The International Association of Certified Thermographers was founded in 2006 in response to the need for objective and cohesive information on the professional uses of thermography. The IACT provides this level of integrity to the public, governmental agencies, and thermographers worldwide.
The IACT is a place where anyone can find a qualified thermographer and receive trustworthy information on thermography. The IACT is the first and only non-profit membership association that brings together the three major thermal imaging disciplines.
Why There's a Need
With the growing number of people acquiring thermal cameras, there needs to be a way for the public and governmental agencies to locate accurate information and a credentialed thermographer. There is a tremendous amount of misinformation found on the internet. Most of this coming from poorly trained thermographers and groups that have been formed to profit from selling substandard imaging systems. In an effort to provide a solution, the IACT brings together vetted members and experts in this field.
The International Association of Certified Thermographers provides:
- Service to its members. Serving its members with education, information, and ethical notoriety.
- Service to the public. By having a reference point for the consumer (individuals and business alike) to find a qualified thermographer with the appropriate training and imaging equipment. This helps to create consumer confidence in the thermal imaging field.
- Service to governmental agencies. By providing a source of research backed standards and guidelines, and promoting the highest level of certification integrity, the IACT is poised to work closely with governmental agencies to create state and federal guidelines.
- Service to the science of thermography. Public awareness of this science is in its infancy. Educating the public with unbiased information about the importance of thermography will allow the profession to grow and flourish with integrity. The IACT promotes educating the public through science museum exhibits, grants, scholarships, and lobbying for state and/or federally recognized certifications for the various disciplines of thermography.
Mission
To build consumer awareness of the importance of infrared thermography in all three areas on which we focus (building sciences, condition monitoring, and medical applications) and to enhance the professionalism of current and future thermographers.
The IACT is primarily composed of three areas of membership. At the present time, thermography is most commonly encountered by the public in these three main areas:
- Building Sciences: The art of identifying shapes, colors, and variations in an infrared image; primarily looking for a change in pattern rather than concentrating on specific temperature differences. Examples include residential and commercial building inspections, moisture intrusion, etc.
- Condition Monitoring: The science of reading the differences in temperature to predict and prevent problems before they occur. Examples include electrical, mechanical, and HVAC applications in manufacturing plants and factories, transformer and power line inspections, etc.
- Clinical Thermography: Medical infrared imaging is ideal for clinical applications where a thermal analysis of the surface of the body would benefit the patient in both diagnosis and treatment. The primary areas of clinical use fall under the categories of breast health, vascular pathology, sports injury management, and the identification of the causes of undiagnosed pain.
Goals
- Education: Keeping thermographers up to date on the latest scientific advances in the field of thermography.
– Unbiased information on what imaging equipment will best suit the prospective thermographer’s needs.
– Unbiased information on what educational courses would best meet their needs.
– Unbiased information on how to grow their thermography businesses.
- Scholarships: Establishing a fund for the best and brightest in the areas of engineering, architecture, and health care.
- Lobbying: Petitioning for state and/or federally recognized certifications for the various disciplines of thermography.
– This would include having the appropriate imaging equipment to ethically accomplish the work that the thermographer is offering.
- Recognition: When the public sees the IACT symbol they can trust that they have chosen the very best.
Code of Ethics
All certified members of the IACT are expected to adhere to the following code of ethics.
Article 1: Thermographers and thermographic technicians shall act in good faith toward each client, patient, and other interested parties.
- Thermographers and thermographic technicians shall perform services based on known evidence and only within their areas of education, training, or experience.
- Thermographers and thermographic technicians shall be objective in their reporting and not knowingly understate or overstate the significance of reported conditions of buildings, operating equipment, or individuals.
- Thermographers and thermographic technicians shall not disclose investigation results or client/patient information without client/patient approval. Thermographers, at their discretion, may disclose observed immediate safety/health hazards to clients or persons involved/exposed to such hazards, when feasible. Thermographers and thermographic technicians in the health care field shall abide by HIPAA guidelines with regard to PHI.
Article 2: Thermographers and thermographic technicians shall avoid activities that may harm the public, discredit themselves, or reduce public confidence in the profession.
- Advertising, marketing, and promotion of thermographers’ and thermographic technicians’ services or qualifications shall not be fraudulent, false, deceptive, or misleading.
- Members of this Association shall report substantive and willful violations of the Code to the Association.