ACAC History

Founded in 1992, The Certification Council is North America’s oldest and most prestigious certifying body dedicated to indoor air quality. The Certification Council offers consultation services in the field of professional development in certification.

ACAC (formerly known as the American Indoor Air Quality Council) is a dba of The Certification Council, and provides certifications in infection control, microbial, indoor environmental and other IAQ-related fields.

ACAC is the ONLY certifying body in the IAQ field to achieve independent third-party accreditation from the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB).

Additionally, ACAC was the FIRST indoor air quality certifying body to:

Operate independently of training providers
Operate independently of industry membership associations
Refuse all revenue agreements with product manufacturers or service providers
Award its certifications by unanimous vote of a board of peers
Develop its examinations in compliance with published psychometric standards
Deliver its examinations via independent third-party proctors
Employ secure high stakes computer based testing
See its designations listed as prerequisites for a state license
See its examinations listed as prerequisites for a state license
See its designations specified by the US government
Offer third-party accredited certifications in structural drying, environmental infection control and IAQ management
Refuse to give exam questions or answers to prep course providers.

The ACAC Certification Process

Certification boards develop each certification exam from standard industry reference texts, never from training course curricula. ACAC exams are developed and maintained according to accreditation guidelines published by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and delivered at third-party proctoring centers around the world. ACAC certification boards set passing scores for each exam using psychometrically verified statistical analysis. In an average year, only about 70% of eligible candidates pass their ACAC certification exam.

Candidates who pass their exams must await board review of their application files. ACAC certification boards are composed of no less than five (5) members, each of whom holds the certification in question. Board members may not be affiliated with those who provide prep courses for ACAC exams. Boards meet and discuss each application file and certify by unanimous vote only.

ACAC certifications are current for two years, after which time recertification is required. Certificants must document and attest to 40 hours of professional development activities during each two-year certification cycle. In 2013, more than 90% of expiring ACAC certificants recertified in order to maintain their professional designations.

Certifications for Everyone

ACAC offers professional certifications to all qualified candidates. Our certification boards grant non-accredited, vocational certifications to newly trained individuals who pass the certification exam and attest to current employment in their fields.

Candidates for accredited ACAC certifications must demonstrate verifiable field experience on a written application before taking the certification exam. ACAC staff members verify field experience documentation for every candidate.

Examples of ACAC's Reputation

Click here to read about the organizations and agencies that require, recommend, or recognize ACAC certifications.

ACAC Certification means Integrity, Credibility and Independence