Do You Need to Be Certified to Clean Kitchen Hoods? What to Actually Look For in a Provider

Every hood cleaning company's website seems to claim some version of "certified" — but what does that actually mean, and how should you evaluate it when picking a provider?

NFPA 96 Doesn't Certify Contractors

As covered in our NFPA 96 overview, the standard itself doesn't issue certifications to individual companies or technicians. It's a fire code standard for the system and process, not a credentialing body.

Industry Training Programs Exist Separately

Trade organizations offer training and credentialing programs for hood cleaning technicians, separate from NFPA 96 itself. These can be a useful signal of technician training, but it's worth confirming what the specific credential actually covers rather than taking "certified" at face value.

What to Actually Ask a Provider

• Can you show me a sample before/after documentation report from a recent job?
• Do you clean to bare metal, or just wipe down visible grease?
• Are you licensed and insured, and can you provide proof?
• What's your process for accessing ductwork, not just the hood canopy?

Answers to these questions tell you more about actual service quality than a badge on a website.

Our Position

Arizona Hood & Vent Cleaning is licensed and insured ([AZ License #XXXXXX]) and documents every job with dated before/after photos and a signed service report. We'd rather show you our process directly than lean on marketing language — reach out and we're happy to walk through exactly what a service visit includes.