Chimney inspection and maintenance is important work; it’s an essential part of providing safety and preventing house fires. That’s why at B+E, we make sure that all of our technicians are certified through the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). This certification ensures that they have been thoroughly trained and are as knowledgeable and experienced as they can possibly be. If you’re interested in becoming certified yourself, or just want to know a little bit more about the certification process, here’s a rundown of how it all works:

Step 1: Study up

CSIA requires that prospective chimney instructors read three books: Chimney and Venting Essentials (2019), The NFPA 211 (2019), and International Residential Code (IRC) (2018). The first step to becoming certified is purchasing these books and developing a firm understanding over the information they cover. Studying chimney sweeps will later take an exam over the material, ensuring that once someone is certified, they have all of the required knowledge for the job.

Step 2: Take a review

To make sure prospective chimney sweeps are ready for the exam, CSIA offers both online and in-person reviews over the material. Online reviews include lessons and quizzes that can be completed at any time, on any schedule, over the course of one month. CSIA also holds in-person review sessions at the CSIA Technology Center located in Indiana, as well as other locations throughout the country. 

Another option is the CSIA National Training Academy, which is a six-day program that provides hands-on training and includes the exam at the end of the process. 

Step 3: Take the exam

The Certified Chimney Sweep Exam is divided into two parts: 100 questions over both Chimney and Venting Essentials and the NFPA, which is to be completed within an hour; and a 90-minute long open-book portion over the International Residential Code. You can take the exam immediately after an in-person review session if you’d like, but it isn’t necessary; it just needs to be completed within a year after you attend a review. 

Brick + Ember Outfitters for all your chimney service needs

If you’re looking for top-notch, CSIA certified chimney inspectors, look no further than Brick + Ember Outfitters of Indianapolis. We’ve hired only the most knowledgeable and experienced members for a team you can trust. Likewise, if you have any more questions about becoming certified or are interested in working with us, don’t hesitate to contact us. Give us a call today at (317) 500 1250 or email us at office@brickandember.com.

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