The American Council for Accredited Certification offers the Council-certified Structural Drying Supervisor (CSDS) to individuals with expertise in the various disciplines related to structural and restorative drying.

1. To raise the standards of those engaged in structural and restorative drying.

2. To identify persons with acceptable knowledge of structural drying and the standards and regulations affecting Council-certified Structural Drying Supervisors.

3. To award special recognition to those structural drying supervisors who have demonstrated verifiable field experience.

Applicants must possess one of the following combinations of eight (8) years education and relevant field experience:

• A 4-year post-secondary degree or its equivalent (30 credit hours) in engineering, science, architecture, industrial hygiene or related field of science with a minimum of four (4) years of documented field experience conducting structural drying projects.

• A 2-year post-secondary degree or its equivalent (15 credit hours) in engineering, science, architecture, industrial hygiene or related field of science with a minimum of six (6) years of documented field experience conducting structural drying projects.

• No degree, with at least eight (8) years of documented field experience conducting structural drying projects. (High school diploma or GED required.)

(Click here to purchase reference texts)

The effective practice of structural drying requires knowledge of a variety of subjects related to the building sciences. For certification purposes, the candidate for the CSDS designation must demonstrate familiarity with the basic concepts and reference materials of the industry, such as those summarized in the following list.

1. American Council for Accredited Certification, Code of Conduct (www.acac.org)

2. ANSI/IICRC, S500-2021, Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration, 5th edition (Las Vegas: IICRC, 2021).

3. Ken Larsen, et. al., Leadership in Restorative Drying, 4th edition (Wood Dale, IL: Restoration Leadership, 2014).

4. NIOSH Respirator Selection Logic 2004 (www.acac.org/forms/rclibrary/nioshresp2004.pdf)

The Required Skills:

A Council-certified Structural Drying Supervisor (CSDS) has demonstrated the following skills through a combination of documented experience, documented education and training and the successful completion of an examination process.

A certificant understands and abides by the ACAC Code of Conduct.

A certificant understands guidelines, regulations and standards relevant to the structural drying industry as they relate to:

• The OSHA general duty clause

• Personal protective equipment

• Emergency action and fire prevention plans

• Confined space entry

• Hazardous atmospheres and materials

• Walking and working surfaces

• Ladders, scaffolding & warning signs

A certificant applies knowledge of principles, strategies and equipment to the design and execution of structural drying projects. In particular:

The certificant understands the basic principles of psychrometry and hygroscopic materials, including those related to:

• Temperature

• Vapor Pressure

• Humidity

• Heat

• The psychrometric chart

• Phases of water

• Behavior of water in wood

• Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC)

• Behavior of water in cementitious materials

The certificant correctly applies scientific principles in the design of effective drying strategies, including those related to:

• Dalton's evaporation formula

• Understanding vapor pressure in hygroscopic materials

• Developing open, closed and combination drying strategies

The certificant selects and operates appropriate drying equipment in the execution of structural drying projects, including:

• Equipment appropriate for various classes of water

• Air movers

• Dehumidifiers

• Portable cooling equipment

• Portable heating equipment

• Ductwork and building HVAC systems

• Dehumidification formulas

A CSDS correctly designs and executes the phases of a structural drying project, including:

• Project documentation

• Project planning

• Structural drying procedures

• Special considerations (HVAC, microbial contamination, etc.)

• Drying validation

Download an official chart of examination content domains.

(Click here to purchase reference texts)

To prepare for the CSDS exam, first read the reference books listed above. Then review the following sections from each text in more detail:

WARNING: Limiting your study to only the following pages will put you in danger of failing the exam. The exam assumes a comprehensive knowledge of each reference text. Each of the following references provides ONE example of a place where exam topics may be discussed.

