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NORMI Certified Mold Assessor (CMA)

Practice Questions100 questions

Exam Review

Key Facts: NORMI CMR Exam

2 hours

Proctored Exam Time

NORMI

~70%

Passing Score

NORMI

24 hours

Required Education

NORMI / Florida DBPR

10 sq ft

FL Regulated Threshold

Florida Statutes Ch. 468, Part XVI

99.97% at 0.3 micron

HEPA Filtration Standard

IICRC S520 / EPA

100/10 sq ft

EPA PPE & Containment Thresholds

US EPA Mold Guidance

The NORMI Certified Mold Remediator (CMR) is a trades credential for professionals who remove mold from buildings. The two-hour proctored exam (onsite or online, pass ~70%) covers mold and microbial science (growth requirements, water activity, indicator species like Stachybotrys, and allergenic/pathogenic/toxigenic effects), moisture and building science (psychrometrics, dew point, HVAC humidity control, structural drying), remediation techniques (NORMI 33-step process, limited vs. full containment, negative pressure and air changes, HEPA filtration at 99.97% of 0.3-micron particles, source removal under IICRC S520, antimicrobials), PPE and respiratory protection (EPA 10/100 sq ft thresholds for N-95, P100 APR, and PAPR; OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 and 1910.1200), sampling and assessment (spore traps with outdoor controls, surface/bulk sampling, moisture mapping), post-remediation verification, and Florida Chapter 468 Part XVI licensing law including the s. 468.8419 conflict-of-interest rule and biennial renewal. The credential requires 24 hours of education and aligns with Florida's MRSR license.

Sample NORMI CMR Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the NORMI CMR exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1To inhibit indoor mold growth, EPA's guidance "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home" recommends keeping the indoor relative humidity below what level?

A.30%

B.50%

C.60%

D.80%

Explanation: EPA recommends keeping indoor relative humidity below 60% (ideally 30-50%) because most mold species cannot sustain growth on building surfaces when humidity stays under that threshold.

2Stachybotrys chartarum (so-called "black mold") is most significant to a remediator because it is primarily classified as which category of biological hazard?

A.Allergenic only

B.Toxigenic (mycotoxin-producing)

C.Pathogenic, causing systemic infection in healthy adults

D.Non-hazardous saprophyte

Explanation: Stachybotrys chartarum is a toxigenic mold that can produce mycotoxins (such as trichothecenes) under chronic wet conditions, which is why its presence on a spore trap or tape lift is treated as a marker of significant water damage.

3Mold organisms reproduce and spread through buildings primarily by means of which structure?

A.Spores

B.Roots (mycelial taproots)

C.Live larvae

D.Seeds

Explanation: Fungi reproduce by releasing microscopic spores that travel through the air and germinate when they land on a damp organic surface; controlling spore dispersal during demolition is a core reason for containment.

4On a non-viable spore-trap (e.g., Air-O-Cell) laboratory report, two common genera are routinely reported together as a single combined count. Which pair is this?

A.Stachybotrys/Chaetomium

B.Alternaria/Cladosporium

C.Aspergillus/Penicillium

D.Basidiospores/Ascospores

Explanation: Aspergillus and Penicillium spores are small, round, and morphologically indistinguishable under the light microscopy used for non-viable spore-trap analysis, so labs report them combined as "Aspergillus/Penicillium-like."

5A remediator notes that Stachybotrys is found only on chronically saturated materials while Penicillium/Aspergillus often colonize merely humid surfaces. This difference is explained by which property?

A.Spore color

B.Optimal growth temperature

C.Sensitivity to ultraviolet light

D.Required water activity (aw)

Explanation: Different fungi require different water activity (aw) to germinate. Stachybotrys is hydrophilic and needs high aw (sustained free water), whereas Aspergillus and Penicillium are more xerophilic and grow at lower water activity such as elevated humidity alone.

6Mold growth requires moisture, oxygen, a suitable temperature, and an organic food source. Which of these is the factor a remediator can most practically and permanently control to prevent regrowth?

A.Moisture

B.Oxygen

C.Temperature

D.Organic food source

Explanation: Because oxygen, normal indoor temperatures, and cellulose-based building materials are essentially always present, controlling the moisture source is the only practical, lasting way to prevent mold from returning after remediation.

