# IKECA certification: what a kitchen buyer should check

Verify the person, credential and work scope. Keep trade certification separate from local authorization.

Updated 2026-11-10. Also on the [web page](https://greasecleaning.fyi/guides/ikeca-certification-explained).

IKECA is the International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association. HoodFilters describes its professional certifications as credentials for individuals who work in commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning and inspection. This guide focuses on buyer verification. Ask IKECA for current credential titles, exam requirements, renewal terms and fees.

## Ask who will attend

Request the name of the credential holder who will perform or supervise the work. Ask for the exact credential title, evidence of current status and a way to confirm it with the issuer. A company logo on a quote does not identify the person assigned to your kitchen.

Ask what the credential covers. Cleaning and inspection are different scopes. Suppression service, electrical work and fan repairs may need different qualifications. Have each contractor name the work it accepts and the work it refers elsewhere.

## Keep local authorization separate

HoodFilters advises checking licensing and local requirements with fire or building officials. Ask those officials which qualifications they accept for your work. Do not assume that membership, training attendance or a trade credential replaces local authorization.

Use this verification note in your file:

| Field | Your record |
| --- | --- |
| Contractor | Legal business name and contact |
| Assigned person | Name and role |
| Credential | Exact title and issuer |
| Verification | Public record link or written issuer response |
| Local acceptance | Authority contact and response |
| Work scope | Cleaning, inspection or another named service |

## Before approving the visit

Check the insurance evidence and ask for a report example. Ask how the company records inaccessible duct sections and unresolved defects. Confirm who receives the report and who follows up.

A directory badge shows a directory plan or ownership status. It is not an IKECA credential and does not certify cleaning quality. Read the source and confirm credentials directly.

## Sources

- [HoodFilters, contractor selection, published October 4, 2026](https://blog.hoodfilters.com/2026/10/04/choose-right-hood-cleaning-company/). Fetched 2026-11-10.

For information only. Confirm the current requirements with your local authority.

## Questions

### Does company membership prove that the assigned technician is certified?

Ask for the assigned person and exact credential. Verify it with the issuer and confirm local acceptance.