IICRC, S500-2021

Entire

Larsen, et. al., Leadership in Restorative Drying, 4th edition (2014)

pages 6, 48, 49, 72, 86, 90, 102, 120, 125, 133, 136, 137, 147, 148, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 186, 187, 188, 193, 209, 213, 214, 224, 243, 248, 262, 293, 298, 309, 312, 314, 316, 317, 326, 340, 342, 347, 357, 380, 381 and 429

NIOSH, Respirator Selection Logic (2004)

Pages 1, 4, 5, 8, 13, 17, 19, 20 and 22

1. ACAC certification should not be confused with state licensing. State license candidates should read the following section, The State Licensing Process.

2. ACAC certification candidates complete and forward the notarized application form, employer affidavits, project sheets and a copy of diploma or transcripts.

3. ACAC certification candidates pass the closed-book examination. If the examination is not successfully passed, a re-examination fee is required before retaking the examination.

4. ACAC certification candidates have up to 90 days from the date of application to complete the application process. Applications left incomplete after 90 days will be considered null and void.

5. ACAC certification candidates wait for the awarding of the certification. The Certification Board meets approximately every four (4) weeks to review the examination results and supporting materials before voting to award the certification.

1. State licensing should not be confused with ACAC certification. ACAC certification candidates should read the previous section, The ACAC Certification Process.

2. State license applicants complete and forward the notarized application form to the ACAC office.

3. ACAC does not require state license applicants to provide documentation of education or field experience in order to sit for the CSDS examination. State licensing agencies may require such documentation as part of the license application process.

4. State license applicants pass the closed book examination. ACAC reports exam scores directly to the appropriate state licensing agencies.

5. State license applicants follow individual state guidelines for completion of the license application.

1. The applicant must complete a 3-hour, closed-book, written examination. The examination questions are based on the listed core skills and required body of knowledge.

2. The examination is closed-book! It is strongly recommended that candidates read the reference materials listed above before taking the examination.

3. There are 120 questions on the examination. Each question is multiple-choice with at least four (4) possible answers. Exam items are drawn from the required body of knowledge according to a blueprint prescribed by the certification board.

4. Passing Score: The passing score for the CSDS examination is set by the CSDS certification board using the Modified Angoff Method. A score of 75% must be achieved to pass this examination.

5. The examination is delivered electronically at an authorized testing center operated by Kryterion, Inc. There are no paper exams. Once a complete application packet is on file in the Council office, the candidate may register for the examination by calling the office at (888) 808-8381.

6. Candidates should arrive 30 minutes before the testing appointment.

7. Candidates must present two forms of government-issued identification at the testing center, one of which must be picture ID.

8. Candidates must follow proctor instructions with regard to conduct, behavior, and the use of personal belongings and test materials, including submitting eyeglasses for inspection and turning out exterior pockets.

9. Candidates failing to abide by these rules will not be permitted to sit for the exam, and a re-examination fee will be required.

10. All examinations contain the same questions; however, the examination questions are presented to each candidate in random order and the examination answers are presented to the candidate in random order.

11. Examinations are graded electronically at the testing facility, and scores are available to candidates immediately. An email is sent to the candidate’s email address confirming test results. In the case of state license applicants, exam scores are also reported directly to the appropriate state licensing agency.

Fees are posed on the ACAC website.

Certification fees are for a two-year certification, and include a non-refundable processing fee.

Examination fees are required prior to taking examinations.

Recertification fees are for a two-year period and require documentation of continuing education. Recertification fees include a non-refundable processing fee.

Re-examination fees apply to those retaking a failed exam.

Penalties for late recertification may be waived in case of documented active military duty or medical issues.

1. The American Council for Accredited Certification is the certifying body for this certification program.

2. All decisions regarding application materials, examinations and the awarding of certifications are made by the CSDS Certification Board, which functions as part of the ACAC.

3. The certifying body’s responsibility to applicants is to provide a credible certification. Operation of the certification program is closely monitored to ensure that reference materials remain current with the industry guidelines and standards and the eligibility requirements for certification are at appropriate levels. Examination questions are developed by certified personnel who are currently active in the field of structural drying. Pass/fail scores are set by the CSDS Certification Board using the modified Angoff method. The Board authorizes a periodic statistical review of examination item performance and test reliability and updates the examination to reflect the latest changes in our rapidly evolving field.

