Lead-Based Paint Training and Certification
To offer work on pre-1978 residential or child-occupied facilities, the firm must be certified by the State of Washington Department of Commerce Lead Paint Program. Part of the application process for firm certification requires at least one certified individual associated with that company.
Training is a required step in becoming certified, whether it is for renovation, repair and painting (RRP) activities (e.g., remodels, renovations, restorations, asbestos abatement, painting, repairs, etc.) or lead-based paint activities (e.g., lead abatement, inspections, risk assessments).
Lead-Based Paint Training Calendar
Use the calendar below to find information on Lead-Based Paint Program training. Read the Renovator Training and Lead-Based Paint Activities Training sections below the calendar for more information on training requirements and certifications.
The two Washington-accredited online RRP refresher trainers are: Accredited RRP Online Only Refresher.com (ProTech) and Real Estate Training For U. Online RRP Refresher certificates are valid for three years, and the following refresher must be in-person.
Renovator Training
RRP training and certification are for anyone working in pre-1978 residential or child-occupied facilities, regardless of whether lead-based paint is present. To become a certified renovator, an individual must take an initial renovator (RRP) course with a Washington state-accredited training provider. The initial renovator class is 8 hours. The training provider will issue you a certificate valid for five years and will be part of your required company records.
If you are a certified renovator, you must take a refresher before your certification expires. If you attend an in-person refresher course, your renovator certificate will be valid for five years. However, if you take an online refresher class with one of our two accredited online training providers, your certificate will only be valid for three years, and the following refresher class must be in-person.
Washington state-accredited training providers pay a registration fee ($25) for each individual in their class. However, if the individual took the class from an out-of-state training provider, they will need to apply for reciprocity to Washington State and pay the $25 processing fee to register their renovator certificate with Commerce. Complete
Download the RRP Individual Registration Application.
The training providers DO NOT pay the firm certification processing fee or mail in the firm application. Therefore, it is up to each company, including sole proprietors, property managers with their own maintenance and landlords (if they work on properties that are not their primary properties), general contractors, subcontractors, house flippers, and anyone who offers work for compensation on pre-1978 residential or child-occupied facilities to be a certified firm. The RRP Firm Certification is valid for five years.
Download the RRP Firm Application.
WAC 365-230-360 Certification of renovation firms.
(1) No firm may perform, offer, or claim to perform renovations for compensation any of the lead-based paint renovation activities described in WAC 365-230-330 without first being certified by the department. All certified firms shall employ only appropriately certified individuals to conduct lead-based paint renovation activities. The firm is responsible for ensuring that its employees follow the work practice requirements for renovation as described in WAC 365-230-330.
Compensation includes:
- Pay for work performed, such as that paid to contractors and subcontractors
- Wages, such as those paid to employees of contractors, building owners, property management companies, child-occupied facility operators, state and local government agencies, and non-profits
- Rent for target housing or public or commercial building space
“Certified firm” means a company, partnership, corporation, sole proprietorship, association, or other business entity that performs lead-based paint activities to which the department has issued a certificate under these rules.
**The RRP Firm certification requirement also applies to general contractors who subcontract out all the work for the project.**
Lead-Based Paint Activities Training
Lead-Based Paint Activities refer to lead-based paint inspections, risk assessments, and lead abatement (specifically, reducing or eliminating lead hazards). You can look at our LBP Activities page for more information: Lead-Based Paint Program (LBP)/Abatement. To become a certified individual for lead-based paint activities, you will need to take the specific initial training course and ensure you have completed any prerequisites that may be required for that discipline. After taking the initial course, you must complete the Individual LBP Initial Certification application. In addition, you must pass a separate state exam to become certified as an inspector, risk assessor or supervisor. Workers do not need to take a state exam but must apply for state certification.
Requirements for Each LBP Activities Discipline
- Complete the Inspector initial course by a Washington State accredited LBP Training Provider
- Complete Individual LBP Initial Certification Application
- Pass the state exam for Inspector issued by the Department of Commerce within six months of the initial training course
- Completed the Risk Assessor initial course by a Washington-accredited LBP Training Provider.
- Complete Individual LBP Initial Certification Application
- Have one of the following:
- Bachelor’s degree and one year of experience in a related field (e.g., lead, asbestos, environmental remediation, or construction); OR
- Associates degree and two years experience in a related field (e.g., lead, asbestos, environmental remediation, or construction); OR
- Certification as an industrial hygienist (CIH), an engineer, a registered architect, a certified safety professional (CSP), a registered sanitarian, or a registered environmental specialist; OR
- High school diploma (or equivalent) and at least three years of experience in related fields (e.g., lead, asbestos, environmental remediation, or construction)
- Pass the State exam for Risk Assessor issued by the Department of Commerce within six months of the initial training course
- Completed the Supervisor initial course by a Washington State accredited LBP Training Provider
- Complete Individual LBP Initial Certification Application
- One year of experience as a certified lead-based paint abatement worker OR at least two years of experience in a related field (e.g., lead, asbestos, or environmental remediation)
- Pass the state exam for Supervisor issued by the Department of Commerce within six months of the initial training course
- Completed the Worker initial course by a Washington State accredited LBP Training Provider
- Complete Individual LBP Initial Certification Application
If the individual took the initial class with an out-of-state training provider, they would need to complete their initial certification with that state or EPA and apply for reciprocity to Washington. The application can be found here. The Washington certificate issued will use the same expiration date as the certificate presented.
If the individual is certified in another state or with EPA and seeks certification to work in Washington, the individual will need to apply for reciprocity. The LBP Reciprocity Registration application can be downloaded from here. The Washington certificate issued will use the same expiration date as the certificate presented.
Individuals currently certified in Washington and seeking recertification can take a refresher in that specific discipline from an accredited training provider (Washington state, another authorized state or EPA), download the Individual LBP Recertification Application and apply for recertification.
**If the Individual certification issued by Commerce is expired before a refresher class is taken, the individual will need to retake the initial LBP course and go through the steps of initial certification.**
There is no grace period for LBP state certification. Therefore, to recertify in Washington state, you must take a refresher class in that specific discipline from an accredited training provider in Washington, EPA or an authorized state in that particular discipline before your Washington state certification expires. Then, apply with the Individual LBP Recertification Application. If your Washington certification is expired, you will need to retake the initial class and apply for initial LBP certification unless you are currently certified by EPA or another authorized state. Then, you will only have to apply for LBP Reciprocity Registration.
**You must be certified by Commerce as an LBP Firm to offer LBP work in Washington.**
Program Links
Resources
Resources for Training Providers
Applications
Program Contacts
Email: LBPInfo@Commerce.wa.gov
Compliance and Enforcement, Training Accreditation
Jennifer Caraway
Email: Jennifer.Caraway@Commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 509-220-0058 | 360-725-2813
Certifications
Dano Summers
Email: Dano.Summers@Commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-259-5215 | 360-725-5088
Program Manager
Cynthia Sanderson
Email: Cynthia.Sanderson@Commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-725-2941