Mold certifications for sale

By Wane A. Baker

The fuss and furor over mold in our homes, schools and offices has led to a remarkable proliferation of new certifications. Some require a year or two of relevant experience, a few days of classroom training and a passing grade on a two-hour exam. Others can be purchased online at eBay for less than $200.

It seems that "certified experts" are popping up everywhere, claiming that the peculiar initials after their names are all the assurance you need to put your trust, your hard-earned cash and, perhaps, your health in their hands. Some truly are providing a needed service at a reasonable price, while others are simply charlatans.

Providing consulting services in this arena is not the same as surveying for asbestos or conducting a home inspection. Assessing and solving mold-related problems can be extremely challenging, requiring a unique set of disparate skills.

True expertise demands formal and continuing education in several academic disciplines, such as building science, microbiology and engineering, to be sure. But depending on the nature of your situation, a working knowledge of physiology, immu-nology, toxicology and public relations (with a dash of psychology) could be critical. And when it comes to properly gathering samples and interpreting the analytical results in a meaningful way, the venerable — but oft misunderstood — practice of industrial hygiene stands alone.

In contrast, during early March, you could buy a home-study course to become a "Certified Mold Inspector" for $169 on eBay (Item number: 3800875952). Review the materials at your leisure, complete the open book exam, mail it in and, presto chango, you are now a certified expert.

But caveat emptor. While the requirements for these certifications vary, none of them are true professional-level technical credentials. They are not the same as a licensed professional engineer or certified industrial hygienist. In most of these mold-is-gold schemes, you don't need a relevant undergrad degree. Studies in theater arts, philosophy or a foreign language are just fine.

Many require only one year of experience, and that work can be related only peripherally (a year of cleaning carpets?). Do you really want to turn your property and your health over to a "certified expert" whose qualifications consist of four years of Spanish, a year as a carpet cleaner and a home-study course from eBay?

As a building owner or property manager, how can you protect yourself? Based on nearly 15 years in this line of consulting, I can offer a few suggestions.

First, look for professional-level, cross-disciplinary experience when hiring that consultant. Today's buildings are more complicated than ever. Ask about design and construction skills, formal studies in microbiology and the statistical principles of determining sample size. Then go online and look into the specific requirements for putting those initials after one's name.

And hire your consultant first. There's nothing wrong with having a remediation contractor visit your site to estimate cleanup costs. But any remediators worth their salt will insist that an independent, environmental professional be part of the team from the initial stages.

When you hire consultants, make sure they have more than three years of directly related experience gained after becoming certified, licensed or registered. This industry has matured, and if you look, you'll easily find true experts with this level of know-how.

And steer clear of consultants who have mold-related products to sell, whether it's an ozone generator or the latest in furnace filters. The conflict of interest is undeniable.

We're unlikely to see state rules that regulate toxic-mold experts any time soon. In the interim, you might be surprised to learn how little it takes to call yourself certified when it comes to mold.