Instructions for Training Providers Applying for Accreditation
This page provides information for training providers on how to apply to the EPA for accreditation or reaccreditation for initial and/or refresher training courses developed for both the Lead-based Paint Activities and the Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) programs. Under EPA’s Lead-based Paint Activities and RRP programs individuals may get certified in several different disciplines, which include:
- Under the Lead-based Paint Activities program individuals may be certified as: inspectors, supervisors, risk assessors, project designers or abatement workers; and
- Under the RRP program individuals may be certified as: renovators and dust sampling technicians.
Please note that you must apply separately for each application type (i.e., initial accreditation, reaccreditation, amending accreditation, or replacement of a certificate). For example, if you are applying for initial accreditation to teach the lead RRP renovator and dust sampling technician courses, and reaccreditation in two lead-based paint activities disciplines you must submit two separate online applications, one for the initial accreditation and a second for the reaccreditation.
EPA offers training provider accreditation in states, U.S. territories, and tribes where EPA directly implements the Lead-based Paint Activities Program and/or RRP Program. If EPA does not administer the accreditation program in an area you wish to conduct training, you must apply directly to that state, territory, or tribe for accreditation.
On this page you will find instructions for applying for accreditation or reaccreditation, including:
- How to apply for initial accreditation
- How to train via video conference and/or video recording
- How to train via electronic learning (e-learning) format
- How to apply for reaccreditation
- How to amend your application
- How to replace a certificate
- Incomplete applications
- Fee schedules
- EPA’s accreditation fees refund policy
How to Apply for Initial Accreditation
To apply for accreditation as a training provider for EPA’s lead-based paint initial and/or refresher training courses you must first complete the online Accreditation Application for Training Providers in the EPA’s Central Data Exchange (CDX) and also pay the applicable fee(s). Be prepared with the following materials, which are required to be submitted during the online application process:
- Provide education, experience, and other documents for the training program manager and principal instructor(s).
- You must indicate that the training program manager and principal instructor(s) meet certain education, training and work experience requirements. You must also submit supporting documentation regarding the qualifications, such as resumes or transcripts, with your online application.
- Provide the following for each course for which you apply
- Description of training facilities and hands-on training equipment:
- Provide a detailed description of each facility to be used for the lecture, course test, hands-on training and skills assessment activities including a floor diagram and room dimensions. If you plan to provide training at non-permanent facilities (like a hotel, or any facility you do not own or maintain) then, in addition to the above, submit a description of the criteria you will use when selecting a facility.
- Provide an inventory of all training materials that will be used to conduct hands-on activities for each course for which you are applying, or a note indicating that the materials will be used for more than one course.
- Provide a copy of the course test blueprint (a written document identifying the proportion of course test questions devoted to each major topic in the course curriculum) for each course for which you are applying:
- For an initial course, the course test blueprint should use the course topics established in 745.225(d) to identify the proportion of course test questions which should be devoted to each topic.
- For a refresher course, the course test blueprint should use the course topics established in 745.225(e)(1) to identify the proportion of course test questions which should be devoted to each topic.
- Course tests developed by EPA are available for both the initial and refresher renovator courses.
- Description of the activities and procedures for conducting the hands-on skills assessment:
- Include a description of the activities and procedures that will be used for conducting the assessment of hands-on skills for each course for which you are applying. This should include:
- The list of hands-on topics covered in the course;
- The activities performed for each hands-on topic; and
- The method to determine the trainee’s ability to perform each of the hands-on activities.
- Class size should be limited to 25, with a maximum of 6 students per instructor during the hands-on exercises. Should you plan on class sizes exceeding 25, or having a higher student/instructor ratio, then provide an explanation as to how you plan to adequately observe and direct hands-on activities. You need to conduct your classes using the class size and hands-on ratios that are approved with your application. If you want to change them you need to contact the regional office that approved your application.
- Include a description of the activities and procedures that will be used for conducting the assessment of hands-on skills for each course for which you are applying. This should include:
- Provide a copy of the quality control (QC) plan(s), described in 40 CFR § 745.225(c)(9). The plan should contain at least the following elements:
- Procedures for periodic revision of training materials and the course test to reflect innovations in the field and regulatory changes made by EPA.
