The RIA's Environmental Risk Specialist (ERS) Advanced Pillar Designation is the newest, and final, of the four pillars of the enhanced Certified Restorer (CR) program. The Environmental Risk Specialist (ERS) designation course will prepare the Environmental Specialist to navigate resources, industry guidelines, and regulations. The course provides the student with awareness and understanding of the environmental hazards, including Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) and risks associated with disaster sites. This course is an excellent opportunity for students in the industry to gain a fundamental understanding of evaluating front-end risks associated with such events.

In order to achieve the ERS Designation, students must complete the following:

1. Meet the Pre-Qualifying Requirements (Education & Work Experience)

High school diploma or equivalent education; Training school that teaches courses similar to contents & restoration; Five years of verifiable work experience or three years verifiable supervisory experience, project supervisor, estimator, consultant, inspector, restoration company manager, facility manager, restoration instructor. This designation program is recommended for those with five years or more of active experience in the restoration industry.

2. Complete ERS Prerequisites

All prerequisite requirements and documentation must be submitted by September 18, 2023 in order to participate in the ERS training course.

3. Attend the ERS Training Course

Environmental Risk Specialist (ERS) Designation In-Person Training Course
October 17 - 19, 2023
Jon-Don Philadelphia
835 Wheeler Way # B, Langhorne, PA 19047
(Light breakfast and lunch will be provided)
19.5 CE Credits Awarded for Attendance

4. Pass the ERS Exam

The ERS Exam will be administered via online proctoring on the final day of the course through the IICRC. Additional exam registration fee of $250 applies.

5. Submit Risk Assessment Assignment

Upon passing the ERS exam, students will submit a risk assessment assignment for review and approval by the course instructor. Upon approval, the student will receive their ERS Designation and be eligible for participating in the RIA Designation Pinning Ceremony at the RIA Convention.

Course Fees

$1540 - RIA Member
$1855 - Nonmember

Course Cancelation and Refund Policy

The training course availability is limited to 30 attendees. Please be sure you are available to attend when registering. Cancelations must be made in writing to info@restorationindustry.org. Cancelations received less than 30 days prior to the course start date will not be granted a refund. Cancelations received 30 days prior to the course start date will be granted a full refund minus a $100 administrative fee. Course registrations can be transferred to another individual within the same company if requested at least two weeks in advance of the course event. In the unlikely event the course must be canceled or rescheduled, RIA will contact you to register you in a comparable program.

This statement can be used when adjusters instruct contractors to remove items from invoices or change prices for non-program projects.

The Restoration Industry Association's Advocacy and Government Affairs (AGA) committee is the restoration industry’s first unified advocacy team. It seeks to unite the restoration industry and advocate for the best interests of restoration contractors nationwide, and develop and implement strategies to help create and maintain equity between restorers and insurers and their partners. The AGA committee will advocate for the financial and legal interests of restoration contractors while working collaboratively and fairly with insurers and the other stakeholders involved in the restoration process.

This session focuses on the 50-State Summary of Assignment of Benefits Laws.

The RIA sees widespread ignorance of the law of assignments and underutilization of assignments as a significant threat to the health of the restoration industry and the availability of high-quality restoration services to consumers. Accordingly, the RIA has compiled this collection of excerpts of cases and statutes that address certain aspects of the enforceability of assignments for each state, and insurance bad faith. It is not a complete statement of the relevant law, and as laws change, the legal principles may be reversed or become outdated. However, this material will provide a good starting point for restorers, working closely with their lawyers, to formulate an assignment strategy that fits their businesses.

The AGA Pricing Task Force has seen spikes in pricing for building materials across the US and Canada. We have been monitoring these increases and how Xactware has handled these increases. Similar to what many estimators do when utilizing third party evaluations for flooring, this document provides tips for you to change your material pricing to reflect the real cost for your area.

Ed Cross discusses challenges with Third Party Administrators (TPAs) and what the RIA AGA is doing to work on these issues.

4-13-RIA-AGA Academy - Symbility Q&A 

This statement can be used when insurance carriers refuse to pay restoration charges they believe are the “cost of doing business.”

This statement can be used when insurance carriers and their partners attempt to prohibit deviation from standardized price lists.