4. Certification Board members are required to abstain from voting on any applicant’s completed file that may present a conflict of interest, either personally or professionally.

ACAC certifications are current for two years from the date of issue. The certificate holder must accumulate forty (40) Re-certification Credits (RCs) prior to the certificate’s expiration date. Each RC represents one (1) hour of continuing education or professional development. The certificate holder may accumulate the required hours at any time during the two-year certification period. An updated list of typical recertification activities is available on the Council website.

Council-certified Structural Drying Supervisors who do not acquire sufficient CSDS Re-certification Credits by their recertification date will be notified in writing to cease using the CSDS designation. They will be listed as expired on the Council website and will no longer be listed as a CSDS in any ACAC publication until such time as they resubmit to the certification process and successfully meet the current criteria for certification. Appropriate fees will apply.

1. The CSDS Certification Board is responsible for all facets of the certification program, including the review and evaluation of applications, the development and administration of examinations, the granting and reissuing of certificates and the adjudication of complaints against certificants.

2. Suspensions: If a Council-certified Structural Drying Supervisor does not accumulate the required re-certification credits, certification shall terminate unless, in the judgment of the Certification Board, extenuating circumstances exist and the deficiency can be readily overcome. Examples of extenuating circumstances include documentation of active military service or documentation of a serious medical condition.

3. Complaints: If a Council-certified Structural Drying Supervisor fails to abide by the ACAC Code of Conduct or is formally accused of gross negligence in the performance of his or her professional duties, the Certification Board may vote to refuse re-certification.

4. Appeals: Any holder of a valid Council certification or applicant for such a certification may appeal the decisions of the Certification Board.

5. Complaints or appeals shall be made in writing via certified mail to the Certification Administrator.

6. In the case of complaints, the Certification Administrator shall forward the complaint to the accused certificant and allow him or her ample time to respond.

7. The Certification Administrator, at the direction of the Executive Committee, may forward complaints or appeals to the appropriate Certification Board.

8. The Certification Board shall rule on all complaints or appeals by unanimous vote.

9. Complaints or appeals may be continued in writing via certified mail to the National Advisory Board.

10. The National Advisory Board shall be the final court of appeal and will rule on complaints or appeals by unanimous vote.

11. In resolving complaints or appeals, ACAC may rule only on its own decisions to grant or deny certification and recertification.

1. Retired Council-certified Structural Drying Supervisors may be granted emeritus status in their designation as long as they are retired from professional practice as a CSDS. Such persons will be granted the title “Emeritus.”

2. Re-certification Fees for Emeritus (Retired) Status: $100 USD for each two-year certification.

3. Continuing education is not required,

4. To return to active status, emeritus certificants must notify the Council in writing and pay a fee for a two-year active certification. At the end of the two-year period, all normal re-certification policies will apply.

1. A CSDS may use the designation name on organization letterheads, business cards and all forms of address. When using the CSDS designation, we encourage the spelling out of the designation fully in smaller print immediately below the signature block, as in the following example:

   John Doe, CSDS
   Council-certified Structural Drying Supervisor
   Board-awarded by the American Council for Accredited Certification

2. Certification is for individuals only. The CSDS designation may not be used to imply that an organization or firm is certified.

3. The CSDS designation may NOT be used by individuals who pass the CSDS examination in order to obtain a state license, unless those individuals also complete the ACAC certification process as described in this handbook.

The ACAC code of conduct applies to all certificants, staff and volunteers of the organization.

The American Council for Accredited Certification offers the Council-certified Structural Drying Supervisor (CSDR) to individuals with expertise in the various disciplines related to structural and restorative drying.

1. To raise the standards of those engaged in structural and restorative drying.

2. To identify persons with acceptable knowledge of structural drying and the standards and regulations affecting Council-certified Structural Drying Remediators.

3. To award special recognition to those structural drying remediators who have demonstrated verifiable field experience.

