CMI Frequently Asked Questions
Accessible by: anyone
CMI General
What is CMI’s ISSA Training Standard?
Is CMI’s ISSA Training Standard the same thing as CIMS?
Certified Professional Trainer (C.P.T.) Workshop
What does C.P.T. stand for?
Who should attend an C.P.T. workshop?
Cleaning Professional Certification
Who can become a certified cleaning professional?
Where can I find the study materials for Cleaning 101?
In which languages is Cleaning 101 available?
Training Program Verification
Does my training program need to be specific to cleaning?
Who created the CMI ISSA Training Standards?
How do I submit my training program for verification?
What happens if my program does not meet the CMI ISSA Training Standards?
How long does it take to have my training program verified?
How do I figure out the cost to verify my training program?
Training program verification has an annual maintenance fee and training program renewal. What is the difference between the two?
Answers
Q. What is CMI’s ISSA Training Standard?
A. CMI’s ISSA Training Standard was determined by committees consisting of manufacturers, distributors, facility service providers, and other parties, the standard outlines the qualities of effective training programs in the cleaning industry.
Q.Is CITS the same thing as CIMS?
A. No, where CIMS focuses on the management of an entire cleaning organization, CMI’s ISSA Training Standard focuses specifically on the training of frontline cleaning professionals. CMI’s ISSA Training Standard can help companies with the Human Resources section of the CIMS Standard.
Q.What does C.P.T. stand for?
A. C.P.T. stands for Certified Professional Trainer. The C.P.T. workshop trains on the art of training adults and helps you improve your skills. The C.P.T. certificate qualifies you to train, proctor exams, and help confer certification.
Q. Who should attend an C.P.T. workshop?
A. Anyone who trains frontline cleaning professionals will benefit from this workshop. CMI verified training programs may only be taught by C.P.T. accredited trainers. In other words, for a frontline professional to receive a certification, they must attend a CMI verified program taught by a C.P.T. certified trainer.
Q. Who can become a certified cleaning professional?
A. CMI Cleaning 101, CMI Advanced Professional, and CMI Master were designed for frontline cleaning professionals interested in receiving training and recognition of their skillset. Some categories in the ISSA Training Standard do cater to management and supervisory roles (e.g. Efficiency in Cleaning) but the majority of categories cater to the frontline cleaning professional.
Q. Where can I find the study materials for Cleaning 101?
A. ISSA Members can download the Cleaning 101 Manual for free at issa.com/Cleaning101. Non-members can download the manual after purchase at issa.com/bookstore.
Q. In which languages are Cleaning 101 available?
A. The Cleaning 101 Manual and Exams are available in English, Spanish, French, and Polish.
Q. Does my training program need to be specific to cleaning?
A. Programs must meet the standards of the category in which they are attempting to receive verification. Though most of the categories focus specifically on cleaning, there are additional categories such as General Safety, Customer Service, and Personal Development that do not focus on the “how to” of cleaning.
Q. Who created CMI’s ISSA Training Standards?
A. The ISSA Training Standard was established by committees consisting of manufacturers, distributors, facility service providers, and other parties involved in the cleaning industry. A complete list of individuals can be found on pages 2 & 3 of the ISSA Training Standard, available to download at issa.com/ISSAtrainingstandard.
Q. How do I submit my training program for verification?
A. First, download the training content application found at issa.com/CMIverify. After submitting your application, you will be assigned a CMI verifier. If you accept your verifier, you will receive an email instructing how to submit your documents. If you do not accept your verifier, you will be assigned a new verifier. After your documents have been submitted, the verifier will ensure that your program meets all of the ISSA Training Standards. Your verifier will notify ISSA of whether or not your program meets the ISSA Training Standards and if your program has been recommended for verification. Once verified, you will receive an email containing a certificate of verification as well as a press kit on how to promote your program’s verification.
Q. What happens if my program does not meet the ISSA Training Standards?
A. You will receive a notification detailing which part(s) of the Standard your program does not meet. You will have a 6-month window to make changes to your program in order to meet the Standard.
Q. How long does it take to have my training program verified?
A. The verification process will usually take approximately two weeks after you have submitted your documents to the verifier. Time will depend upon the number of other programs currently being verified.
Q. How do I figure out the cost to verify my training program?
A. The cost of program verification is based on the duration of the program plus the number of additional specialties the program covers. A calculator is available at the bottom of the training program verification application.
The ISSA member cost, per hour, is $349. The cost for each additional specialty is $99.
ISSA Member examples below:
1 hour program, Hard Floor Care Standard: 1 hour x $349 = $349
2 hour program, Hard Floor Care Standard: 2 hours x $349 = $698
1 hour program, Hard Floor Care & Carpet Care Standards: (1 hour x $349) + $99 for extra category = $448
2 hour program, Hard Floor Care & Carpet Care Standards: (2 hours x $349) + $99 for extra category = $797
The non-member cost, per hour, is $549. The cost for each additional specialty is $199.
Non-Member examples below:
1 hour program, Hard Floor Care Standard: 1 hour x $549 = $549
2 hour program, Hard Floor Care Standard: 2 hours x $549 = $1,098
1 hour program, Hard Floor Care & Carpet Care Standards: (1 hour x $549) + $199 for extra category = $748
2 hour program, Hard Floor Care & Carpet Care Standards: (2 hours x $549) + $199 for extra category = $1,297
Q. Training program verification has an annual maintenance fee and training program renewal. What is the difference between the two?
A. The annual maintenance fee is a licensing fee which allows a training program to continue to use the CMI logo and remain listed on the online roster of verified programs. Training program renewal, on the other hand, is intended to ensure that a program continues to meet the applicable ISSA Training Standard(s). Organizations will be asked to execute an Affidavit attesting to continued compliance and, if substantive changes have been made to a program, it will be required to undergo re-verification. All programs are also subject to a random review.