7Under the IICRC S520 Standard, an area classified as Condition 2 contamination refers to:

A.A normal fungal ecology with no abnormal growth

B.Settled spores/fragments dispersed (cross-contamination) from a Condition 3 source, without actual growth

C.Actual active mold growth visible on surfaces

D.A structure that has been demolished to the studs

Explanation: IICRC S520 defines Condition 1 as normal fungal ecology, Condition 2 as an indirect/settled contamination (spores and fragments that have migrated from a Condition 3 source but without actual growth), and Condition 3 as actual mold growth.

8During an assessment a remediator suspects hidden mold. Which location is LEAST likely to harbor concealed growth that justifies invasive investigation?

A.Behind vinyl wallpaper on an exterior wall

B.Inside HVAC supply ductwork and drain pans

C.Under carpet padding over a slab

D.On the exposed exterior brick veneer in full sun

Explanation: Sun-exposed exterior brick dries quickly and is not an enclosed, chronically damp cavity. Concealed mold is far more likely behind vapor-impermeable finishes, inside ducts/drain pans, and beneath carpet padding where moisture is trapped.

9According to EPA mold remediation guidance, a contaminated area of LESS than 10 contiguous square feet (a "small" job) calls for what minimum level of respiratory protection?

A.No respirator is needed

B.A loose-fitting PAPR

C.An N-95 disposable respirator

D.A supplied-air (airline) respirator

Explanation: EPA guidance specifies that for small jobs (under 10 sq ft), minimum PPE includes an N-95 respirator along with gloves and eye protection; higher-level protection is reserved for larger areas.

10A HEPA filter used in air scrubbers and negative-air machines is defined by its ability to capture at least what percentage of particles at the most-penetrating 0.3-micron size?

A.99.97%

B.95.00%

C.85.00%

D.99.99999%

Explanation: True HEPA filtration removes a minimum of 99.97% of particles at 0.3 microns (the most-penetrating particle size), which captures mold spores and most fragments and is required for compliant air scrubbing and HEPA vacuuming.

About the NORMI CMR Exam

The NORMI Certified Mold Remediator (CMR) is a professional credential for individuals who perform mold remediation in residential and commercial buildings. The two-hour proctored exam evaluates knowledge of mold and microbial science, moisture and building science, remediation techniques (the NORMI 33-step process, containment, negative pressure, HEPA filtration), PPE and respiratory protection, sampling basics, post-remediation verification, and documentation and state licensing law. NORMI's training and exam are DBPR-approved and aligned to Florida's Mold-Related Services Remediator (MRSR) license under Chapter 468, Part XVI. Training is recommended (the credential requires 24 hours of education) but the exam can be challenged without the course.

Exam sponsor: NORMI (National Organization of Remediators and Microbial Inspectors). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

2 hours (onsite or online proctored)

Passing Score

Approximately 70%

Exam / Certification Fees

Approximately $299-$389 (exam-only or course-included; confirm with NORMI)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

16%

Mold & Microbial Science and Health Effects

Mold biology, spores and mycelium, the four growth requirements (moisture, organic food, temperature, oxygen), water activity differences between hydrophilic Stachybotrys and xerophilic Aspergillus/Penicillium, water-damage indicator species, amplification, and the allergenic, pathogenic, and toxigenic (mycotoxin) categories of health effects including hypersensitivity pneumonitis and aspergillosis

16%

Moisture Control & Building Science

Psychrometrics including relative humidity, dew point, and grains per pound; vapor diffusion versus air-leakage transport; capillary action; vapor-retarder perm classes; HVAC short-cycling and humidity control; building pressure and condensation on cool surfaces; and structural drying with refrigerant versus desiccant dehumidifiers

22%

Remediation Techniques & Engineering Controls

The NORMI 33-step process; limited versus full containment with 6-mil poly and decontamination chambers; negative pressure verified by manometer with a minimum of about 4 air changes per hour; HEPA filtration and vacuuming (99.97% at 0.3 micron); source removal as the IICRC S520 objective; gross removal then HEPA-vacuum and damp-wipe detail cleaning top to bottom; dust suppression; encapsulation limits; and antimicrobials as supplemental only

14%

PPE & Respiratory Protection

EPA size thresholds (under 10 sq ft N-95, 10-100 sq ft half/full-face APR with P100 filters, over 100 sq ft full containment with PAPR); OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 medical evaluation before fit testing, no facial hair at the seal, assigned protection factors, and Appendix D voluntary use; HAZCOM 29 CFR 1910.1200 and SDS; coveralls, nitrile gloves, non-vented goggles; and decontamination/doffing and heat-stress control

