Who can enroll?
Anyone 18 or older, anywhere in the United States. There are no prerequisites, no application to approve, and you don't need to work for or with The Cold Standard.
Which credential should I take?
If you work the floor or front desk at a facility with plunges or saunas, start with CSFA (~2 hours). If you're the lead, manager or owner responsible for the equipment, take CSFO. If you service or repair saunas, take CSST; cold plunges and chillers, CSCT. Technicians who do both plunge and sauna work often hold CSCT and CSST.
What is CSFA, and who is it for?
CSFA — Certified Facility Attendant — is the entry-level credential for every staff member who works around plunges and saunas: front desk, attendants, trainers, cleaners. It's about 2 hours of 5–10 minute lessons designed for a phone, with a 25-question, 30-minute final exam (80% to pass) and no capstone. It covers guest safety, daily checks, cleaning, emergencies and how to report a problem. It does not teach repairs. $29 at the launch price ($39 regular), or from $19 per seat with team pricing — $12 per seat at 100+ seats.
Do I need EPA 608 certification?
Not to enroll in or earn CSCT. But federal law requires EPA Section 608 certification for anyone who opens a sealed refrigerant circuit. CSCT teaches where that line is; it does not replace 608 or authorize refrigerant work.
How long does it take?
It's self-paced. Approximate seat time for the required material: CSFA about 2 hours; CSFO about 8.5 hours; CSST about 10 hours; CSCT about 20 hours of required core modules (about 28 hours including quizzes, the capstone and the exam). CSCT's Brand Reference Library and Running-the-Business modules are optional extras on top. The CSCT capstone includes a 7-day log, so plan on at least a week for that piece. Experienced people can go faster by testing out of modules, and a retake adds a wait (1 day for CSFA, 7 days for the others).
I already have experience. Do I have to sit through every lesson?
No. You can take any module's quiz before reading the lessons. Pass it with 80% or better on your first try and the module is marked complete. If you don't pass on that first try, you work through the lessons as normal (quiz retries are unlimited). Every candidate still passes the monitored final exam, and technicians still complete the capstone.
What is the final exam like? Is there a webcam?
It's a timed, multiple-choice exam taken online, drawn from a question bank to a published blueprint and graded on our servers. We call it "monitored": the timer runs continuously and browser activity such as leaving the exam tab is logged and may be reviewed. There's no webcam, ID scan or room scan. You need 80% to pass.
What if I don't pass?
You get up to three attempts per enrollment. The first two are included in tuition; the third (final) attempt is $99, with a 7-day wait between attempts (CSFA: $19 with a 1-day wait). Module quizzes have unlimited retries. If you use all three exam attempts without passing, you can re-enroll at the then-current price.
What do I receive when I pass?
A digital certificate with a unique code and QR, a public verification page showing your current status, and a digital badge you can use on your website, vehicle and social profiles under the credential-use rules. Everything is digital; nothing is shipped.
How long is it valid?
Every credential is valid for 24 months. Recertification: CSCT $149, CSST $95, CSFO $95, CSFA $19 — or $195 to recertify CSCT and CSST together if you hold the Recovery Technician bundle. After expiry, the verification page shows the credential as expired until you renew.
Is it accredited or recognized by manufacturers?
No. It's issued by The Cold Standard and isn't accredited by a third-party body or endorsed by any manufacturer. What it does give you is an assessed, publicly verifiable record of what you've learned and demonstrated — which customers and employers can check for themselves.
Will this get me jobs from The Cold Standard?
Not automatically. The credential is yours regardless. Separately, certified technicians can apply to join our service network to receive routed jobs in their area. It's a separate agreement, acceptance isn't guaranteed, and we don't promise volume.
Is the course brand-specific?
No. It covers the common architectures across the market and teaches you to read the unit in front of you. Whenever a manufacturer publishes a spec or procedure, the manufacturer's spec wins. The credential isn't a manufacturer's service authorization.
What's the refund policy?
Full refund within 7 days of purchase if you've completed less than 10% of the course and haven't started an exam. No refunds after an exam attempt starts or a certificate is issued, and promotional or complimentary seats aren't refundable. Team seats: unredeemed seats are refundable within 30 days of purchase; a seat is non-refundable once someone has joined with it. Full details are in the Certification Terms & Refund Policy.
How is my data used, including by the AI tutor?
We store your account, progress, exam and capstone records to run the program and verify your credential. The AI tutor and AI-assisted capstone scoring use Anthropic's Claude; payments go through Stripe. See the learner data section of our Privacy Policy.
Can my employer buy seats for our team?
Yes. Employers buy seats at team pricing and share one join link; staff enroll free against the team's seats, and a manager dashboard shows each person's progress and certificate status. Your credential still belongs to you if you change jobs. Manufacturers who want to point a service network here can see the partner options.