AI-Enhanced Training Platform

IRI Disaster Specialist Training

For Contractors And Adjusters

Training restoration professionals since 2006

Harnessing Technology For The Storms Ahead

4 Courses All $299 each
100% Online Self-paced, no fixed schedule
Hope AI Tutor Trained on 20+ yrs of real jobs — not generic AI
Enroll Now ▼ Learn more about IRI
About

International Restoration Institute

Who We Are

IRI Was Built for the Victims of Disasters — Since 2006.

We stand with you in the field. IRI is built for the licensed contractors, adjusters, and property owners working the raw wreckage of a storm, fire, or flood — and we've been doing it since 2006.

With the integration of modern technology and applied ML science, we have unlocked the true potential of disaster recovery and restoration training. As disaster professionals, we are no longer tied down by static handbooks, rigid study guides, and outdated PDFs as the backbone of technical education.

Today, harnessed tech works directly for you — the contractor and the adjuster. When you train with IRI, you are never alone in the field.

No more scrambling for a book or fishing through a manual under high-stress conditions — Hope and your IRI training are with you on every jobsite.

IRI Disaster Restoration Contractors
IRI at the Forefront

We Taught It Online
Before It Was Accepted.

IRI was one of the first to deliver disaster recovery and restoration certification fully online — a discipline the industry was slow to embrace. For over a decade, the conventional wisdom was that structural drying and disaster restoration could only be taught in a classroom.

We never believed that. We built our courses in the field, tested them on real jobsites, and put them online while the rest of the industry caught up.

Today, online training is the standard — and we're proud to have helped lead the way. But IRI has always done more than teach: we built the moisture mapper and 20+ restoration tools — packout, digital documents, job-site forms — and now Hope, an AI that reads your photos and fills out your project documents and forms. We're still creating, still innovating, still standing beside you.

AI Upgrade

Why the New Changes?

What's behind the excitement about the AI upgrade at IRI? IRI was honored and grateful to receive a discrete API development grant from the OpenAI Foundation — funding that helped cover the research and development costs behind building Hope. Hope now runs as IRI's own sovereign AI, on our private silicon, dedicated to helping the disaster recovery and restoration industry and humanity as a whole. She's the latest in a long line of IRI innovations — from the moisture mapper and our restoration tools to the field-based AI systems that read your photos and complete your project documents.

Hope AI

Hope AI — Frequently Asked Questions

Meet Hope — IRI's own restoration AI, built in the field

Is Hope just an API, Cloud AI Model or a wrapper for ChatGPT?

Absolutely not. Hope is IRI's own proprietary AI training system — a large AI model system consisting of hundreds of billions of parameters. She is not a cloud endpoint, a monthly subscription API, or a standard corporate chatbot. General-purpose models like ChatGPT are brilliant at everyday tasks — and even they recognize that a specialized model trained on a specific field will outperform a general one. That's exactly why IRI built Hope: a model trained on 20+ years of restoration field data, so you get answers grounded in the work, not generic guesses.

How was Hope built, and what makes her different?

Hope was built locally using advanced ML reinforcement learning science. Her restoration knowledge comes from IRI's own proprietary curriculum — the courses and field resources we've built and refined over 20+ years of real projects — not from proprietary industry textbooks or published manuals. We trained, tested, and benchmarked her performance for the disaster recovery and restoration processes. Hope's style of training is comparable to many frontier models — think modern Anthropic, DeepSeek, and Qwen. We fused her logic layers on our own private, secure silicon, creating a hyper-specialized brain built on IRI's own field engineering data.

What kind of hardware does Hope run on?

Hope runs on a custom, industry-specific AI system built on IRI's own private supercomputer, powered by next-generation accelerator hardware we own and operate — our models, training, and orchestration are proprietary to IRI. We do not route your private data through public clouds. Because we build and control the infrastructure ourselves, your questions stay confidential and you get zero-latency answers, 24/7.

If an association or corporate entity recommends generic ChatGPT for field work, are they right?

No — and we say that kindly. A general-purpose AI is a great everyday tool, but a disaster zone is not an everyday situation. Generic models can get the technical details of structural drying, fire restoration, mold remediation, or disaster estimation wrong, and on a high-liability job, a wrong recommendation is a real risk to your business. That's why restoration-specific training — and a specialized model like Hope — matters.

How does Hope help me save money on equipment?

