Candidate's Guide to the
International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association's
Certified Exhaust System Inspector (CESI)
Examination Program

What's Covered on the CESI Examination?

IKECA's Certified Exhaust System Inspector (CESI) program is designed to test and certify individuals who demonstrate their qualifications to provide professional inspection services by passing a written examination. The field of kitchen exhaust system inspection requires that an individual be competent in three main tasks:

• System Assessment - the act of determining the type of system in a facility, identifying components, and producing a system diagram.
• Cleanliness Inspection - the act of determining the level of cleanliness of the system
• Conclusions / Recommendations - the act of providing guidance and information to the customer regarding future maintenance of the system.

Each of these tasks is broken down into several sub-tasks and knowledge areas that a competent inspector must understand. Further details regarding the tasks and sub-tasks are discussed in IKECA's Study Guide to the CESI Program. The CESI examination includes questions prepared to test candidates' knowledge of all three main tasks and their sub-tasks.

Who Gets Certified?

An individual who passes the CESI exam shall be designated as a "Certified Exhaust System Inspector (CESI)." Certification is for the individual only. IKECA's program for Certified Exhaust System Inspectors is not designed to provide a company certification.

Exam Eligibility Requirements

Any owner, manager, or employee of a company actively engaged in the inspection of commercial kitchen exhaust systems is eligible to take IKECA CESI exam. The examination is also open to others in the public and private sectors who have an interest in commercial kitchen exhaust inspection and fire safety.

The CESI examination is primarily designed for field inspectors whose job it is to investigate and report on the cleanliness condition of commercial cooking and ventilating systems.

Fees

The cost to take the IKECA CESI examination is as follows:

* The Authority Having Jurisdiction applies to the organization, office, or individual responsible for approving equipment, an installation, or a procedure related to commercial cooking equipment and exhaust systems. It primarily applies to fire prevention authorities and insurance industry representatives.

If a candidate fails the IKECA CESI exam on his or her first attempt, the individual may re-take the exam within a one-year period at a cost of $50. If an individual fails the exam on the second attempt, he or she must wait a period of one full year to take the exam again, and must pay full certification exam fees. Certification fees are non-refundable.

Duration of Certification

Upon passing the IKECA exam, an individual shall be certified for a period of four years. In order to renew their certification, the individual may either choose to re-take and successfully pass the CESI exam within 48 months of his or her original certification date or earn a total of 12 CEUs by attending the IKECA Annual Meeting or Technical Seminar every year. For more CEU options, please contact the IKECA Certification Department.