100+ Free IICRC RCT Practice Questions
Pass your IICRC Rug Cleaning Technician exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
The first wet/dry step of a thorough full-immersion rug wash, before any wetting, is:
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Key Facts: IICRC RCT Exam
100
Questions
IICRC RCT
75%
Passing
IICRC RCT
$80
Exam Fee
IICRC (plus course tuition)
In-Person
Format
IICRC-approved school
IICRC
Issuer
iicrc.org/rct/
5 yrs typical
Recert Cycle
IICRC renewal schedule
As of 2026-05-13, IICRC's Rug Cleaning Technician (RCT) is the in-plant rug cleaning credential covering Oriental and area rug identification, fiber and dye behavior, full-immersion washing, spot treatment, and controlled drying. The exam is approximately 100 multiple-choice questions with a 75% passing score and an $80 fee, administered proctored in-person only at the end of an IICRC-approved RCT class — there is no online testing window. No prior IICRC credential is formally required, but the Carpet Cleaning Technician (CCT) is recommended preparation. Core content: rug construction and origin identification, wool vs. silk vs. viscose/rayon fiber behavior, acid- and natural-dye colorfastness pretesting, dry-soil removal (dusting), pH-appropriate detergent selection, wash-pit and flat-wash mechanics, urine decontamination, spotting chemistry, centrifuge extraction, and flat/pole drying decisions. Administered by the IICRC (iicrc.org/rct/).
Sample IICRC RCT Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your IICRC RCT exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1The most reliable way to confirm that a rug is hand-knotted rather than hand-tufted is to:
2A rug technician sees a fabric backing glued to the underside of a rug, concealing the structure of the pile yarns. This rug is most likely:
3Knot density in hand-knotted rugs is most commonly expressed in:
4The asymmetric knot (Senneh knot) is most strongly associated with:
5The symmetric (Ghiordes) knot is most associated with which weaving tradition?
6Tibetan and Indo-Tibetan rugs are most often produced using:
7A 'jufti' knot, sometimes found in Khorasan and older Mashhad rugs, is a:
8A kilim is best described as:
9When inspecting a rug, the technician identifies cotton warps and wefts with a wool pile and asymmetric knots at roughly 200 KPSI. This profile most strongly suggests:
10A rug has a silk foundation (warp/weft) and a very fine silk pile, with KPSI well above 400. This is most consistent with:
About the IICRC RCT Exam
The IICRC Rug Cleaning Technician (RCT) is the professional certification for technicians who clean Oriental and area rugs in a wash plant environment. It covers rug identification and construction (hand-knotted, hand-tufted, machine-woven), fiber identification (wool, silk, cotton, viscose, synthetics), dye stability and colorfastness testing, full-immersion wash-pit methods, in-plant flat washing, spot and stain treatment, and controlled drying and finishing. RCT-certified technicians handle the unique risks of immersing valuable hand-made rugs — dye bleed, cellulosic browning, viscose distortion, and structural damage — that distinguish rug cleaning from in-home carpet cleaning.
Assessment
~100 multiple-choice questions proctored end-of-class at an IICRC-approved school
Time Limit
Proctored end-of-class (in-person only)
Passing Score
75%
Exam Fee
$80 (plus course tuition) (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC))
IICRC RCT Exam Content Outline
Rug Types & Construction
Hand-knotted, hand-tufted, and machine-woven rugs, Oriental rug origins, weave structures, foundation/warp/weft, fringe types, backing materials, structural integrity assessment
Fibers
Wool, silk, cotton, viscose/rayon, synthetics, burn tests, microscopy, cellulosic browning risk, viscose distortion and color-loss cautions
Dye Stability & Testing
Acid dyes, natural/vegetable dyes, colorfastness pretesting, pH-sensitive dyes, bleeding and migration prevention, dye-stabilizer chemistry, acidic rinses
Inspection & Evaluation
Pre-inspection walkthrough, written agreements, condition documentation, pet contamination assessment, structural damage, dry soil load, customer communication
Washing Methods
Full-immersion wash pits, in-plant flat washing, surface cleaning, dry soil removal (dusting), pH-appropriate detergents, agitation methods, rinse extraction
Stain & Spot Treatment
Tannin, protein, oil, and dye spot chemistry, urine decontamination, rust, ink, beverage stains, spotting agent pH ladder, color repair limits
Drying & Finishing
Centrifuge/wringer extraction, controlled-airflow drying rooms, flat vs. pole drying, fringe grooming, pile setting, final inspection, packaging and delivery
How to Pass the IICRC RCT Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 75%
- Assessment: ~100 multiple-choice questions proctored end-of-class at an IICRC-approved school
- Time limit: Proctored end-of-class (in-person only)
- Exam fee: $80 (plus course tuition)
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
IICRC RCT Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IICRC RCT certification?
The IICRC Rug Cleaning Technician (RCT) is the professional certification from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification for technicians who clean Oriental and area rugs in an in-plant wash environment. The credential covers rug identification and construction, fiber and dye behavior, colorfastness pretesting, full-immersion and flat washing, spot and stain treatment, and controlled drying. It is distinct from the Carpet Cleaning Technician (CCT) credential, which covers in-home carpet cleaning.
How much does the IICRC RCT exam cost?
The IICRC exam fee for RCT is $80. Candidates must first complete an IICRC-approved RCT course at an approved school — course tuition varies by provider and is paid separately to the school. The class is hands-on and in-person, and the exam is administered at the end of class.
What are the prerequisites for the IICRC RCT exam?
There are no formal prerequisites for RCT — no prior IICRC credential or industry experience is required. However, IICRC recommends completing the Carpet Cleaning Technician (CCT) before RCT, since CCT covers fundamental fiber, soil, and chemistry concepts that RCT builds on. First-time certification requires attending an IICRC-approved RCT class.
What is the IICRC RCT retake policy?
Retake policy is set by the IICRC and the approved school administering the exam. Candidates who do not pass should contact the school where they took the class for retake scheduling and any waiting period or additional fees. Confirm details with the school and the IICRC before the class.
How does IICRC RCT recertification work?
RCT-certified technicians maintain certification through the IICRC's continuing education and renewal cycle (typically every few years), requiring continuing education credits (CECs) and an annual renewal fee. Recertification rules are set by the IICRC and apply across IICRC credentials; consult iicrc.org for the current renewal schedule, CEC requirements, and fees.
Why is the IICRC RCT exam in-person only?
RCT focuses on physical rug handling — identifying rug construction by feel and visual inspection, dye-testing techniques, wash-pit mechanics, fringe handling, and drying decisions — that require hands-on instruction with real rugs. For this reason the IICRC RCT class and exam are delivered exclusively in-person at IICRC-approved schools; there is no online testing option.