members as of February 3, 2011. The council membership numbers are considered miniscule in comparison to rival Indoor Air Quality Organizations such as the CleanTrust (formerly the IICRC), with a membership that exceeds 70,000.
History
With the funding of Aerotech Laboratory, the organization's initial publicly declared purpose was to promote awareness and education in indoor air quality (IAQ) through workshops and newsletters. However, when it was discovered that the founding partners of the council were Vladimir Bolin of Aerotech Laboratories and Charlie Wiles, and that Bolin/Aerotech also funded the Indoor Environmental Standards Organization (IESO), some industry insiders viewed the council as merely a marketing ploy used to generate business for Aerotech Laboratory. According to the state of Arizona corporations commission, The Wiles Family and Bolin, still remain as the directors of the organization.document
The Wiles family markets "board-awarded" certifications. The "board", comprised of volunteers, does not have any scholastically credentialed members in the fields of certification that they offers. Operated in compliance with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard 17024, as is almost every Indoor Air Quality Organization, certification programs follow ISO guidelines for program development.
ACAC offers the marketing and sale of certification to any candidates, regardless of their professional affiliations. ACAC/AIAQC certification exams are typically based on the private studying of industry reference texts, and since the organization no longer allows open text examinations, the organization recommends that candidates take an ACAC/AIAQC final examination study course in order to memorize and pass its certification final exams.
ACAC does not approve, develop or administer training programs of any kind. Their business is in the sale and marketing of trade certifications and memberships.
In 1998, the corporation changed its name to the American Indoor Air Quality Council. By September 2000, the Council reported 500 members with 23 corporate sponsors. However, a percentage of these memberships were given out free of charge.
By 2002, membership in the American Indoor Air Quality Council, also known as the AIAQA Council, had a stated membership of 3000 members, 200 corporate sponsors and had 46 local chapters in 26 states and several international locations. These "chapters" ranged in size from individual council members, to groups of 2 or 3. +
Up until the late 2000s, the IAQ Council was reporting that they had more than 5,000 certificants. However, on February 3, 2011, an industry insider revealed that the council actual membership was not 5000, but was confirmed to actually have a membership of 2,713 US members and 56 International members. The council has never publicly explained the cause of this wide discrepency.
In early 2008, the American Indoor Air Quality Council was challenged for name ownership by a company called the "American Indoor Air Quality Assessment Service". The American Indoor Air Quality Assessment Service's challenge was successful and resulted in the council ceasing from market their name on a national level. Odd is the fact that within weeks of winning their case, the American Indoor Air Quality Assessment Service relenquished their claim to the exclusive use of the name.
Currently, the ACAC directorship is a family owned venture comprised of Charlie Wiles, his wife, their daughter and son in law Adam Andrews. ACAC is not a democratic organization, and as such, there is no voting or election of directors. Whereas the American Indoor Air Quality Council (AIAQC) is comprised of Charlie Wiles, his wife, their son in law and Vladimir Bolin.
Independence
ACAC offers the independent marketing and sale of certification to any candidates, regardless of their professional affiliations. ACAC certification exams are typically based on the private studying of industry reference material, and since the organization no longer allows open text examinations, the organization recommends that candidates take an ACAC final examination study course in order to memorize and pass its certification final exams.
ACAC does not approve, develop or administer training programs of any kind. Their business is in the sale and marketing of trade certifications and memberships.
Certification programs
The ACAC sells certifications to professionals at various levels of experience in seven disciplines.
Indoor Environmental Consulting & Investigation
Council-certified Indoor Environmental Consultant (CIEC)
The Council-certified Indoor Environmental Consultant is the most prestigious certification sold by ACAC. The CIEC requires a minimum combination of eight years of verifiable education and field experience in indoor environmental investigation and consulting. None of these certification courses are scholastically acknowleged by any college or university.
In addition to documenting education and experience, candidates for the CIEC must complete a rigorous 120 question closed book examination with a score of 75% or better. The CIEC examination covers a wide range of indoor environmental quality disciplines focusing on managing indoor environmental quality in relation to building design, maintenance and operations to ensure an optimal environment for building occupants. Applicants are also tested on their knowledge of indoor environmental contaminants and their potential health effects, effective testing and mitigation strategies and occupational and environmental regulations.
Candidates whose education and experience are verified and who successfully complete the examination are certified by a "certification board" comprised of non-scholastically credentialed volunteers.
The CIEC certification process is accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB).
Council-certified Indoor Environmentalist (CIE)
The Council-certified Indoor Environmentalist requires two years field experience for certification.
Indoor Environmental Remediation
Council-certified Indoor Environmental Supervisor (CIES)
The Council-certified Indoor Environmental Supervisor requires eight years field experience for certification.