Hope teaches you how to work efficiently using the gear you already own — whether that's drying a flooded structure, cleaning fire and smoke damage, containing mold, or scoping a full disaster estimate. She does not guess. She's mapped using modular logic arrays that calculate psychrometrics, vapor pressure, and grain depression in real time, and she knows what equipment each type of loss actually needs — so you don't rent gear you never needed. Because IRI accepts zero corporate sponsors, Hope's logic loop is entirely unbiased — she recommends only what the science and your job actually require.

What is Hope's policy on Data Privacy and student tracking?

We enforce a strict privacy policy. We track only the academic activity needed to run your courses — grades, quizzes, exams, and progress — and nothing more. We do not log your proprietary jobsite photos, never package your information into marketing lists or mass emails, and never sell your data. Because Hope runs on our own private silicon, your technical queries, business strategies, and student metrics remain confidential and secure from corporate surveillance.
The IRI Commitment

Our Commitment to You

IRI was built in the field, not a boardroom. For over 20 years we've trained the advanced disciplines — structural drying, fire, mold, and disaster estimation — and were among the first to teach them. We respect the professionals who do this work and the science behind it. Our commitment is to teach field-tested procedures and science — free of outside influence — so you get the real-world edge.

Independent by Design

  • IRI is fully independent — we do not belong to or associate with any trade organization, approved school, or affiliate, so our curriculum serves you, the student. Direct, no middlemen.
  • We build on the industry's shared science — psychrometrics, relative humidity, vapor pressure, grain depression — then go further with real, scenario-driven learning that is used in the field every day.
  • All IRI content is proprietary, built in the field over 20 years — no borrowed industry learning material. What you learn here, you will not see at other institutes.
  • We haven't partnered with insurance industry associations or corporate entities — and we've stayed fully independent for over 20 years, teaching our proprietary, field-proven training combined with advanced science.

No Hidden Money

  • Zero sponsored ads in IRI coursework. Your learning is never interrupted by a sales pitch.
  • We sell direct to the student — no referral fees or middlemen built into your tuition.
  • We teach water, fire, mold, and disaster estimation using the gear you already own — and we never sell equipment or push you to buy hardware. Hands-on skills matter; buying gear from your school shouldn't.
  • Your tuition covers your full education — courses, AI tools, documents, and proctored exam — with no hidden fees and no upsells. All included, nothing extra to buy.

Standing With the Student

  • We bring learning and modern tools directly to disaster events like hurricanes and wildfires — IRI crews train in real time, 24/7.
  • We've offered training in 12 languages — more than any of the traditional bodies — and we're adding more, because every community deserves training in their own language.
  • We never package your information into marketing lists or mass emails. We value your privacy and your time.
  • We stand with the student who wants the honest, practical learning they need to work responsibly in any disaster event.
What We Offer

Advanced Training for Experienced Professionals

Professional-Level Courses

  • Advanced construction related courses for experienced individuals with at least 1 year of experience in construction, restoration, property adjusting or a related field.
  • IRI does not offer entry level courses for career training.
  • Used by construction, insurance, restoration and the property management industries to expand their companies' education and training.

Lowest Cost, Highest Quality

  • IRI is proud to offer the highest quality training at the lowest cost available to all students and their companies.
  • Online training reduces company costs: no Hotels, Gas, High Training Class fees, or Airfare.
  • We do not resell, use affiliates or instructors to sell our courses. We sell direct to the student to keep the cost low.
  • All material you need is included in the price. No hidden fees.
Our Platform

Built for Modern Learning

100% Online

All courses are self-paced with no fixed schedule — study when you want, within your 2 years of campus access from enrollment.

Mobile Friendly

Works on phone, tablet, or desktop. Study from home or the jobsite.

Hope AI Tutor

Not generic AI — Hope is trained on 20+ years of real restoration job data. Ask her anything about the course, 24/7.

Free Proctored Final Exam

Human + AI proctored via webcam — No extra fees. Certifications are earned — not clicked through. That's what makes an IRI certification mean something.

Track Your Progress

Monitor your study progress through our tracking system as you advance through each course.

12 Languages

Available in English, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Arabic, French, Korean, Haitian Creole, and Chinese.

Our Courses

Professional Certification Programs

Water Restoration

Water damage assessment, extraction, structural drying, moisture mapping, and restoration documentation.

$299 Learn More

Fire Restoration

Fire damage assessment, smoke and odor removal, content cleaning, structural evaluation, and safety protocols.

$299 Learn More

Mold Remediation

Mold identification, containment, remediation protocols, air quality testing, and prevention strategies.

$299 Learn More

Disaster Estimation

Damage estimation, Xactimate, scope of work, insurance claims, and project management for disaster recovery.

