Cleaning Management Institute

What Cleaning Management Institute does

Cleaning Management Institute (CMI) is the education and certification division of ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association), the global cleaning industry association with more than 11,000 member companies. Founded in 1964 and headquartered alongside ISSA in Northbrook, Illinois, CMI delivers standardized training, certifications, and continuing-education programs for frontline custodians, supervisors, facility managers, building service contractors, and workforce-development agencies. Since inception the organization states it has certified more than 500,000 cleaning professionals worldwide, anchored by a three-tier Cleaning Technician track (Basic, Advanced, Expert), supervisor credentials (Certified Custodial Supervisor, Supervisor & Management Bootcamp, Certified Workloading Specialist), a train-the-trainer credential (Certified Professional Trainer), and an auditing credential (Accredited Auditing Professional), supplemented by specialty modules in hard floor care, carpet care, restroom care, and customer service.

The platform layer is a conventional asynchronous learning management system delivered through my.issa.com, providing 60-day course access, online proctored exams with an 80% passing threshold, and digital credentials valid for two years. The only embedded technology of note is Smart Inspect, a quality-assurance audit software that CMI bundles as a 30-day trial (retail value stated at USD $2,000) with Accredited Auditing Professional enrollments. Curriculum is written at a 4th–5th grade reading level, refreshed on a roughly two-year cadence (most recently Version 7 in 2022), and localized into English and Spanish.

Revenue mechanics are split across four streams: (1) one-time certification exam fees ranging from $24.99 for specialty modules to $499.99 for the Certified Professional Trainer credential, with most technician and supervisor exams priced at $57.99; (2) recurring online course access sold individually or via bulk team enrollment through JotForm; (3) physical training handbooks, DVDs, and optional printed certificates ($15 add-on) sold through the ISSA Bookstore; and (4) fee-based on-site customized training delivered globally by CMI Master Trainers. Distribution is hybrid: self-serve e-commerce for individual learners, direct enterprise sales for on-site engagements, event-driven sales around ISSA workshops and the annual ISSA Show, and channel partnerships with distributors (e.g., Imperial Dade), consultants (e.g., ValkarTech), and workforce-rehabilitation agencies (40+ correctional facilities plus the New York State Sheriffs' Association).

Name

Cleaning Management Institute

Legal name

ISSA

Website

https://cmi.issa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Cleaning Management Institute is ISSA's education division, providing standardized cleaning-industry certifications, online training, and on-site instruction to frontline custodians, supervisors, facility managers, and workforce-rehabilitation programs worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Cleaning Certification and Training Services

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Audit, Inspection & Quality Compliance (Internal Auditing, CAPA) (EDABAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Safety, Security & Emergency Services (OSHA, Fire, EMS, Security CE) (EDAAALAK), Corrections, Detention & Probation Officer Training (EDAOAMAE), Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM)

Keywords

• Cleaning industry certification
• Custodial training programs
• Facility management education
• Professional cleaning certification
• Workforce training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Northbrook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Certification Exam Fees: CMI generates revenue through certification exam fees ranging from $24.99 to $499.99 depending on the certification type. Individual exams include Basic CCT ($57.99), Advanced CCT ($57.99), Combined CCT ($115.98), Certified Custodial Supervisor ($57.99), and specialty certifications like Hard Floor Care, Carpet Care, and Restroom Care ($24.99 each). Professional-level certifications include AAP ($199.99), CPT ($499.99), and CWS ($199.99).
2. Online Course Access: Online certification courses provide 60-day access for asynchronous learning. Courses can be purchased individually or in bulk enrollment for team training.
3. Training Handbooks and Materials: CMI sells training handbooks for Basic and Advanced Certified Cleaning Technician in both English and Spanish. Printed certificates are available for $15.00 optional add-on.
4. On-site Training Services: Customized on-site training programs delivered at customer organizations for groups, including Certified Custodial Technician, Train the Trainer, Supervisor Bootcamp, AAP, CWS, and specialty programs like Hard Floor Care and Carpet Care.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cleaning Management Institute (CMI), the education division of ISSA, delivers standardized professional certification and training programs for the commercial cleaning industry. Offerings include tiered Certified Cleaning Technician (Basic, Advanced, Expert) credentials, supervisor/management certifications (Certified Custodial Supervisor, Supervisor & Management Bootcamp, Certified Workloading Specialist, Certified Professional Trainer), quality-assurance auditing certification (Accredited Auditing Professional with Smart Inspect software), specialty programs (Hard Floor Care, Carpet Care, Restroom Care), and workforce-rehabilitation tracks for correctional facilities. Programs are sold per-exam or per-workshop individually online, in bulk to organizations, and as customized on-site training.

