To offer work on pre-1978 residential or child-occupied facilities, a firm must be certified by Commerce’s Lead-Based Paint Program. Part of the application process for certification requires at least one certified individual who is associated with your organization.
Training is required to becoming certified
You must receive training to become LBP or RRP certified. whether it is for:
- Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP)
- Remodels
- Renovations
- Restorations
- Asbestos abatement
- Painting
- Repairs
- Lead-Based Paint Activities
- Lead abatement
- Inspections
- Risk assessments
You can take LBPA and RRP program trainings either online or in-person.
Finding a training provider
Find a lead-based paint training near you.
- Review the lead-based paint training schedule (Box).
Chelan/Grant Counties
Clark County
King County
- Leadclasses.com (also offers Spanish RRP classes)
- NVL Labs (also offers LBPA classes)
- Cole & Associates (also offers LBPA classes)
- NOW Environmental
Kitsap County
Pierce/Thurston County
Snohomish County
- Terracon (also offers Spanish RRP classes and LBPA classes)
- Real Estate Training For U
Spokane County
- Leadclasses.com (also offers Spanish RRP classes)
- NOW Environmental
- Kyron Environmental
- NICA
Tri-Cities/Yakima County
- NICA
- Leadclasses.com (also offers Spanish RRP classes)
- American Safety
Whatcom County
The two Washington-accredited online RRP refresher trainers are:
Online RRP Refresher certificates are valid for 3 years, and the next refresher must be in-person. In-person training results in a certificate that is valid for 5 years.
RRP renovator training
RRP training and certification are for people who work 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 RRP course with a Washington state-accredited training provider. The initial renovator class is 8 hours long. The training provider will issue you a certificate, which is valid for 5 years and required for your 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 an additional 5 years. However, if you take an online refresher class, your certificate will only be valid for three years and the following refresher class must be taken in-person.
- Download the RRP Firm Application (PDF)
- Download the RRP Individual Registration Application (PDF)
- This application is required if you have taken a class outside of or not accredited by WA state
Training providers do not pay the firm certification processing fee or mail in your application. 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 is compensated for working on pre-1978 residential or child-occupied facilities to be a certified firm.
(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 all the work for the project.
LBPA training
Lead-Based Paint Activities refer to lead-based paint inspections, risk assessments, and lead abatement (specifically, reducing or eliminating lead hazards).
To become a certified individual for lead-based paint activities, you need to take the specific initial training course and complete all prerequisites that may be required.
After taking the initial course, you must:
- Complete the Individual LBPA Initial Certification application (PDF)
- Pass a separate state exam to become certified as an inspector, risk assessor or supervisor.
Workers must also apply for state certification but do not need to take a state exam.
Certification requirements
- Complete the Inspector initial course by a Washington State accredited LBP training provider
- Complete Individual LBPA Initial Certification Application (PDF)
- Pass the state exam for Inspector issued by the WA Department of Commerce within six months of the initial training course
- Complete the Risk Assessor initial course by a Washington-accredited LBP training provider
- Complete Individual LBPA Initial Certification Application (PDF)
- 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 6 months of completing the initial training course
- Complete the supervisor’s initial course by a Washington State accredited LBP training provider
- Complete Individual LBPA Initial Certification Application (PDF)
- 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 Supervisors issued by the Department of Commerce within 6 months of the initial training course
- Completed the Worker initial course by a Washington State accredited LBP training provider
- Complete Individual LBPA Initial Certification Application (PDF)
If the individual took the initial class with an out-of-state training provider, they need to complete their initial certification with that state or EPA and apply for reciprocity to Washington. 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 Washington certificate issued will use the same expiration date as the certificate presented.
Recertification
LBPA recertification
There is no grace period for LBPA state certification.
To recertify in Washington state, you must take a refresher class in that specific discipline from an accredited training provider in WA, either from the EPA or from an authorized state provider before your certification expires. After you complete the refresher class, apply with the Individual LBPA Recertification Application (PDF).
If your Washington state certification is expired, you will need to retake the initial class and apply for initial LBPA certification.
If your Washington certification is expired but you are currently certified by the EPA or another authorized state, then you only have to apply for LBPA Reciprocity Registration.
You must be certified by Commerce as an LBPA Firm to offer LBPA work in Washington.
RRP applications
- RRP Firm Certification and Recertification Application (PDF)
- RRP Individual Registration Application (PDF)