ARLINGTON, VA - The boards that oversee the National Fireplace Institute and Chimney Safety Institute of America have announced an agreement that will make education more affordable for America’s chimney sweeps and hearth professionals. 

Beginning immediately, those who are NFI Certified can receive a discount on either of two CSIA certifications plus CSIA advanced educational offerings, while those that are CSIA certified will receive a discount on all three NFI certifications as well as the manuals and 200+ online classes offered by the Hearth Patio & Barbecue Association Education Foundation.

“CSIA has some great education programs and can teach things that our hearth professionals should know, and NFI has some great education programs that your chimney sweeps should know, so we’re making the best of it,” said Rick Vlahos, executive director of the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Education Foundation and the National Fireplace Institute.

NFI, a nonprofit established in 2001, certifies hearth industry planners and installers in three hearth product categories based on fuel type: NFI Gas Specialist; NFI Woodburning Specialist; and NFI Pellet Specialist. NFI has 986 pros with the gas credential, 606 with the woodburning specialist credential, and 462 with the pellet credential.

CSIA, a nonprofit founded in 1983, has 1,500 professionals with the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential and 325 that have CSIA’s Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician credential. CSIA’s Certified Chimney Sweep credential is considered the hallmark of excellence among chimney service professionals. 

“Both organizations complement each other very well, and the more that we can share the education that we have, the stronger both organizations are going to be,” said Vlahos.

“There are some great educational opportunities on both sides, and we need to share that knowledge back and forth,” said Frances L. Kelly, executive director of the Chimney Safety Institute of America. “The customer benefits from having a better trained technician when both groups contribute to education.”

The collaboration means that a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® can purchase NFI’s manual/exam package at NFI member prices.

Those that are NFI Certified would pay a lower rate for: CSIA’s manuals used as part of the certification; CSIA advanced educational offerings; CSIA in-person certification reviews; and CSIA exams. NFI Certified professionals also have access to CSIA’s 70+ online education/training courses.

CSIA’s advanced educational offerings include: Chimney Physics; Inspection and Report Writing; Installing and Troubleshooting Gas Hearth Appliances; Lining Masonry with Stainless Steel; and Masonry Repair for Chimney Professionals.
 
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