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“EPA certification” is not a single credential. The Environmental Protection Agency regulates several different kinds of work, and each one has its own certification, its own rules, and its own audience. So the first real question is which EPA certification you actually need. This guide breaks down the main ones used in New York, who needs each, and how to get them, including which ones Environmental Education Associates trains for and which ones we do not.
Section 608 certification is required for technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of stationary air conditioning and refrigeration equipment that contains regulated refrigerants. It comes in four types: Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure systems), Type III (low-pressure systems), and Universal (all three). A Section 608 technician certification does not expire.
Environmental Education Associates does not offer Section 608 training. The EPA certifies 608 technicians through approved certifying organizations. You can find an approved program through the EPA Section 608 Technician Certification page.
Section 609 certification covers servicing the air conditioning systems in cars and light trucks. It is a separate credential from 608, handled through EPA-approved organizations, and it does not expire. EEA does not offer Section 609 training.
The EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule requires certification for anyone paid to disturb painted surfaces in housing or child-occupied facilities built before 1978. It is an 8-hour accredited course and the certification is valid for 5 years. If you are a contractor, painter, plumber, electrician, or property manager working on older buildings, this is usually the “EPA certification” you actually need. See EPA lead renovator (RRP) certification for requirements and how to get certified, or browse all lead certification courses.
Match the certification to the work, not the job title:
Contractors often say they need an “EPA license,” but the EPA issues certifications, not licenses. An EPA certification is granted through an EPA-accredited provider, is required by federal law for specific work, and is recognized in all 50 states. In New York, some roles need a state credential on top of the federal one: lead inspectors, risk assessors, and abatement workers also hold a NYS Department of Health license, and asbestos and mold work is licensed through the state separately. So “getting your EPA license” usually means earning the federal EPA certification for your work, plus any New York State license your role requires.
For lead work, New York follows the federal RRP rule, and New York City adds its own layer through Local Law 1 and HPD enforcement. See NYC Local Law 31 for the testing and compliance rules that affect property owners. For asbestos and mold, New York requires separate state certification through the NYS Department of Labor and Department of Health, which is distinct from any EPA credential.
EEA has certified New York’s environmental workforce since 1992. We are an EPA-accredited provider for lead RRP, and a NYSDOL and NYSDOH-accredited provider for asbestos and mold certification, along with OSHA and hazmat training. We do not provide Section 608 or 609 refrigerant certification. If you need lead, asbestos, mold, or OSHA certification in New York, see our upcoming course schedule.
EPA certification is not one credential. It is a group of federal certifications for different work: Section 608 for refrigerant and HVAC work, Section 609 for vehicle air conditioning, and the lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) certification for disturbing paint in pre-1978 buildings. Which one you need depends on the work you perform.
It depends on the type. EPA Section 608 and 609 technician certifications are issued for life and do not expire. EPA lead RRP certification is valid for 5 years and is renewed with a refresher course.
The most common are Section 608 (with Type I, Type II, Type III, and Universal levels for refrigerant work), Section 609 (vehicle air conditioning), and lead RRP certification. Lead inspector and risk assessor are related EPA-accredited credentials for evaluating lead-based paint.
It depends on the certification. For Section 608 or 609, you test through an EPA-approved certifying organization. For EPA lead RRP, you complete an 8-hour course with an accredited provider such as EEA and receive certification valid for 5 years.
No. EEA provides EPA lead RRP certification plus asbestos, mold, and OSHA training. For Section 608 or 609 refrigerant certification, use an EPA-approved provider listed on the EPA website.
Andrew J. McLellan, President & Founder, Environmental Education Associates
Andrew McLellan founded EEA in 1992 and has served as training director for all accredited programs across lead, asbestos, mold, and OSHA disciplines. With 34 years in environmental and safety training, including collaboration with SUNY Buffalo’s Toxicology Research Center, he has overseen the certification of tens of thousands of New York professionals. Learn more about EEA.
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