Applicants must possess one of the following combinations of two (2) years education and relevant field experience:

• A 2-year post-secondary degree or its equivalent (15 credit hours) in engineering, science, architecture, industrial hygiene or related field of science with a minimum of one (1) year of documented field experience conducting structural drying projects.

• No degree, with at least two (2) years of documented field experience conducting structural drying projects. (High school diploma or GED required.)

(Click here to purchase reference texts)

The effective practice of structural drying requires knowledge of a variety of subjects related to the building sciences. For certification purposes, the candidate for the CSDR designation must demonstrate familiarity with the basic concepts and reference materials of the industry, such as those summarized in the following list.

1. American Council for Accredited Certification, Code of Conduct (www.acac.org)

2. ANSI/IICRC, S500-2021, Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration, 5th edition (Las Vegas: IICRC, 2021).

3. Ken Larsen, et. al., Leadership in Restorative Drying, 4th edition (Wood Dale, IL: Restoration Leadership, 2014).

4. NIOSH Respirator Selection Logic 2004 (www.acac.org/forms/rclibrary/nioshresp2004.pdf)

The Required Skills:

A Council-certified Structural Drying Supervisor (CSDS) has demonstrated the following skills through a combination of documented experience, documented education and training and the successful completion of an examination process.

A certificant understands and abides by the ACAC Code of Conduct.

A certificant understands guidelines, regulations and standards relevant to the structural drying industry as they relate to:

• The OSHA general duty clause

• Personal protective equipment

• Emergency action and fire prevention plans

• Confined space entry

• Hazardous atmospheres and materials

• Walking and working surfaces

• Ladders, scaffolding & warning signs

A certificant applies knowledge of principles, strategies and equipment to the design and execution of structural drying projects. In particular:

The certificant understands the basic principles of psychrometry and hygroscopic materials, including those related to:

• Temperature

• Vapor Pressure

• Humidity

• Heat

• The psychrometric chart

• Phases of water

• Behavior of water in wood

• Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC)

• Behavior of water in cementitious materials

The certificant correctly applies scientific principles in the design of effective drying strategies, including those related to:

• Dalton's evaporation formula

• Understanding vapor pressure in hygroscopic materials

• Developing open, closed and combination drying strategies

The certificant selects and operates appropriate drying equipment in the execution of structural drying projects, including:

• Equipment appropriate for various classes of water

• Air movers

• Dehumidifiers

• Portable cooling equipment

• Portable heating equipment

• Ductwork and building HVAC systems

• Dehumidification formulas

A CSDS correctly designs and executes the phases of a structural drying project, including:

• Project documentation

• Project planning

• Structural drying procedures

• Special considerations (HVAC, microbial contamination, etc.)

• Drying validation

Download an official chart of examination content domains.

(Click here to purchase reference texts)

To prepare for the CSDR exam, first read the reference books listed above. Then review the following sections from each text in more detail:

WARNING: Limiting your study to only the following pages will put you in danger of failing the exam. The exam assumes a comprehensive knowledge of each reference text. Each of the following references provides ONE example of a place where exam topics may be discussed.

IICRC, S500-2021

Entire

Larsen, et. al., Leadership in Restorative Drying, 4th edition (2014)

pages 6, 48, 49, 72, 86, 90, 102, 120, 125, 133, 136, 137, 147, 148, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 186, 187, 188, 193, 209, 213, 214, 224, 243, 248, 262, 293, 298, 309, 312, 314, 316, 317, 326, 340, 342, 347, 357, 380, 381 and 429

NIOSH, Respirator Selection Logic (2004)

Pages 1, 4, 5, 8, 13, 17, 19, 20 and 22

1. ACAC certification should not be confused with state licensing. State license candidates should read the following section, The State Licensing Process.

2. ACAC certification candidates complete and forward the notarized application form, employer affidavits, project sheets and a copy of diploma or transcripts.

3. ACAC certification candidates pass the closed-book examination. If the examination is not successfully passed, a re-examination fee is required before retaking the examination.

