Renew by passing the corresponding quiz within 90 days of your certification's expiration date, scoring at least 70% for BCCS or 75% for BCSI. The quiz is two hours, closed book, and costs $170. Study NFPA 96 plus the six Boston-specific document areas on the city's exhaust vent cleaning page, and remember that the certification supports but does not replace your city registration.
What the BCCS and BCSI renewal quizzes cover
Both renewal quizzes test cleaning standards from NFPA 96 plus six Boston-specific document areas set by the City of Boston.
IKECA developed the Boston Certified Cleaning Specialist (BCCS) and Boston Certified System Inspector (BCSI) credentials for the City of Boston, whose ordinance requires anyone who cleans or inspects commercial cooking hood and ventilation systems in the city to be certified. The BCCS covers the cleaning role and the BCSI covers the inspection role.
The IKECA Boston handbook identifies cleaning standards in NFPA 96 and Boston-specific codes as the content basis for both exams and renewal quizzes. Use the current handbook and linked city documents to define the material for your renewal.
The Boston-specific portion draws on six city document areas. Study each one directly on the City of Boston's exhaust vent cleaning and inspection page, because the quiz draws from the actual city requirements.
The city page also explains duties behind several of these areas: cleaning companies must issue deficiency reports to the establishment owner and forward a copy to the Fire Prevention Division when an establishment does not comply with NFPA 96 mandated repairs or has no on-site exhaust system diagram, and must report when a contract is not renewed or cleaning is not done by the NFPA 96 scheduled date.
- Guidelines for loss of registration for hood exhaust cleaners and inspectors
- Notification requirements when your contract to clean an exhaust vent has been canceled
- Details of the Inspection and Deficiency Report
- Sticker requirements, instructions, and usage
- Details of the on-site exhaust system diagram
- Boston registered cleaners and inspectors
Sources: IKECA Boston Certification Candidate Handbook — Sections 1-3 and Section 2 (Examination) and Section 3 (Renewing Certification); Exhaust Vent Cleaning and Inspection, Boston.gov (Boston Fire Prevention) — City requirements, experience rule, and guidance documents
Renewal deadlines and passing scores
You must pass the corresponding renewal quiz within 90 days of your certification's expiration date, scoring at least 70% for BCCS or 75% for BCSI.
To renew an IKECA Boston certification, the handbook requires you to complete the matching renewal quiz within 90 days of the expiration date. The BCCS Renewal Quiz requires a minimum score of 70%, and the BCSI Renewal Quiz requires a minimum of 75%.
Certifications not renewed within 90 days of expiration are reported to the Boston Fire Department and may result in loss of city registration. Keep your own expiration date and renewal plan together so you can complete the quiz in time.
When you pass, IKECA sends an updated certification certificate to the Boston Fire Department, which ties your renewed credential back into the city's registration records.
Quiz format, fees, and retakes
Each exam or renewal quiz allows two hours and is closed book. A renewal quiz costs $170, and a retake costs $95.
The handbook states that candidates are allowed two hours to complete each exam or renewal quiz and that all are closed book. For the initial BCCS and BCSI exams it specifies 75 multiple-choice questions; it does not state a question count for the renewal quizzes, so confirm the current quiz length with IKECA when you apply.
The fee schedule prices the two renewal quizzes identically, with a lower retake fee if you need a second attempt. IKECA certification fees are not refundable or transferable, so budget for the full cost before you commit.
Testing runs through Meazure Learning, either on site at a testing facility or by Live Remote Proctor using your own computer; candidates outside the United States or Canada must use remote proctoring. You will need current photo identification and your exam confirmation email at your appointment.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| BCCS Renewal Quiz | $170.00 |
| BCSI Renewal Quiz | $170.00 |
| IKECA Boston Renewal Quiz Retake | $95.00 |
How the certification relates to City of Boston registration
The IKECA certification is one requirement for annual registration with the city; it does not by itself grant permission to work in Boston.
Keep two separate things in mind. First, IKECA states that a Boston certification does not grant permission or a license to clean or inspect commercial kitchen exhaust systems in the city; it is one requirement that Exhaust Vent Cleaners and Inspectors must meet when applying for annual registration with the City of Boston. Second, the certification program was built for Boston's ordinance, so its scope is tied to that city's rules.
The city adds its own conditions on top of the exam. Boston requires individuals who pass the examination to document five hundred work hours of experience in exhaust vent cleaning and inspection, a requirement waived for those who attended a recognized and approved training school. Questions about the registration process go to Fire Prevention at the Boston Fire Department.
Certificate delivery also runs through the city. IKECA submits the certificate directly to the Boston Fire Department, and you receive a copy once your Boston Hood Cleaner or Inspector registration has been granted; IKECA cannot issue the certificate to you directly. Successful candidates are listed in the public IKECA credential directory, which anyone can use to verify your credential.
Sources: IKECA Boston Certification Candidate Handbook — Sections 1-3 and Section 2 (Examination) and Section 3 (Renewing Certification); Exhaust Vent Cleaning and Inspection, Boston.gov (Boston Fire Prevention) — City requirements, experience rule, and guidance documents
How to prepare
Start at least four weeks out, work from NFPA 96 and the city's own documents, and build your review around the quiz's stated content areas.
IKECA encourages candidates to begin preparation at least four weeks before testing and to focus on the exam content areas. NFPA 96 can be purchased from the NFPA, and the NFPA website also provides free access to its standards. The Boston-specific content is covered in the exhaust vent cleaning and inspection material on the City of Boston website.
Come in with working knowledge. IKECA designed these programs for people who already know local jurisdictional requirements, industry standards and codes, and field practice, and it warns that candidates without that base will likely find the exams difficult. IKECA also does not track jurisdictional requirements, so it cannot tell you what your own city requires; confirm anything beyond Boston with your local authorities.
Sources: IKECA Boston Certification Candidate Handbook — Sections 1-3 and Section 2 (Examination) and Section 3 (Renewing Certification); Exhaust Vent Cleaning and Inspection, Boston.gov (Boston Fire Prevention) — City requirements, experience rule, and guidance documents
Worked example: calculating your renewal deadline
This original calendar exercise shows how to count a 90-day interval. Use the actual deadline supplied for your certification when scheduling.
Practice question
For an original paper exercise, suppose a certificate expires March 31 and day 1 of the renewal interval is April 1. Assume there are no scheduling delays and completion is accepted through the end of day 90. Which date is day 90, and what consequence does the handbook describe for certifications not successfully renewed within 90 days of expiration?
Show answer
You must pass by June 29, which is 90 days after March 31. If you are not successfully renewed within 90 days of expiration, IKECA reports the certification to the Boston Fire Department, and it may result in loss of registration with the City of Boston.
Count forward from April 1: April contributes 30 days (through April 30), May contributes 31 more (61 days through May 31), and 29 more days brings the total to 90 on June 29. The 90-day window, the 75% BCSI passing score, and the reporting consequence all come from the handbook's renewal section. In practice, do not aim for the last day: schedule early, because a failed attempt costs a $95 retake fee, and IKECA reports unrenewed certifications to the Fire Department on a regular basis rather than waiting for you.
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