When is Lead Certification Required?
Cal/OSHA requires workers and supervisors to be certified
by the California Department of Public Health (DPH) if they
are shown
to be exposed over the lead permissible exposure limit (PEL) in public
buildings.
Also, DPH requires certification if you conduct
a
lead hazard evaluation or permanent lead paint abatement in homes or
public buildings.
Since May 1, 2000, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has required certification
if you conduct lead paint inspections, risk assessment, or abatement
in any housing or “child-occupied” facilities built before
1978.
Other EPA and U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
regulations and building owner legal
concerns also often trigger a need for certification.
For more information about Cal/OSHA requirements,
contact the district office near you. For information about DPH requirements,
go to their website, www.dhs.ca.gov/childlead or
call 1-800-597-LEAD.
How Do You Become Certified?
If you will be working in California, first decide
which DPH certification discipline is appropriate for you. (Please
see the Lead Q&A page for information
on disciplines and courses that meet the requirements for each discipline.)
Once you’ve passed the basic course, complete
the DPH certification application we give you at the course. You’ll
need to document that you meet the experience and education requirements
for that certification discipline. Then you just need to pass the state
exam for that discipline. You schedule your state exam by calling Cooperative
Personnel Services at (916) 263-3600, ext. 3057 or 3080.
U.S. EPA disciplines and courses differ a little from
the California program. You may want to call the Region IX U.S. EPA
lead training office at (415) 947-4170 for more information if you
don’t plan to work in California. Then take the basic course
required for your discipline.
If you work outside of California, you have two options.
First, and usually easiest, is to get California certification. Then
you pay a small fee to the U.S. EPA to transfer that certification
to the EPA. Our courses are approved by California DPH. Our Inspector/Assessor
and Supervisor courses are also approved by the EPA. As a second option,
graduates can apply directly to the EPA for certification if they wish.
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