Employee Kitchen Exhaust Hood Cleaning Certification

Train and certify kitchen exhaust cleaning employees and crew leaders with Phil Ackland Training. The program is built around professional kitchen exhaust cleaning practices, NFPA 96 principles, worker safety, system components, documentation, and the responsibilities involved in leading commercial hood cleaning work.

What is kitchen exhaust hood cleaning certification?

Kitchen exhaust hood cleaning certification documents that a technician or crew leader has completed structured training covering the knowledge and responsibilities involved in professional commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning.

Phil Ackland Training focuses on the complete exhaust system, safe work practices, access and inspection considerations, recognizing system components and deficiencies, and the practical standards that affect professional hood cleaning work. For companies, certification also helps create a consistent training standard for employees who perform or supervise this work.

Who should become certified?

This program is designed for kitchen exhaust cleaning technicians, employees who are moving into crew-leader responsibilities, and companies that want a consistent training and certification process for the people performing commercial hood cleaning work.

It is especially relevant for employees who will supervise jobs, document work, communicate with customers, recognize deficiencies, and help ensure that cleaning is performed according to company procedures and applicable requirements.

Certified crew leaders help establish a professional standard for your kitchen exhaust cleaning company

Commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning is specialized work that involves fire-safety, documentation, equipment, and job-site responsibilities. Professional training gives technicians and crew leaders a stronger foundation for performing the work consistently and communicating with customers, inspectors, and other authorities having jurisdiction.

What employees and crew leaders learn in the Phil Ackland certification program

Understand why the entire kitchen exhaust system must be evaluated and cleaned in accordance with applicable requirements and NFPA 96 principles.
Understand NFPA 96 principles related to cleaning, access, inspection, and system maintenance.
Recognize the major components of commercial kitchen exhaust systems.
Work safely around fixed fire-suppression systems and other job-site hazards.
Recognize major worker-safety issues associated with kitchen exhaust cleaning.
Understand the role of listed access panels, hinge kits, and rooftop grease-containment systems.
Identify and document major deficiencies observed in a kitchen exhaust system.
Safely operate pressure-washing equipment and use appropriate cleaning tools.
Understand the responsibilities of a certified crew leader when supervising commercial hood cleaning work.
Prepare for the Phil Ackland certification examination.

Completion of the training is designed to give Certified Crew Leaders a consistent foundation for understanding their responsibilities when cleaning and supervising kitchen exhaust systems.

NFPA 96 and hood cleaning certification

Phil Ackland training teaches principles from NFPA 96 that are relevant to kitchen exhaust cleaning, access, inspection, and system maintenance.
NFPA does not issue Phil Ackland certification; Phil Ackland Training administers its own training and certification program.
Local codes, adopted standards, and the authority having jurisdiction determine the requirements that apply to a specific property or jurisdiction.
Technicians and crew leaders should understand both the technical cleaning work and the documentation and communication responsibilities that come with professional service.

How the Phil Ackland company and employee certification process works

Designate a company representative who will coordinate with Phil Ackland Training and verify company and crew-leader paperwork.
Provide the requested proof of general liability insurance or other company documentation required for qualification.
Provide the applicable business identification information, such as Federal ID or GST information where relevant.
Maintain the required after-service documentation and reporting forms used by the company.
Complete the Phil Ackland Company Qualifications Application and agree to the program requirements, including “The Pledge.”

Distance and online options for hood cleaning certification

Employees can complete assigned training at their own pace.
Distance learning can reduce time away from work and eliminate travel to an in-person seminar.
Course materials provide a consistent training framework for participating employees and crew leaders.
Certification exams are closed-book and proctored so the testing process verifies individual knowledge of the material.
Companies that need a remote training path can review the dedicated Phil Ackland Distance Certification program.

For companies that need a remote option, the Phil Ackland Distance Certification program provides a dedicated path for distance-learning certification.