Cleaning companies rely on efficiency and trust to provide an effective service. As customers allow you to enter their home or business space to complete your duties, they need reassurance that your team can conduct themselves professionally and provide a quality service.
A commercial cleaning certification can protect your workforce, boost turnaround times and provide an excellent reputation for your business. With many certification options available, knowing which one is most beneficial and applicable is vital for companies and individuals looking to enhance their skills.
What Is a Certification for Commercial Cleaning?
Whether you’re starting a commercial cleaning business, running a small business of your own or managing a large company and are looking to maintain your standards and compliance, commercial cleaning certifications are a valuable asset. It’s a common misconception that cleaning is something everyone can do — commercial cleaning takes proper training and experience to clean and disinfect to a high standard.
A commercial cleaning certification qualifies and trains cleaning company employees to ensure they are equipped to perform a thorough and efficient service. Depending on the type, certification can cover all aspects of commercial cleaning, from management and operations to quality control and training. Certification can also be specific to the kind of cleaning you specialize in, so potential customers can match your skills with their requirements.
Types of Cleaning Certifications
Depending on your business and specialization, several types of commercial cleaning certifications exist. Each has specific requirements and standards, from janitorial certifications to crime scene cleanup. Some common types of commercial cleaning certification include the following:
- Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) certification by ISSA: This detailed certification program by the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) covers all aspects of commercial cleaning, including quality control, management and training. Your cleaning business is assessed on operations, management practices, training programs and quality control processes.
- Green Seal certification: As the name suggests, this program focuses on certifying cleaning businesses based on being environmentally friendly. It requires businesses to use specific cleaning products and employ green cleaning practices.
- Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) accreditation: This performance-based program establishes requirements and best practices for cleaning, disinfecting and preventing infectious diseases. It offers proper cleaning guidance, risk assessment training and documentation. This accreditation also involves a thorough review of your procedures, facilities and operations. In line with its focus on preventing the spread of infectious disease, the accreditation emphasizes high-touch surfaces, restrooms and areas with heavy traffic.
- Cleaning Management Institute certification: This certification program focuses on the cleaning and restoration of commercial properties. It requires intensive training and testing and covers various topics, including carpet cleaning and fire, smoke and water damage restoration.
- Custodial Technician Certification: The ISSA offers this program, which provides a basic and advanced certificate. The basic certificate covers cleaning chemistry, hard and carpeted floors, restroom cleaning and customer service. The advanced option includes more intensive training on hard and carpeted floor cleaning and cleaning above-floor surfaces.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training: OSHA training involves a certification program focusing on workplace safety. It equips people with the tools to handle and dispose of hazardous materials properly and use personal protective equipment.
Why Is a Commercial Cleaning Certification and Training Important?
Cleaning and disinfecting certification and training are essential for businesses. They reassure clients that your organization operates under the highest quality standards and has the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver top-class services. The proper certifications can provide your business with significant benefits, such as:
- Improving client satisfaction: With the proper training and certifications, your business can provide a more comprehensive service, resulting in satisfied customers and referrals, which benefits your bottom line.
- Decreasing turnover rates: Training and certification streamlines your processes, allowing your team to work more efficiently. Happy, qualified, and confident employees are invested in staying with your business, so you don’t have to deal with high turnover rates.
- Reducing costs: Certification and training allow for the effective use of equipment and supplies, which means your business can save money on replacing cleaning supplies and damaged machinery.
- Keeping workers safe: Many certifications focus on safe cleaning practices. Your workers will learn safe practices, avoiding potential accidents or health risks.
- Improving efficiency: Certification can increase productivity by creating efficient routines that work for your business.
- Maintaining compliance: Certification and recertification are essential to maintain compliance, especially regarding worker safety when interacting with hazardous chemicals or offering crime scene cleanup as one of your services.
How to Get Commercial Cleaning Certification
Whether you’re a business or an individual, getting a commercial cleaning certification requires following some simple steps. Depending on the certification you need, the training and testing process could be extensive, so it’s best to conduct thorough research on the best certification and training for your business and employees.
Some steps to obtaining a cleaning and disinfecting certification include the following:
1. Choose the Most Beneficial Certification
Before you begin the certification process, determine which certification benefits your business most. Many options are available, so consider whether your business would benefit most from a more generalized certification or one more specialized to your industry. If there’s a new service you’re hoping to offer, research what certifications you need to assist in your expansion.
2. Research the Requirements
When you’ve narrowed down your potential certifications, be sure you understand the requirements of each one. You may need another accreditation to meet the minimum standards.
3. Submit Your Application
You can apply for the program once you’re confident you meet the certification requirements. The certifying body may ask for an application or examination fee.
4. Complete Training
Depending on your chosen certification, you and your team may have to complete training before you take your certification examinations. Choose a training organization that can fulfill your certification requirements, and take your time to familiarize yourself with the modules and topics covered in your training so you and your employees are confident when taking the examinations or assessments.
5. Take the Certification Examination
When you and your team are prepared, schedule your assessment. Depending on your training partner, you can complete your certification through them or the certification organization. Once you’ve completed the exam and any required practical assessments, wait for the organization to contact you with your results.
Get Your Team Certified With Hazmat School
Quality training is critical for achieving certification. Your business needs a training provider that can walk you through the certification process in a way that equips you to do your job correctly. With Hazmat School, your team can complete the training online, at their own pace, with experienced remote instructors available 24/7 to take you through the process one step at a time.
Beyond boosting your performance and safety, the proper training can save you money in compliance citations. Suppose you’re looking for cleaning and disinfecting certification. In that case, our OSHA Hazard Communication and GHS Training course can equip you with the tools to stay safe when working with cleaning and disinfecting chemicals.
With automatic certification upon completing the examination, you can be certified in your chosen time frame and ready to share your skills and knowledge with your clients. Contact Hazmat School to learn more about our training and certification options today!
Manages Hazmat School’s E-Learning courses and blog. Kirstie has extensive experience in the online training and education industry. Kirstie has worked with courses that offer a variety of safety and environmental certifications that satisfy OSHA, EPA and DOT requirements.