- Procedures for the training manager's annual review of principal instructor competency. In situations where the training manager and principal instructor are the same person, an objective review of the principal instructor’s performance is not possible. In such a case, alternative evaluation methods should be discussed (i.e., student evaluations & feedback, peer review, etc.).
- For Renovator and Dust Sampling Technician disciplines, an acknowledgement that the trainer understands and will comply with the following items (these items are described in detail in the Instructions for Accredited RRP Training Providers page.):
- Notification requirements and digital photograph submission instructions
- Recordkeeping requirements; and
- Course completion certificate requirements and unique identification number protocol.
- Description of training facilities and hands-on training equipment:
- Provide the following for the course materials you will use:
- EPA model training materials. Enclose a copy of the first five pages of the instructor and student manuals that are being used for each course for which you’ve applied.
- Curriculum approved by an EPA-authorized state/tribe or curriculum you developed on your own. For all course materials that are not EPA model training courses enclose a complete copy of the student and instructor manuals, or other materials to be used, for each course for which you’ve applied. Additionally, provide a copy of the agenda for each course.
Note: When applying for accreditation of a course in a language other than English, include a signed statement from a qualified, independent translator that the course was compared to the English language version and found to be accurate.
How to Train Via Video Conference and/or Video Recording
If you plan to provide training using a video conference and/or video recording of lecture materials, please include information on how you plan to conduct the training in your QC plan. Your QC plan should explain how the course will be delivered and how the video conference technology and/or video recordings will be used in the course delivery. The list below contains examples of the information to be included in the QC plan:
- The course(s) that will use video conferencing;
- A list of equipment that will be used for each skill set;
- Description of how the instructors and students will interact during the training;
- The location of the instructor during the training;
- The number of students expected at each site;
- Materials that will be distributed;
- Description of how the course test and hands-on skills assessment will be conducted;
- Description of how student photos will be taken;
- Site selection criteria for non-permanent training sites; and/or
- Any other pertinent information.
The hands-on portion of the training must be done using the proper equipment for each skill set. The hands-on portion and the course test should be given with a principal instructor or guest instructor physically present. The principal instructor is primarily responsible for teaching the course materials and must be present to provide instruction (or oversight of portions of the course taught by guest instructors) for the course for which the individual has been designated the principal instructor. The principal instructor’s only involvement in the course cannot be a video recording.
If you have already received accreditation to perform classroom training and want to conduct training by video conference and/or video recording, you should submit an amended training provider application online indicating such and forward an updated QC plan. Please note in section H (“additional information”) of the online application that you are amending your accreditation to include delivery by video conference. You do not need to submit a fee with your amendment.
How to Train Via Electronic Learning (e-learning) Format
To offer e-learning, you must first read the implementation guidelines document Model Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule E-learning Course Component Implementation Requirements, which describes the implementation and learning management system requirements for providing e-learning content.
In your QC plan, you must describe how you will meet each requirement set forth in this document. If you do not fully address all of the requirements your application will be considered incomplete and you will be required to provide additional information potentially delaying the approval process. The QC plan must include a web address, and username and password that EPA can access the e-learning course content so it can be reviewed and audited. This applies whether you are using your own curriculum or using the EPA model e-learning curriculum.
EPA has 180 days to approve or disapprove a complete request for e-learning accreditation. Applications using alternative courses rather than EPA’s model e-learning course are reviewed on a first come, first served basis, and will not be considered complete until a review of course content and adherence to the e-learning course component specifications is approved by EPA. Note: Since each course is unique, the review of alternate e-learning courses takes considerably longer than those using the EPA model e-learning files.
If you are applying to offer only e-learning modules with no in-class presentation of the lecture material, you must indicate whether you will use permanent or non-permanent training facilities for the required hands-on training activities, in-person hands-on skills assessment and in-person final exam.
How to Apply for Reaccreditation
All training course accreditations expire every four (4) years. To ensure your training program will be reaccredited before your current accreditation expires, you must submit your reaccreditation application online no later than 180 days before the expiration date.
To apply for reaccreditation, complete the application online, which includes attaching the following materials:
- Qualifications of the training program manager;
- Qualifications of the principal instructor(s); and
- A description of any changes to the training facility, equipment or course materials since your last application was approved that adversely affects the students' ability to learn.