4. ACAC certification candidates have up to 90 days from the date of application to complete the application process. Applications left incomplete after 90 days will be considered null and void.

5. ACAC certification candidates wait for the awarding of the certification. The Certification Board meets approximately every four (4) weeks to review the examination results and supporting materials before voting to award the certification.

1. State licensing should not be confused with ACAC certification. ACAC certification candidates should read the previous section, The ACAC Certification Process.

2. State license applicants complete and forward the notarized application form to the ACAC office.

3. ACAC does not require state license applicants to provide documentation of education or field experience in order to sit for the CSDR examination. State licensing agencies may require such documentation as part of the license application process.

4. State license applicants pass the closed book examination. ACAC reports exam scores directly to the appropriate state licensing agencies.

5. State license applicants follow individual state guidelines for completion of the license application.

1. The applicant must complete a 3-hour, closed-book, written examination. The examination questions are based on the listed core skills and required body of knowledge.

2. The examination is closed-book! It is strongly recommended that candidates read the reference materials listed above before taking the examination.

3. There are 120 questions on the examination. Each question is multiple-choice with at least four (4) possible answers. Exam items are drawn from the required body of knowledge according to a blueprint prescribed by the certification board.

4. Passing Score: The passing score for the CSDR examination is set by the CSDR certification board using the Modified Angoff Method. A score of 75% must be achieved to pass this examination.

5. The examination is delivered electronically at an authorized testing center operated by Kryterion, Inc. There are no paper exams. Once a complete application packet is on file in the Council office, the candidate may register for the examination by calling the office at (888) 808-8381.

6. Candidates should arrive 30 minutes before the testing appointment.

7. Candidates must present two forms of government-issued identification at the testing center, one of which must be picture ID.

8. Candidates must follow proctor instructions with regard to conduct, behavior, and the use of personal belongings and test materials, including submitting eyeglasses for inspection and turning out exterior pockets.

9. Candidates failing to abide by these rules will not be permitted to sit for the exam, and a re-examination fee will be required.

10. All examinations contain the same questions; however, the examination questions are presented to each candidate in random order and the examination answers are presented to the candidate in random order.

11. Examinations are graded electronically at the testing facility, and scores are available to candidates immediately. An email is sent to the candidate’s email address confirming test results. In the case of state license applicants, exam scores are also reported directly to the appropriate state licensing agency.

Fees are posed on the ACAC website.

Certification fees are for a two-year certification, and include a non-refundable processing fee.

Examination fees are required prior to taking examinations.

Recertification fees are for a two-year period and require documentation of continuing education. Recertification fees include a non-refundable processing fee.

Re-examination fees apply to those retaking a failed exam.

Penalties for late recertification may be waived in case of documented active military duty or medical issues.

1. The American Council for Accredited Certification is the certifying body for this certification program.

2. All decisions regarding application materials, examinations and the awarding of certifications are made by the CSDR Certification Board, which functions as part of the ACAC.

3. The certifying body’s responsibility to applicants is to provide a credible certification. Operation of the certification program is closely monitored to ensure that reference materials remain current with the industry guidelines and standards and the eligibility requirements for certification are at appropriate levels. Examination questions are developed by certified personnel who are currently active in the field of structural drying. Pass/fail scores are set by the CSDR Certification Board using the modified Angoff method. The Board authorizes a periodic statistical review of examination item performance and test reliability and updates the examination to reflect the latest changes in our rapidly evolving field.

4. Certification Board members are required to abstain from voting on any applicant’s completed file that may present a conflict of interest, either personally or professionally.

ACAC certifications are current for two years from the date of issue. The certificate holder must accumulate forty (40) Re-certification Credits (RCs) prior to the certificate’s expiration date. Each RC represents one (1) hour of continuing education or professional development. The certificate holder may accumulate the required hours at any time during the two-year certification period. An updated list of typical recertification activities is available on the Council website.

