COLUMBIA, MD.—Becoming certified, no matter the discipline, is not easy. Recognizing that those who pass its technician-based certificate courses should be given a way to promote their accomplishment, the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) has introduced its Qualified Technician Emblem program.

Cynthia Hereth, RIA’s director of education and certification, said the new program “is an excellent way for technicians to encourage the confidence of property owners, tenants and insurance companies that a qualified technician is restoring their property.”

The program includes a bold red, white and black RIA “Qualified” starter emblem with a designation tab for each of the technical certifications earned by the wearer. RIA courses currently focus primarily on fire, smoke, water and mold. These are the: Mold Remediation Technician, the Mold Remediation Supervisor and the Certified Restoration Technician.

Jeff Jones, RIA’s president, noted the program will soon be expanding to include water loss, contents and other specialty areas of value to the restoration industry.

Emblems are available for both members and non-members who successfully passed the course test with a score of 80% or higher.

For more information about the program, call RIA’s certification hotline at 443.878.1000.