Product overview

CMI is the education division of ISSA offering a comprehensive suite of cleaning and facility management certification programs. The core portfolio centers on three progressive tiers of the Certified Cleaning Technician (Basic, Advanced, Expert) for frontline custodians, complemented by supervisor-level programs including Certified Custodial Supervisor, Supervisor & Management Bootcamp, and Certified Workloading Specialist. CMI also offers train-the-trainer certification (Certified Professional Trainer), quality assurance auditing (Accredited Auditing Professional), specialty training programs (Carpet Care, Floor Care, Customer Service), and workforce rehabilitation/re-entry programs for correctional facilities. The full offering includes certification renewal options, on-site customized training, and the ISSA Value of Clean educational program. All certifications are valid for two years with online recertification options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certified Custodial Supervisor Certification course for custodial supervisors covering leadership skills, technical workplace skills (managing supplies, chemicals, equipment), building services operations, recruiting, hiring, quality assurance, and scheduling. Offered online with exam; recertification available.
• Certified Professional Trainer (Train the Trainer) Train-the-trainer certification workshop equipping participants to deliver CMI's Custodial Technician Basic and Advanced courses inside their own organization. Available as live or virtual seminar sessions; exam fee $499.99, valid 2 years.
• Accredited Auditing Professional (AAP) Certification that guides facility-service professionals through performing quality-assurance audits. Covers ISSA Value of Clean, QA tools, live building audits, and QA reporting. Includes a 30-day free trial of Smart Inspect software. Exam fee $199.99; valid two years.
• Supervisor & Management Bootcamp Two-day in-person boot camp that sharpens technical and soft skills for cleaning, maintaining, and servicing facilities. Covers leadership skills, delegating tasks, conflict resolution, cleanliness audits, QA inspections, workloading, and staffing. Designed for aspiring entry-level workers and tenured professionals.
• Certified Workloading Specialist (CWS) Certification course teaching workloading as the foundation of a successful cleaning plan. Covers measuring cleaning workloads, standardization, levels of service, task sheets, routing, job cards, and advanced calculations using the ISSA Cleaning Times and Tasks Standard. Exam fee $199.99; valid two years.
• Basic Certified Cleaning Technician (CCT) Entry-level certification covering daily maintenance tasks including Chemistry of Cleaning, Basic Cleaning of above-floor surfaces, hard floors, carpeted floors, restrooms, shower rooms, and Customer Service. Requires passing exam with 80%. Available in English and Spanish.
• Advanced Certified Cleaning Technician (CCT) Advanced-level certification covering project-style tasks including advanced hard floor care, advanced carpet care, advanced above-floor cleaning, and advanced disinfection. Prerequisite: Basic Certification. Requires passing exam with 80%. Available in English and Spanish.
• Expert Certified Cleaning Technician (CCT) Hands-on training at a verified training center requiring a minimum of 20 hours of classroom time. Prerequisite: Basic and Advanced Certifications. Highest tier in the Cleaning Technician certification progression.
• Specialty Training Programs Custom training programs for unique cleaning and management challenges, including Carpet Care Specialist, Customer Service Training, Floor Care Specialist, and Supervisor Training. Programs can be tailored to specific facility needs.
• On-site Training from CMI Customized on-site training and certification solutions delivered at customer organizations by CMI Master Trainers. Covers Certified Custodial Technician, Train the Trainer, Supervisor & Management Bootcamp, Accredited Auditing Professional, Certified Workloading Specialist, Hard Floor Care, Carpet Care, and ISSA's Value of Clean.
• Workforce Rehabilitation & Re-Entry Custodial Certification Custodial certification program designed for Correctional Facilities, Homeless Agencies, Workforce Development Agencies, Veterans Programs, and Vocational Technical Institutes. Includes curriculum on Chemistry of Cleaning, floor care, carpet care, restroom care, disinfection, and bloodborne pathogens. Developed in partnership with NYSSA for incarcerated individuals.
• CMI Hard Floor Care Specialty Certification Specialty certification covering hard floor maintenance from daily care to full strip and refinish. Includes DVD training manual and exam. Exam fee $24.99.
• CMI Carpet Care Specialty Certification Specialty certification covering professional carpet care including spotting, stain removal, daily care, interim maintenance, and deep cleaning using extraction. Exam fee $24.99.
• CMI Restroom Care Specialty Certification Specialty certification covering restroom care best practices and procedures. Exam fee $24.99.
• CMI Certification Renewal Program Online recertification exams for all CMI certifications. Each certification is valid for two years. Available for CMI Custodial Technician Basic and Advanced, Certified Custodial Supervisor, Hard Floor Care, Carpet Care, Restroom Care, Accredited Auditing Professional, Certified Professional Trainer, and Certified Workloading Specialist.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500,000 professionals certified worldwide
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMI is the education division of ISSA—the global cleaning industry association with 11,000+ members. ISSA provides organizational backing, industry credibility, and access to its member network including distributors, manufacturers, building service contractors, and in-house service providers worldwide.
• New York State Sheriffs' Association (NYSSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISSA partnered with NYSSA to launch the first-ever statewide training and certification program for incarcerated individuals in New York's county jail system. Program enables certification as experts on cleaning for health from ISSA's Cleaning Management Institute.
• Correctional Facilities (40+)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 40 correctional facilities participate in CMI's workforce rehabilitation program, including FCI facilities, county sheriffs' offices, and state correctional institutions. Training is deployed through retired Jail Administrators and Corrections Officers.
• Imperial DademinorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorImperial Dade, the leading independent distributor of foodservice packaging and facility maintenance supplies in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Caribbean, partners with CMI through the Imperial Dade Cleaning Institute for customer training programs.
• ValkarTechminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDerek Oliveira, Senior Director at ValkarTech, holds multiple CMI certifications including Certified Professional Trainer, Green Building Assessor, Certified Workloading Specialist, and Accredited Auditing Professional. ValkarTech is the only housekeeping consulting firm in Quebec with these certifications.
• The Bullen CompaniesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMark Warner, National Sales Manager for The Bullen Companies, previously served as Education Manager for ISSA's Cleaning Management Institute where he led nationwide training seminars and developed the globally recognized Certified Custodial Technician programs.
• CleanfaxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJeff Cross, Executive Editor of Cleanfax (leading media brand for carpet cleaning and disaster restoration industries), serves as a CMI trainer resource and contributor to industry education.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification): ANSI-accredited standards body certifying cleaning, restoration, and inspection professionals. Closest direct peer to CMI in certifying frontline cleaning industry workers with tiered credentials and industry-recognized designations.
• IEHA (International Executive Housekeepers Association): International association for executive housekeepers and environmental services professionals offering certifications and training. Direct peer focused on supervisory and management-level cleaning professionals, now a division of ISSA alongside CMI.
• AHE (Association for the Healthcare Environment): Healthcare-specific professional association for environmental services and housekeeping leaders, offering Certified Healthcare Environmental Services Professional (CHESP) credential. Comparable healthcare-vertical certification focus to CMI's healthcare cleaning segments.

