NICFI Reports on Outcomes of Second Meeting

Willoughby, OH, July 2, 2025-The National Institute of Certified Floor Covering Inspectors (NICFI) recently hosted its second industry-wide meeting focused on elevating standards across the floorcovering inspection profession.

The meeting, moderated by Jessica Violand-Bruno and John Paro, featured participation from key certifying and educational bodies, including Certified Flooring Inspectors University (CFIU), Flooring Inspectors Educational Guild, The Institute for Floor Covering Inspectors International (IFCII), Inspector Training Services (ITS), The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), and the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA). Together, these organizations are working collaboratively to strengthen integrity, professionalism, and education within the inspection community.

Key discussion topics included protocols for addressing inspector/report complaints, the importance of maintaining honesty, independence, and impartiality in inspections, the recognition of high-quality educational curricula, and the value of supporting diverse educational approaches. All participating organizations expressed a shared commitment to continuing education and agreed that credits should be recognized across certifying bodies. Industry events, cross-institutional training, and other learning opportunities were highlighted as essential pathways to enhance inspector expertise and professionalism.

The group also explored the potential development of a standardized curriculum checklist to identify essential subject matter across all flooring categories. This initiative would support consistency in educational content across training programs and institutions and will require further collaborative discussion.

Additionally, preliminary conversations were held around establishing an independent body or advisory panel to address ongoing concerns related to inspector performance and accountability.

These conversations remain ongoing, and NICFI welcomes the participation of all certifying organizations, training institutions, and industry stakeholders.

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