$299 Learn More

Disaster Recovery Specialist (DRS)

Complete all 4 courses above and earn your 5th certification — Disaster Recovery Specialist — absolutely free.

Learn More

Ready to Get Started?

Join thousands of restoration professionals who have earned their IRI Disaster Recovery and Restoration training and certification. Enroll today and advance your career.

Enroll Now
Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about IRI certification courses

What is the International Restoration Institute (IRI)?

IRI is an independent online training institute that has been training restoration professionals since 2006. We offer advanced certification courses in water restoration, fire restoration, mold remediation, and disaster estimation, developed from in-field, real-world scenarios.

Is restoration training required by law?

In most states, water, fire, and mold restoration work is not required by law to be trained or certified — licensed contractors can legally perform the work without it. But that's exactly why disaster recovery and restoration training matters. Your state license proves you can do the work; real, industry-recognized training proves you know how to do it right. When customers compare restoration companies, seeing that training gives you the edge that untrained competitors don't have.

Does insurance have to pay if a contractor isn't certified?

Insurance pays for covered losses under the policy — it can't deny a covered claim just because the contractor isn't certified in restoration. Certification is voluntary, not a legal requirement. But there's an important distinction: work done by an unlicensed contractor, or faulty workmanship, can be excluded from coverage. That's why disaster recovery and restoration training matters — it shows you're taking the extra step to protect the customer, and that your company cares about restoring their property to pre-existing conditions.

Who are IRI courses designed for?

IRI courses are designed for experienced professionals with at least 1 year of experience in construction, restoration, property adjusting, or a related field. We do not offer entry-level career training courses.

How much do IRI courses cost?

Each IRI certification course is $299. All material is included in the price with no hidden fees. Complete all four courses and earn a fifth certification (Disaster Recovery Specialist) free.

Are the courses fully online?

Yes. All IRI courses are 100% online, self-paced, with no fixed schedule — study when you want, any time of day, within your 2 years of campus access from enrollment. Our courses are available 24/7 so you can study at your convenience.

Does IRI offer AI tutor support?

Yes. Every IRI page includes Hope, our AI tutor, available 24/7 to help with course questions, enrollment guidance, and study support in 12 languages.

What industries use IRI training?

IRI training courses are used by the construction, insurance, restoration, and property management industries to expand their companies' education and professional development in disaster recovery.

Is IRI affiliated with any other institute?

No. IRI is fully independent of any other institute. Our courses are developed from in-field, real-world scenarios and sold directly to students to keep costs low.
DryIQ Estimator — Beta

Estimates that hold up.
Every line. Every source.

A full estimating platform with 5,500+ catalog items, federal-source pricing, sketcher, one-click builders, AI-Check for missing items, and vision tools that read your photos. Time & material estimates convert to unit pricing automatically. Built for water, fire, mold, abatement, and disaster recovery contractors.

IRI students are first in line for beta access.

Explore the beta →

Limited beta seats · Invite-only

DryIQ pricing is proprietary — calculated from real-time inflation data. Updated monthly on the 15th.

📸

Vision-First Scoping

Photo or video to scoped estimate. Identifies walls, floors, fixtures, contents — drops catalog-exact lines.

🧠

AI-Check

Hope scans every room against 10,000+ restoration items, flags missing lines — PPE, containment, drying gear, demo, cleanup.

🏗️

One-Click Builders

Flood Cut, Containment, Drying Chamber, Lead Cover, Roof Tarp, Board-Up, Drywall Repair, Water Extraction.

📄

Print-Ready PDF

12 languages. Cover page, room-by-room line items, federal-source citations, floor-plan sketch, photo galleries, signature lines.

💰

Time & Material → Unit Pricing

Convert time & material estimates into unit pricing that banks, insurance carriers, and property managers require. No manual reformatting — DryIQ does the conversion automatically.

Best Value — Save $450

All 4 Courses — Disaster Recovery Specialist Package

WRS + MS + FRS + DES certification courses. The 5th credential — Disaster Recovery Specialist (DRS) — is included free when you complete all four.

$750.00
$1,200.00 — All 4 Courses
cards
Powered by paypal
View all packages & bundles →

IRI Menu

Restoration Courses

Restoration And Remediation Requirements By State

© 2006-2026 IRIEDU.COM. All Rights Reserved

All 4 Courses — $750
$750.00
All 4 Courses — Disaster Recovery Specialist
WRS + MS + FRS + DES · Save $450
Enroll Now
Hope
Talk to HopeAbout IRI, courses, packages, enrollment