Council-certified Structural Drying Remediators who do not acquire sufficient CSDR Re-certification Credits by their recertification date will be notified in writing to cease using the CSDR designation. They will be listed as expired on the Council website and will no longer be listed as a CSDR in any ACAC publication until such time as they resubmit to the certification process and successfully meet the current criteria for certification. Appropriate fees will apply.

1. The CSDR Certification Board is responsible for all facets of the certification program, including the review and evaluation of applications, the development and administration of examinations, the granting and reissuing of certificates and the adjudication of complaints against certificants.

2. Suspensions: If a Council-certified Structural Drying Remediator does not accumulate the required re-certification credits, certification shall terminate unless, in the judgment of the Certification Board, extenuating circumstances exist and the deficiency can be readily overcome. Examples of extenuating circumstances include documentation of active military service or documentation of a serious medical condition.

3. Complaints: If a Council-certified Structural Drying Remediator fails to abide by the ACAC Code of Conduct or is formally accused of gross negligence in the performance of his or her professional duties, the Certification Board may vote to refuse re-certification.

4. Appeals: Any holder of a valid Council certification or applicant for such a certification may appeal the decisions of the Certification Board.

5. Complaints or appeals shall be made in writing via certified mail to the Certification Administrator.

6. In the case of complaints, the Certification Administrator shall forward the complaint to the accused certificant and allow him or her ample time to respond.

7. The Certification Administrator, at the direction of the Executive Committee, may forward complaints or appeals to the appropriate Certification Board.

8. The Certification Board shall rule on all complaints or appeals by unanimous vote.

9. Complaints or appeals may be continued in writing via certified mail to the National Advisory Board.

10. The National Advisory Board shall be the final court of appeal and will rule on complaints or appeals by unanimous vote.

11. In resolving complaints or appeals, ACAC may rule only on its own decisions to grant or deny certification and recertification.

1. Retired Council-certified Structural Drying Remediators may be granted emeritus status in their designation as long as they are retired from professional practice as a CSDR. Such persons will be granted the title “Emeritus.”

2. Re-certification Fees for Emeritus (Retired) Status: $100 USD for each two-year certification.

3. Continuing education is not required,

4. To return to active status, emeritus certificants must notify the Council in writing and pay a fee for a two-year active certification. At the end of the two-year period, all normal re-certification policies will apply.

1. A CSDR may use the designation name on organization letterheads, business cards and all forms of address. When using the CSDR designation, we encourage the spelling out of the designation fully in smaller print immediately below the signature block, as in the following example:

   John Doe, CSDR
   Council-certified Structural Drying Remediator
   Board-awarded by the American Council for Accredited Certification

2. Certification is for individuals only. The CSDR designation may not be used to imply that an organization or firm is certified.

3. The CSDR designation may NOT be used by individuals who pass the CSDR examination in order to obtain a state license, unless those individuals also complete the ACAC certification process as described in this handbook.

The ACAC code of conduct applies to all certificants, staff and volunteers of the organization.

The American Council for Accredited Certification offers the Council-certified Residential Structural Dryer (CRSD) to individuals whose knowledge of structural drying remediation warrants professional recognition.

1. To raise the standards of those engaged in structural and restorative drying.

2. To identify persons with acceptable knowledge of structural drying and the standards and regulations affecting Council-certified Residential Structural Dryers.

3. To qualify applicants for certain state licenses.

Individuals are eligible for the CRSD certification who can attest to their employment in the field of structural drying.

Applicants for licenses where the CRSD is required must meet the eligibility requirements published by each state

(Click here to purchase reference texts)

The effective practice of structural drying requires knowledge of a variety of subjects related to the building sciences. For certification purposes, the candidate for the CRSD designation must demonstrate familiarity with the basic concepts and reference materials of the industry, such as those summarized in the following list.

1. American Council for Accredited Certification, Code of Conduct

2. ANSI/IICRC, S500-2021, Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration, 5th edition (Las Vegas: IICRC, 2021).

