EPA Lead-Safe (RRP) Certification Renewal

Firm certification: recertify every 5 years

Who needs it

All renovation, repair and painting firms (including sole proprietorships) working in housing, or facilities where children are routinely present, built before 1978. Firms apply to EPA for certification to perform renovations or dust sampling

Valid for

Five years. A firm must be re-certified by EPA every 5 years to keep its certification

When to apply

At least 90 days before the firm's current certification expires. A complete application with the correct fee, submitted 90 days or more ahead, is timely: the existing certification stays in effect until its expiration date or until EPA decides on the application, whichever is later. You are not penalized for applying early

New expiration date

For a complete, timely application: 5 years from the date the existing certification expired, regardless of when the re-certification is approved

Applying late

If a complete application goes in less than 90 days before expiration and EPA doesn't approve it before then, the certification expires and the firm can't conduct renovations until EPA approves it. An incomplete application not completed by the expiration date, or one sent after the certification expired, is treated as a new certification, with an expiration date 5 years from when it is issued

How to apply

Online: all applications, payments, updates and certificate replacement requests are done online (credit card, debit card or electronic check). EPA says processing takes a week or two (by rule it has up to 90 days to act on an application); the approval comes by email from lead.paint@epa.gov and is also sent to your CDX inbox

Fee

$300 for Renovation Firm Certification or Recertification ($20 for a tribal firm); $550 for a combined Renovation and Lead-based Paint Activities firm application; $15 for a replacement certificate

Changes

A firm must amend its certification within 90 days of a change to information in its most recent application (a name change without transfer of ownership, a new address or contact details), or it can't perform renovations until it is amended. Amending doesn't extend the expiration date. Certifications are not transferable: if the firm is sold, the new owner must submit a new initial application

Certified renovator: take the refresher before it expires

Certification

Renovators are certified upon completion of an EPA accredited renovator training course; the course completion certificate serves as their certification. The initial course is 8 hours, including 2 hours of hands-on learning

Expires

Based on when the course was taken: 5 years from the date of course completion for courses completed on or after April 1, 2011

Refresher

To remain certified, take a 4-hour refresher course before your current certification expires. Hands-on learning is required every other time you take the refresher

Online or hands-on

An online refresher (no hands-on training) certifies you for three years, and your next refresher must include hands-on training. A refresher with hands-on training certifies you for five years

If it expires

The 8-hour initial course must be taken again to regain certification

On the job

A certified renovator must have copies of their initial course completion certificate and their most recent refresher course completion certificate with them at the worksite

States that run their own RRP program

EPA's program applies everywhere EPA hasn't authorized a state, Tribe or territory to run it. These states are authorized to administer their own RRP programs in lieu of the federal program (so is the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe - Bois Forte), and contractors working there follow that state's training and certification requirements:

• Alabama
• Delaware
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Utah
• Vermont
• Washington
• Wisconsin

If you work in more than one state, you may need both EPA and state certification. This page covers the EPA certifications; each state's program sets its own renewal rules.

How to renew

1. Check who certifies you: EPA, or your state if it runs its own RRP program (see the list above). If you work only in such a state, renew with its program instead; the steps below are EPA's.
2. Find both expiration dates: the one on your firm's EPA certificate, and the one on each certified renovator's most recent course completion certificate.
3. Firm: submit the online recertification application with the fee ($300 for a renovation firm) at least 90 days before the firm's certification expires. Your new certification begins when your old one expires, so applying early costs nothing.
4. Watch for the approval email from lead.paint@epa.gov (add it to your contacts) or check your CDX inbox. EPA says processing takes a week or two.
5. Renovators: book a 4-hour refresher course with an accredited training provider before the certificate expires. If the last refresher was online, this one must include hands-on training.
6. Keep the new course completion certificate with the initial one: both go to the worksite.
7. In a state that runs its own program, its certification is what you renew there; if you work in more than one state, you may need both EPA and state certification.

Deadline checklist

• 4 months before the firm's certification expiresGather your firm details and check nothing has changed that needs an amendment.
• 90 days before the firm's certification expiresLast day for a timely recertification application: submit it, complete, with the fee ($300 for a renovation firm).
• Before each renovator's certificate expiresTake the 4-hour refresher (hands-on if the last one was online).
• After approvalSave the new firm certificate and each renovator's refresher certificate, and note the new expiration dates.

Frequently asked questions