Licensing of Abatement Firms, Individuals, and Accredited Course Providers
Domain 3: Licensing of Abatement Firms, Individuals, and Accredited Course Providers
This domain separates three credentials that are easy to blur: the firm license, the individual accreditation, and the course-provider accreditation. The exam tests who may hold each, what training supports it, and why one credential does not cover another.
Firm license
An abatement contractor must hold a current Nebraska abatement firm license issued by DHHS. The application identifies the firm, ownership, responsible persons, and required insurance or financial information; fees must accompany it. The license is not transferable to another entity or shell company. A firm must use accredited workers and supervisors and must keep project records.
Individual accreditation
Workers, supervisors, inspectors, management planners, and project designers need accredited training and Nebraska accreditation. Initial worker training is typically 32 hours; supervisor training is 40 hours; inspector, management planner, and project designer courses have separate hour requirements under the EPA model accreditation plan. Annual refresher training is required to keep accreditation current. A supervisor must be present on abatement projects as required by the rule. Out-of-state training may satisfy the course prerequisite only if it meets the model plan, but the person still needs Nebraska accreditation before working.
Course providers
Providers seeking to teach initial or refresher courses must be accredited by Nebraska or meet accepted EPA criteria and use approved curricula, qualified instructors, examinations, and recordkeeping. Provider approval does not automatically qualify every instructor or every branch office.
Worked example
A firm has a valid license and a supervisor whose refresher expired three weeks ago. The firm cannot cure the problem by having the supervisor 'work under' another supervisor; the individual is not currently accredited. The firm must replace the supervisor with a current accredited supervisor or delay the project, and the supervisor must complete refresher training and renew accreditation.
Traps that cost marks
Do not treat a firm license as a worker certificate, assume a course certificate equals Nebraska accreditation, or let a refresher lapse. Do not let an unaccredited instructor teach a required course.