3. Ken Larsen, et. al., Leadership in Restorative Drying, 4th edition (Wood Dale, IL: Restoration Leadership, 2014).

(Click here to purchase reference texts)

To prepare for the CRSD exam, first read the reference books listed above. Then review the following sections from each text in more detail:

WARNING: Limiting your study to only the following pages will put you in danger of failing the exam. The exam assumes a comprehensive knowledge of each reference text. Each of the following references provides ONE example of a place where exam topics may be discussed.

IICRC, S500-2021

Entire

Larsen, et. al., Leadership in Restorative Drying, 4th edition (2014)

pages 6, 48, 49, 72, 86, 90, 102, 120, 125, 133, 136, 137, 147, 148, 151, 153, 154, 155, 157, 186, 187, 188, 193, 209, 213, 214, 224, 243, 248, 262, 293, 298, 309, 312, 314, 316, 317, 326, 340, 342, 347, 357, 380, 381 and 429

1. ACAC certification should not be confused with state licensing. State license candidates should read the following section, The State Licensing Process.

2. ACAC certification candidates complete and forward the notarized application form, employer affidavits, project sheets and a copy of diploma or transcripts.

3. ACAC certification candidates pass the closed-book examination. If the examination is not successfully passed, a re-examination fee is required before retaking the examination.

4. ACAC certification candidates have up to 90 days from the date of application to complete the application process. Applications left incomplete after 90 days will be considered null and void.

5. ACAC certification candidates wait for the awarding of the certification. The Certification Board meets approximately every four (4) weeks to review the examination results and supporting materials before voting to award the certification.

1. State licensing should not be confused with ACAC certification. ACAC certification candidates should read the previous section, The ACAC Certification Process.

2. State license applicants complete and forward the notarized application form to the ACAC office.

3. ACAC does not require state license applicants to provide documentation of education or field experience in order to sit for the CRSD examination. State licensing agencies may require such documentation as part of the license application process.

4. State license applicants pass the closed book examination. ACAC reports exam scores directly to the appropriate state licensing agencies.

5. State license applicants follow individual state guidelines for completion of the license application.

1. The applicant must complete a 2-hour, closed-book, written examination. The examination questions are based on the listed core skills and required body of knowledge.

2. The examination is closed-book! It is strongly recommended that candidates read the reference materials listed above before taking the examination.

3. There are 50 questions on the examination. Each question is multiple-choice with at least four (4) possible answers. Exam items are drawn from the required body of knowledge according to a blueprint prescribed by the certification board.

4. Passing Score: The passing score for the CRSD examination is set by the CRSD certification board using the Modified Angoff Method. A score of 75% must be achieved to pass this examination.

5. The examination is delivered electronically at an authorized testing center operated by Kryterion, Inc. There are no paper exams. Once a complete application packet is on file in the Council office, the candidate may register for the examination by calling the office at (888) 808-8381.

6. Candidates should arrive 30 minutes before the testing appointment.

7. Candidates must present two forms of government-issued identification at the testing center, one of which must be picture ID.

8. Candidates must follow proctor instructions with regard to conduct, behavior, and the use of personal belongings and test materials, including submitting eyeglasses for inspection and turning out exterior pockets.

9. Candidates failing to abide by these rules will not be permitted to sit for the exam, and a re-examination fee will be required.

10. All examinations contain the same questions; however, the examination questions are presented to each candidate in random order and the examination answers are presented to the candidate in random order.

11. Examinations are graded electronically at the testing facility, and scores are available to candidates immediately. An email is sent to the candidate’s email address confirming test results. In the case of state license applicants, exam scores are also reported directly to the appropriate state licensing agency.

Fees are posed on the ACAC website.

Certification fees are for a two-year certification, and include a non-refundable processing fee.

Examination fees are required prior to taking examinations.

Recertification fees are for a two-year period and require documentation of continuing education. Recertification fees include a non-refundable processing fee.

Re-examination fees apply to those retaking a failed exam.

Penalties for late recertification may be waived in case of documented active military duty or medical issues.

1. The American Council for Accredited Certification is the certifying body for this certification program.

2. All decisions regarding application materials, examinations and the awarding of certifications are made by the CRSD Certification Board, which functions as part of the ACAC.

