Lead Certification Requirements Every Contractor Must Know

If you're a contractor working on homes or buildings constructed before 1978, understanding lead certification requirements is crucial. Not only does it keep you compliant with federal and state regulations, but it also protects the health of your clients, your crew, and your business. Here's everything you need to know in one straight-talking guide.

 

Do You Really Need Lead Certification?

If you’re tearing out trim, sanding windows, or replacing doors in an older home, the answer is almost certainly yes.

Under the EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, anyone who disturbs painted surfaces in homes, child care facilities, or schools built before 1978 must be lead-safe certified. That includes:

  • Contractors (general and specialty trades)

  • Property managers and landlords

  • Sole proprietors or firms performing paid work

In New York, the same rules apply statewide. However, NYC imposes additional requirements under Local Law 1 for pre-1960 buildings (or pre-1978 if lead paint is known) where children under six reside. If that sounds like one of your jobs, certification isn’t optional.

 

What the Law Actually Requires

 

Training, Paperwork, and Key Rules Under EPA and NY Guidelines

To stay on the right side of the law, here’s what’s required:

1. Complete a Training Course:

  • An 8-hour EPA-accredited course that covers lead-safe work practices, containment, cleaning, and safety procedures.

  • Refresher training is required every 5 years (4 hours).

2. Certify Your Business:

  • Firms, including sole proprietors, must apply for EPA certification (good for 5 years).

3. Maintain On-Site and Post-Job Documentation:

  • Copies of training certificates for all certified renovators.

  • Signed pre-renovation education forms for occupants.

  • Paint testing results (if applicable).

  • Cleaning verification forms.

In NYC, additional paperwork is required, including annual inspection reports and post-renovation clearance exams for applicable buildings.

 

Comparison Table: Federal vs. NY Requirements

Requirement

Federal EPA Rule

New York State / NYC

Training Duration

8-hour initial, 4-hour refresher

Same

Firm Certification

Required (5-year validity)

Same

Record Retention

3 years

Same + NYC Local Law 1 reporting

Local Additions

None

NYC-specific inspections, Lead Rental Registry

Language Accessibility

Not specified

Spanish & online options available

 

 

The Cost of Skipping Certification

Lead certification isn’t just a hoop to jump through. It’s a serious legal requirement. And ignoring it? That’s expensive.

  • Federal Penalties:

    • Up to $37,500 per violation per day.

    • Criminal charges possible for falsified documents or willful violations.

  • New York City Penalties:

    • $1,500 per violation + $250 per day for unresolved hazards.

    • In 2024, one landlord was fined $150,000 for repeated violations.

  • Enforcement is Real:

    • Recent years have seen major EPA crackdowns in environmental justice communities. It’s not worth the risk.

 

How to Get Certified Fast

If you're in New York and need lead certification fast, Environmental Education Associates (EEA) is the go-to choice.

EEA offers EPA-accredited Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) training across New York State. With decades of experience and thousands of contractors trained, EEA makes it easy to stay compliant without wasting time.

What to Expect:

The initial certification course is 8 hours—part classroom instruction, part hands-on training. You’ll learn how to identify lead hazards, contain dust, follow proper documentation procedures, and clean up correctly. The course ends with a certification exam. Once you pass, you're certified for five years.

For renewal, EEA provides a 4-hour refresher course. If your certification is still valid, you can complete this online every other cycle. Expired? You'll need to retake the full 8-hour course.

Courses are offered in English and Spanish to accommodate a wider workforce.

Get started today: environmentaleducation.com

 

Common Myths or Mistakes

"I only do small jobs." Even minor repairs like sanding a window frame can trigger the 6 sq. ft. interior or 20 sq. ft. exterior threshold. If you're over that, you're required to be certified.

"One guy on my crew is certified—good enough." Wrong. A certified renovator must oversee the job and train uncertified workers in lead-safe practices on-site.

"The homeowner waived the rules." Nope. The EPA eliminated the opt-out provision in 2010. No waivers allowed.

"It's expensive and complicated." Not really. Training costs between $150–$250, and firm certification is valid for five years. It’s less than a single fine.

"I've never had a lead issue, so I don’t need to worry." Lead poisoning isn’t always visible. Prevention—not hindsight—is the law’s intent.

"My individual certification covers the company too." False. Both the individual renovator AND the firm must be certified.

"No one enforces this stuff." Tell that to the contractors hit with $400,000+ fines and jail time in recent EPA enforcement cases.

 

 

Why This Matters

Lead exposure is dangerous—especially for children, pregnant women, and construction crews working without proper protections. It doesn’t just harm health. It wrecks reputations, invites lawsuits, and drains business opportunities.

Getting certified shows clients you know what you're doing—and care enough to protect them.