Certification and training requirements for firms, certified renovators and employees
This domain tests who must hold which credential and what each credential covers. Questions often present a job with a certified individual but an uncertified company, or an experienced worker with no training, and ask what is wrong.
Firm certification
- The firm must be certified by EPA or by an authorized state or Tribal program. Certification runs for 5 years and requires an application and fee.
- The firm must assign a certified renovator to each job, ensure non-certified workers are trained, and retain records for 3 years.
- Firm certification is separate from renovator certification. A certified renovator working for an uncertified firm does not make the job compliant.
Renovator certification
- An individual completes an EPA-accredited 8-hour initial course with hands-on training and passes the course exam. Refresher training is 4 hours every 5 years.
- The certified renovator must perform containment setup and post-work cleaning verification, provide on-the-job training to workers, and be available during the job. The renovator may be off-site during some phases if workers are trained and can reach the renovator.
- Workers do not need individual EPA certification, but they must be trained by the certified renovator and must follow the work practices.
Training providers and records
- Training must come from an EPA-accredited provider; authorized states may impose their own approval and fees.
- Keep training certificates, firm certification, pre-renovation education documentation, test kit results, cleaning verification records, and on-the-job training records for 3 years.
Worked example
A firm’s certification expires March 1 and a job starts March 5. The assigned renovator’s certification is current and the workers are experienced. The job still violates the rule because the firm is uncertified. If the firm were certified but the renovator’s certification had lapsed, that would be a separate violation. If the renovator moves to another company, the individual certification remains valid, but the new company must be certified.
Traps that cost marks
- Assuming one credential covers both firm and individual.
- Using a 3-year refresher cycle instead of 5 years.
- Thinking experienced workers are exempt from training.
- Forgetting that an authorized state may require state certification even when the firm holds EPA certification.
- Treating the 8-hour course as online-only; hands-on training is required.