3. The certifying body’s responsibility to applicants is to provide a credible certification. Operation of the certification program is closely monitored to ensure that reference materials remain current with the industry guidelines and standards and the eligibility requirements for certification are at appropriate levels. Examination questions are developed by certified personnel who are currently active in the field of structural drying. Pass/fail scores are set by the CRSD Certification Board using the modified Angoff method. The Board authorizes a periodic statistical review of examination item performance and test reliability and updates the examination to reflect the latest changes in our rapidly evolving field.

4. Certification Board members are required to abstain from voting on any applicant’s completed file that may present a conflict of interest, either personally or professionally.

ACAC certifications are current for two years from the date of issue. The certificate holder must accumulate forty (40) Re-certification Credits (RCs) prior to the certificate’s expiration date. Each RC represents one (1) hour of continuing education or professional development. The certificate holder may accumulate the required hours at any time during the two-year certification period. An updated list of typical recertification activities is available on the Council website.

Council-certified Residential Structural Dryers who do not acquire sufficient CRSD Re-certification Credits by their recertification date will be notified in writing to cease using the CRSD designation. They will be listed as expired on the Council website and will no longer be listed as a CRSD in any ACAC publication until such time as they resubmit to the certification process and successfully meet the current criteria for certification. Appropriate fees will apply.

1. The CRSD Certification Board is responsible for all facets of the certification program, including the review and evaluation of applications, the development and administration of examinations, the granting and reissuing of certificates and the adjudication of complaints against certificants.

2. Suspensions: If a Council-certified Residential Structural Dryer does not accumulate the required re-certification credits, certification shall terminate unless, in the judgment of the Certification Board, extenuating circumstances exist and the deficiency can be readily overcome. Examples of extenuating circumstances include documentation of active military service or documentation of a serious medical condition.

3. Complaints: If a Council-certified Residential Structural Dryer fails to abide by the ACAC Code of Conduct or is formally accused of gross negligence in the performance of his or her professional duties, the Certification Board may vote to refuse re-certification.

4. Appeals: Any holder of a valid Council certification or applicant for such a certification may appeal the decisions of the Certification Board.

5. Complaints or appeals shall be made in writing via certified mail to the Certification Administrator.

6. In the case of complaints, the Certification Administrator shall forward the complaint to the accused certificant and allow him or her ample time to respond.

7. The Certification Administrator, at the direction of the Executive Committee, may forward complaints or appeals to the appropriate Certification Board.

8. The Certification Board shall rule on all complaints or appeals by unanimous vote.

9. Complaints or appeals may be continued in writing via certified mail to the National Advisory Board.

10. The National Advisory Board shall be the final court of appeal and will rule on complaints or appeals by unanimous vote.

11. In resolving complaints or appeals, ACAC may rule only on its own decisions to grant or deny certification and recertification.

1. Retired Council-certified Residential Structural Dryers may be granted emeritus status in their designation as long as they are retired from professional practice as a CRSD. Such persons will be granted the title “Emeritus.”

2. Re-certification Fees for Emeritus (Retired) Status: $100 USD for each two-year certification.

3. Continuing education is not required,

4. To return to active status, emeritus certificants must notify the Council in writing and pay a fee for a two-year active certification. At the end of the two-year period, all normal re-certification policies will apply.

1. A CRSD may use the designation name on organization letterheads, business cards and all forms of address. When using the CRSD designation, we encourage the spelling out of the designation fully in smaller print immediately below the signature block, as in the following example:

   John Doe, CRSD
   Council-certified Residential Structural Dryer
   Board-awarded by the American Council for Accredited Certification

2. Certification is for individuals only. The CRSD designation may not be used to imply that an organization or firm is certified.

3. The CRSD designation may NOT be used by individuals who pass the CRSD examination in order to obtain a state license, unless those individuals also complete the ACAC certification process as described in this handbook.

The ACAC code of conduct applies to all certificants, staff and volunteers of the organization.