14%

Sampling & Assessment

Air sampling with viable (culturable) versus non-viable (spore-trap) methods, same-day outdoor control comparison and volume-based counts per cubic meter; surface, tape-lift, and bulk sampling; lab-report interpretation including combined Aspergillus/Penicillium; moisture mapping with meters and infrared; chain of custody; and the assessor-written remediation protocol and scope of work

Post-Remediation Verification

Independent clearance (in Florida, by a separate licensed assessor); pass criteria of visibly clean and dry with the moisture source corrected and clearance air comparable to the outdoor control without marker species; drying verification against a dry reference; dust-wipe/white-glove checks; the response to a failed clearance; and proper reconstruction sequencing

10%

Documentation & Licensing Law

Florida Chapter 468 Part XVI including the 10-square-foot definition threshold, the s. 468.8419 conflict-of-interest prohibition between assessment and remediation, and biennial license renewal with continuing education; NORMI Standard of Practice and ethics; contracts and work authorizations; recordkeeping and retention; and the IICRC S520, EPA, and ACGIH reference standards

Preparing for the NORMI CMR Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Approximately 70%
Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
Time limit: 2 hours (onsite or online proctored)
Exam / certification fees: Approximately $299-$389 (exam-only or course-included; confirm with NORMI) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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NORMI CMR: Suggested Study Strategy

1Memorize the EPA size-based PPE and containment thresholds: under 10 sq ft (N-95, minimum PPE), 10-100 sq ft (limited containment, half/full-face APR with P100 filters), and over 100 sq ft (full containment with decon chamber and PAPR)

2Know the IICRC S520 conditions cold: Condition 1 normal fungal ecology, Condition 2 settled/cross-contamination from a Condition 3 source, and Condition 3 actual growth - and that the standard's goal is physical source removal, not killing mold

3Drill OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134: medical evaluation BEFORE fit testing, no facial hair at the respirator seal, APF of 10 (half-mask), 50 (full-face APR), and 25 (loose PAPR), and Appendix D for voluntary N-95 use

4Understand psychrometrics: cooling air at constant moisture raises relative humidity toward the dew point where condensation forms, and grains per pound expresses true moisture content for tracking drying

5Remember the negative-pressure essentials: verify with a manometer, target at least about 4 air changes per hour, run HEPA (99.97% at 0.3 micron) air scrubbers, and exhaust outside the containment

6Master Florida Chapter 468 Part XVI: the 10-square-foot definition threshold, the s. 468.8419 conflict-of-interest rule barring the same party from assessing and remediating the same project, and biennial renewal

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NORMI Certified Mold Remediator (CMR) exam?

It is a two-hour proctored knowledge exam administered by NORMI for professionals who perform mold remediation. It covers mold and building science, remediation techniques, containment, PPE, sampling, post-remediation verification, and licensing law, and is aligned to Florida's MRSR license under Chapter 468, Part XVI.

Do I have to take a course before sitting the exam?

Training is not strictly required to take the exam, which can be challenged on its own, but NORMI strongly recommends its course. The credential itself requires at least 24 hours of mold-remediation education covering assessment, mold, moisture, and respiratory protection, which also satisfies Florida's licensing education requirement.

What passing score and format should I expect?

The exam is a two-hour proctored test (available onsite or online) with a passing standard of approximately 70%. It uses multiple-choice and scenario-style knowledge questions covering the full remediation body of knowledge.

How does the NORMI CMR relate to Florida's mold license?

NORMI is DBPR-approved and its remediator training and exam align with Florida's Mold-Related Services Remediator (MRSR) license. Florida law (Chapter 468, Part XVI) regulates mold assessment and remediation exceeding 10 square feet and prohibits the same party from both assessing and remediating the same project within the restricted period.

What size thresholds drive PPE and containment decisions?

Following EPA guidance, areas under 10 square feet use minimum PPE (N-95, gloves, goggles); 10-100 square feet use limited containment with a half- or full-face P100 air-purifying respirator; and over 100 square feet require full containment with a decontamination chamber and a PAPR or full-face respirator.

Is killing the mold with a biocide enough to pass clearance?

No. Under the IICRC S520 standard, the objective is physical source removal because dead spores, fragments, and mycotoxins remain allergenic. EPA does not recommend routine biocide use; remediation must remove the contamination and correct the moisture source, then pass independent clearance.

How often must a Florida mold license be renewed?

Florida mold assessor and remediator licenses renew on a two-year (biennial) cycle and require continuing education to stay active. Maintaining the NORMI credential also involves active membership.