Regional players

• BICSc (British Institute of Cleaning Science): UK-based professional body offering cleaning industry qualifications (e.g., BICSc Licence to Practise). Comparable training and certification content to CMI but primarily serving the UK and Commonwealth markets.

Broad incumbents

• BOMA International (Building Owners and Managers Association): Larger commercial real estate association offering facilities management education, designations (RPA, FMA, SMA), and training. Broader scope than CMI but overlaps in certifying facility management and operations professionals.
• ServSafe (National Restaurant Association): Dominant food safety certification program widely adopted across hospitality. Comparable professional certification business model (exam fees, recertification, training materials) applied to an adjacent regulated workforce.

Emerging players

• RIA (Restoration Industry Association): Trade association for restoration and cleaning professionals providing education, certifications (WLS, AMRT), and industry standards. Adjacent to CMI's carpet care and specialty training offerings with overlapping cleaning/restoration curriculum.
• National Registry of Food Safety Professionals (NRFSP): ANSI-accredited food safety certification body. Demonstrates the professional-certification-as-a-business model that CMI could emulate in cleaning industry verticals where regulation is tightening.
• OSHA Outreach Training Providers (e.g., 360training, ClickSafety): Online OSHA safety training platforms serving workforce compliance needs. Compete with CMI's safety/compliance modules on price and convenience, particularly for general-industry workforce training.

Others

• GBAC STAR (Global Biorisk Advisory Council): ISSA division offering facility accreditation for cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention. Sister program to CMI under ISSA, complementary rather than competitive — together they cover training plus facility accreditation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/issaworldwide

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cleaning Management Institute