Training and Certification for Lead-Based Paint Activities
General Information
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines lead-based paint activities as inspection, risk assessment, or abatement of lead in target housing. Target housing is residential housing built prior to 1978. Also covered are pre-1978 child-occupied facilities, such as day care centers, preschools, and kindergarten classrooms.
Firm Certification
EPA certifies private firms, public housing agencies, local and state government agencies, and non-profit organizations that perform or offer to perform lead-based paint services. In addition to larger firms and agencies, small firms (including sole proprietor firms) must be certified in order to perform lead abatement activities. Even if you are the owner and only employee of your firm doing lead abatement work, you must be certified as a firm as well as an individual - see individual certification below.
Individual Certification
EPA also certifies individuals of the above organizations. Individuals certified in the following 5 categories must work for certified firms, agencies, or non-profit organizations. This includes small and sole proprietor businesses as noted above.
Inspector: Conducts surface-by-surface investigations to determine the presence of lead-based paint in buildings before, during and after lead-based paint work. Performs inspections, clearance testing after abatement, samples paint, dust and soil, prepares reports explaining results of investigations.
Risk Assessor: Performs all the duties of an Inspector, and in addition, evaluates the types and severity of lead-based paint hazards before, during and after lead-based paint work. Performs inspections, lead hazard screens, risk assessments, clearance testing after abatement, samples paint, dust and soil, interprets sample testing results, explains options for reducing lead-based paint hazards.
Abatement Project Designer: Oversees and evaluates lead-based paint abatement work to ensure that contract plans and specifications are followed. Prepares abatement project designs, occupant protection plans, and abatement reports.
Abatement Supervisor: Implements and supervises lead-based paint abatement work practices. Notifies EPA of the start of abatement projects. Prepares occupant protection plans and abatement reports.
Abatement Worker: Performs lead-based paint abatement work under the direction of a certified Abatement Supervisor. Adheres to work practice standards.
For firms, agencies, or organizations that are not yet certified, and that have employees applying for individual certification, it is recommended that applications for both firm and individual certification be submitted at the same time to minimize the likelihood of a lag time between individual and firm certification, which would prevent the individuals from performing lead-based paint activities.
Cost of Lead-Based Paint Services
The EPA does not keep information on the rates charged by certified firms and professionals. Costs will vary depending on the firm and the type of work to be done. EPA recommends obtaining cost estimates from more than one certified lead-based paint firm/individual.
Applications for EPA Certification
Mailing Applications
Applicants can now mail their application payment in one package to one address. If mailing an application and payment together or only a payment it should be sent to:
US Environmental Protection Agency
Washington Financial Management Center
Lead Program User Fees
PO Box 360277M
Pittsburgh, PA 15251
If only mailing in an application or missing information, send it to:
US Environmental Protection Agency
LBP Notification
PO Box 14417
Washington, DC 20044-4417
To download forms, applications, instructions, and regulations for certification, go to EPA's national Training, Cerification, and Accreditation web page, http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/traincert.htm .
On-line Application and Payment for Firm Certification
Firms can now apply and pay on-line to become certified to conduct lead-based paint activities. The process to apply and pay can be completed within 20-30 minutes. The application information can be located on the website http://cdx.epa.gov under "Lead in the News" and under "Training and Certification" . Upon completion of the registration process, firms will be able to access the on-line application form and submit payment.
EPA Certified Lead-Based Paint Firms and EPA Accredited Training Providers and Courses
State Certification Programs - Both Oregon and Washington states have EPA-authorized certification and accreditation programs. Washington State's certification and accreditation program was recently authorized on June 10, 2004.
Related Links
Revised Abatement Worker Course
EPA's revised English version, and a new Spanish version of the lead-based paint abatement worker model training course materials are now available on the EPA Lead Program website. For each language, there are three documents: the instructor and student manuals (in pdf format), and the overheads (in MSPowerPoint format).
Lead Safe Training - a one day no-cost Lead-Based Paint Training Program for Renovators and Remodelers sponsored by the National Paint and Coatings Association (NAPCA).
National Technical Information Services (NTIS) - EPA has developed the following training courses to provide instruction regarding lead-safe work practices during renovation, remodeling, rehabilitation, maintenance, sampling/evaluation, and abatement. For your convenience several of the courses are available online with links provided below. The model abatement courses, however, are currently only available for purchase through the National Technical Information Services (NTIS) at 1-800-553-NTIS(6847) or on the Internet at www.ntis.gov/
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