Council-certified Indoor Environmental Remediator (CIER)
The Council-certified Indoor Environmental Remediator requires two years field experience for certification.
Microbial Consulting & Investigation
Council-certified Microbial Consultant (CMC)
The Council-certified Microbial Consultant is the most prestigious certification granted by ACAC in the field of microbial consulting.
The CMC is granted to individuals who have demonstrated a high level of experience and education concerning bioaerosols and biological agents as they relate to indoor air quality. The CMC requires a minimum combination of eight years of verifiable education and/or experience in the design and execution of microbial sampling regimens.
In addition to documenting education and/or experience, candidates for the CMC must successfully pass a 120 question closed-book examination with a score of 75% or better. The examination covers a wide range of indoor microbiological issues, including microbial inspections, microbial sampling, data interpretation, prevention and remediation.
Candidates whose education and experience are verified and who successfully complete the examination are certified by a panel of industry peers, the CMC certification board.
The CMC program is one of 16 certifications offered by the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC), an independent non-profit certifying body founded in 1993 to serve the indoor air quality industry. The ACAC certifies more than 4,000 professionals in the United States, Canada and elsewhere.
The CMC certification process is accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB), a nationally recognized third party accreditation body, and is compliant with international standards for certification program administration.
Council-certified Microbial Investigator (CMI)
The Council-certified Microbial Investigator requires two years field experience for certification.
Council-certified Residential Mold Inspector (CRMI)
The Council-certified Residential Mold Inspector requires two years field experience for certification.
Microbial Remediation
Council-certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor (CMRS)
The Council-certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor (CMRS) is a certification granted by the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC), a non-profit certifying body serving the indoor air quality industry. The CMRS is granted to professionals in microbial remediation who have passed an independent examination, demonstrated at least 5 years of documented field experience and whose files have passed a detailed review at the hands of the CMRS certification board, a volunteer panel of certified industry peers.
Professionals who hold the CMRS are certified to perform structural remediation, contents remediation and HVAC system remediation according to the latest industry standards and best practices. They are required to accumulate 40 hours of professional development activities every two years to maintain their certifications and are held to the ACAC code of conduct, which is enforced by the CMRS certification board.
Created in 1999, the CMRS program was the first certification in the United States designed specifically for microbial remediators. It has since earned third-party accreditation from the Council for Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB) and is administered in compliance with international standards for certification bodies, including ISO Standard 17024.
In May 2008, the Maryland legislature passed a law requiring applicants for a mold remediator's license to hold an American IAQ Council certification such as the CMRS. It was the first time an independent certifying body had been specified in a state law regulating the mold remediation industry. IAQ Council executives hailed the development as proof that the CMRS had truly become the industry's standard certification.
Council-certified Microbial Remediator (CMR)
The Council-certified Microbial Remediator requires two years field experience for certification.
Council-certified Residential Microbial Remediator (CRMR)
The Council-certified Residential Microbial Remediator requires current employment in field for certification.
Environmental Infection Control Consulting & Investigation
Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Consultant (CEICC)
The Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Consultant requires eight years field experience for certification.
Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Investigator (CEICI)
The Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Investigator requires two years field experience for certification.
Environmental Infection Control Remediation
Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Supervisor (CEICS)
The Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Supervisor requires eight years field experience for certification.
Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediator (CEICR)
The Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Remediator requires two years field experience for certification.
Indoor Air Quality Administration
Council-certified Indoor Air Quality Manager (CIAQM)
The Council-certified Indoor Air Quality Manager is a certification granted by ACAC to executive level individuals who have demonstrated a high level of knowledge concerning indoor air quality as it relates to corporate policy making, property management, facility management or risk management. The CIAQM requires a minimum combination of two years of verifiable education and field experience.
In addition to documenting education and field, experience candidates for the CIAQM must successfully pass a 100 question closed-book examination with a score of 75% or better. The examination covers a wide range of indoor air quality issues including Indoor Air Quality management programs, factors that influence the quality of indoor air and poor air quality mitigation and remediation strategies.
Candidates whose education and experience are verified and who successfully complete the examination are certified by a panel of industry peers, the CIAQM certification board.
The CIAQM certification process is accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB).
Council-certified Microbial Claims Adjuster (CMCA)
The Council-certified Microbial Claims Adjuster requires two years field experience for certification.
Third Party Accreditations
ACAC certification programs are accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB), a nationally recognized third party accreditation body serving science-related professions. Other CESB-accredited certification programs include the Cerified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), the Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) and the Certified Safety Professional (CSP).
In 2009, ACAC applied to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for accreditation under ANSI/ISO/IEC Standard 17024, an international standard for personnel certification programs..

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