How to Amend an Application
If information included in your most recent application to EPA changes, you have 90 days to amend your accreditation. If an amendment is not submitted within 90 days, you may not provide training until your accreditation is amended. Amending an application is done online using CDX. When adding a permanent training location, you need to submit a photo(s) of the lecture area, a photo(s) of each hands-on area and a diagram of the training facilities including dimensions.
If the amendment includes a new training program manager, any new principal instructor(s), or any new permanent training location(s), the training provider is not permitted to provide training under the new training program manager or offer courses taught by any new principal instructor(s) or at the new training location(s) until EPA either approves the amendment or if EPA does not disapprove the amendment within 30 days, whichever occurs earlier. Except:
- If the amendment includes a new training program manager or principal instructor that was already approved under another EPA training program accreditation, the training provider may provide training under the new training program manager or offer courses taught by the new principal instructor on an interim basis as soon as the provider submits the amendment to EPA. The training provider may continue to provide training under the new training program manager or offer courses taught by the new principal instructor if EPA approves the amendment or if EPA does not disapprove the amendment within 30 days.
- If the amendment includes a new permanent training location, the training provider may begin to provide training at the new permanent training location on an interim basis as soon as the provider submits the amendment to EPA. The training provider may continue to provide training at the new permanent training location if EPA approves the amendment or if EPA does not disapprove the amendment within 30 days.
How to Replace a Certificate
Requests for certificate replacement are done online using CDX. There is a $15 fee for the replacement of a certificate.
Incomplete Applications
If any components of your application are missing, your application will become inactive for a period not to exceed 30 days until the application is made complete. If you do not complete your application, EPA will disapprove the application package. You may apply again with a complete package. Please call 1-800-424-LEAD to see if your application is complete.
Fee Schedule
The fee(s) for applying for accreditation, reaccreditation, and other requests are listed in the following schedule. When submitting your application, payment must be completed online in CDX using a credit card, debit card or electronic check.
Course | Accreditation Fee | Reaccreditation Fee | |
Lead-based Paint Activities Initial Course |
|||
Inspector | $870 | $620 | |
Supervisor | $870 | $620 | |
Risk Assessor | $870 | $620 | |
Project Designer | $870 | $620 | |
Abatement Worker (English) | $870 | $620 | |
Abatement Worker (non-English) | $870 | $620 | |
Lead-based Paint Activities Refresher Course | |||
Inspector | $690 | $580 | |
Supervisor | $690 | $580 | |
Risk Assessor | $690 | $580 | |
Project Designer | $690 | $580 | |
Abatement Worker (English) | $690 | $580 | |
Abatement Worker (non-English) | $690 | $580 | |
RRP Initial Course | |||
Renovator | $560 | $340 | |
Renovator Course in a language other than English | $560 | $340 | |
Renovator Course in an E-learning Format | $560 | $340 | |
Renovator Course in an E-learning Format in a Language Other Than English | $560 | $340 | |
Dust Sampling Technician | $560 | $340 | |
Dust Sampling Technician Course in a language other than English | $560 | $340 | |
Dust Sampling Technician Course in an E-learning Format | $560 | $340 | |
RRP Refresher Course | |||
Renovator | $400 | $310 | |
Renovator Course in a language other than English | $400 | $310 | |
Renovator Course in an E-learning Format | $400 | $310 | |
Dust Sampling Technician | $400 | $310 | |
Dust Sampling Technician Course in a language other than English | $400 | $310 | |
Dust Sampling Technician Course in an E-learning Format | $400 | $310 | |
Replacement Certificate | $15 |
EPA’s Accreditation Fees Refund Policy
Training programs that have submitted an application and associated fees for accreditation or reaccreditation and wish to withdraw their application prior to Agency approval will receive a fee refund based upon the schedule listed below. Training programs requesting a refund more than 10 days after the Agency receives the application will receive only a partial refund.
Number of Days Following Agency Receipt of Application | Percent Reimbursable (based upon total fees submitted) |
Up to 10 days | 100% |
11 to 60 days | 75% |
61 to 120 days | 50% |
121 or more days | 25% |
Refunds will only be made after EPA verifies fee receipt and deposit by the U.S. