National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG)

What National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) does

The National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1977 that serves the U.S. chimney and venting industry. The organization represents approximately 1,000 member businesses, including chimney service companies (Voting Members), manufacturers and suppliers (Associate Members), and affiliates, supported by a lean team of 6 staff under outsourced management by Amplify Association Management since 2021 from its principal office in Ankeny, Iowa. NCSG operates across six governance regions covering the United States with limited international presence, governed by an elected board including a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, six regional directors, three at-large directors, and a supplier representative.

NCSG's product portfolio centers on membership, professional certifications (CCP, CCR, CCJ) administered via the Prolydian certification platform with triennial recertification requiring 36 CEUs, annual events (NCSG Convention each spring, Chimney Expo each August), Hands-On Training events, virtual training classes such as CSR 360°, the Sweeping Magazine trade publication (700+ print, 2,400 digital member readers, 1,300+ non-member prospects), and publications including The Guide for Chimney Professionals handbook and the NCSG Residential Chimney Service Safety Manual sold via Amazon. Technology infrastructure is limited to the third-party Prolydian certification management system and member directories (Find a Sweep, Homeowners Club); the organization has no proprietary AI/ML capability. Marketing reaches homeowners through a consumer-facing blog, biweekly eNews, Sweeping Magazine, social media toolkits, and member directories.

Revenue is generated through membership dues (prorated by calendar date), certification and recertification fees ($299 member / $499 non-member recertification), event registrations including CSR 360° ($499 member / $599 non-member), and publication sales ($124.99 each). NCSG's strategic positioning was materially strengthened by a landmark December 2023 OSHA settlement on fall protection regulations that yielded industry-specific amendments and underpins the Safety Manual product. The organization also maintains allied relationships with CSIA, NFI, and F.I.R.E., and holds a federally registered NCSG Member service mark reserved for dues-paying members who sign the guild's Code of Ethics.

Name

National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG)

Legal name

National Chimney Sweep Guild

Website

https://ncsg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1977 that serves approximately 1,000 U.S. chimney and venting businesses through membership, accredited certifications (CCP, CCR, CCJ), annual conventions and training events, advocacy, and trade publications including Sweeping Magazine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Plainfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from Voting Members (chimney service businesses), Associate Members (suppliers), and Affiliate Members. Members receive access to education, events, certifications, advocacy, and marketing resources.
2. Certification Fees: Revenue from certification exams and recertification. CCP exam fees: discounted for members vs non-members. Recertification via CEUs costs $299 for members and $499 for non-members.
3. Event Registrations: Revenue from annual conventions, Chimney Expo, Hands-On Training events, and virtual training classes like CSR 360°. CSR 360° virtual training: $499 for members, $599 for non-members.
4. Publications Sales: Sales of The Guide for Chimney Professionals handbook and NCSG Residential Chimney Service Safety Manual at $124.99 each via Amazon and at events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association that serves nearly 1,000 chimney and venting industry businesses and professionals through accredited certifications (CCP, CCR, CCJ), tiered membership services, virtual training (CSR 360°), an annual National Convention & Trade Show, and industry publications including Sweeping Magazine and the Guide for Chimney Professionals. The Guild advocates for the chimney and venting industry through regulatory engagement with bodies such as OSHA and NFPA, enforces a Code of Ethics, and provides homeowner-facing resources including the Find a Sweep directory and Homeowners Club.

Product overview

The National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association for chimney and venting professionals, not a software product company. The organization's offerings center on membership services, professional certifications (CCP, CCR, CCJ), industry events (annual National Convention & Trade Show, Chimney Expo, virtual training like CSR 360°), and publications (Sweeping Magazine, The Guide for Chimney Professionals handbook, Residential Chimney Service Safety Manual). The Guild also provides consumer-facing directories (Find a Sweep, Homeowners Club) and business resources including marketing toolkits. There is no unified software platform architecture; instead, NCSG offers a portfolio of interconnected membership benefits, education programs, certifications, and publications that serve chimney businesses and homeowners seeking trusted professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NCSG Membership Tiered membership program for chimney and venting industry businesses, individual professionals, and suppliers, providing access to Sweeping Magazine, member pricing on certifications, training, events, and publications, the Code of Ethics, the Member trademark, Find a Sweep directory listings, and Homeowners Club resources.
• NCSG Chimney Certifications (CCP, CCR, CCJ) Accredited professional credentials issued to chimney and venting industry professionals, including the Certified Chimney Professional (CCP), Certified Chimney Reliner (CCR), and Certified Chimney Journeyman (CCJ) designations. Certification is administered through the Prolydian certification management platform and serves as the recognized industry standard for chimney professionals.
• CSR 360° Virtual Training Virtual continuing-education training program for chimney service professionals, delivered live via Google Meet, covering chimney service, safety, and technical topics.
• National Convention & Trade Show Annual in-person convention and trade show for NCSG members, chimney service businesses, and industry suppliers, featuring education sessions, networking, and an exhibitor floor.
• Chimney Expo Dedicated chimney and venting industry expo, providing additional in-person education, exhibits, and networking opportunities for chimney professionals and suppliers beyond the annual convention.
• The Guide for Chimney Professionals Handbook Reference handbook for chimney service professionals, sold at $124.99, distributed through Amazon and NCSG's member channels, providing technical reference material for chimney work.
• NCSG Residential Chimney Service Safety Manual Safety manual for residential chimney service work, sold at $124.99, distributed through Amazon and NCSG's member channels, focused on safety procedures for chimney professionals.
• Sweeping Magazine Industry trade magazine covering chimney and venting industry news, technical content, regulatory updates, and association news, distributed in print to 700+ subscribers and digitally to NCSG members.

Quantifiable outcome

• 81% of members report reading 8 or more issues of Sweeping Magazine per year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• State and Regional Chimney Sweep AssociationscoreOthersNCSG recognizes affiliated associations at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Members in each of NCSG's six regions elect board members to represent their geographical region. State associations like NYSCSG operate independently while maintaining alignment with the national guild.
• Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry certification body working alongside NCSG to promote chimney safety standards. Both organizations are referenced together as resources for homeowners to verify chimney professional credentials. CSIA is listed as a Supplier Member of NCSG.
• National Fireplace Institute (NFI)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry certification body for fireplace professionals. NFI certification is one of the credentials homeowners are advised to look for when hiring chimney companies. NFI is listed as a Supplier Member of NCSG.
• Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service (F.I.R.E)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry organization providing certified inspectors. F.I.R.E. certification is one of the credentials recommended for chimney professionals alongside NCSG certifications.
• Amplify Association ManagementcoreOthersProfessional association management company that has been managing NCSG since 2021. Provides administrative and operational support services for the guild.
• OSHA (U.S. Department of Labor)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric settlement agreement signed December 1, 2023 between NCSG and OSHA addressing fall protection regulations for chimney professionals. The agreement resulted from NCSG's challenge against the 2016 Walking-Working Surfaces rule and includes industry-specific amendments benefiting member safety.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC): A long-established national trade association in the home services trades; serves a parallel purpose to NCSG for HVAC contractors and offers a model for association-based certification, advocacy, and education programs.
• Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA): National trade association for HVAC contractors with similar membership, certification, advocacy, and education programs as NCSG, providing a comparable business model in an adjacent home services vertical.
• National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI): A trade association for professional remodelers offering similar membership, certification, and consumer-referral services; useful comparable for association-based credentialing and Find-a-Pro directory models.
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): One of the largest U.S. trade associations, representing home builders and remodelers; provides a structural benchmark for how large trade associations organize advocacy, certifications, publications, and events.
• Hearth, Patio & BBQ Association (HPBA): A larger trade association serving the broader hearth industry, with significant overlap in member base (fireplace and venting professionals and suppliers) and adjacent certification/education programming.

Others

• Better Business Bureau (BBB): A nonprofit organization offering trust accreditation and consumer-facing directories; NCSG's Find a Sweep and Code of Ethics play a similar trust-signal role for homeowners searching for reputable chimney service providers.

Emerging players

• Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service (F.I.R.E.): F.I.R.E. offers certified inspector credentials for chimney and fireplace professionals, representing an additional niche certification alternative within the same member ecosystem.

Regional players

• New York State Chimney Sweep Guild (NYSCSG): A state-level chimney sweep association affiliated with NCSG, offering the same membership/event/certification concept at a regional level and representing how the trade association model operates sub-nationally.

Direct peers

• Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA): CSIA is the leading chimney industry certification body and is listed as an NCSG supplier member. Both organizations offer competing professional certifications and jointly promote homeowner safety; they share the same customer base of chimney professionals.
• National Fireplace Institute (NFI): NFI certifies fireplace and venting professionals and is an NCSG supplier member. It operates an adjacent credentialing program referenced alongside NCSG certifications when homeowners vet chimney service providers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ncsg
• Facebookfacebook.com/nationalchimneysweepguild
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-chimney-sweep-guild

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG)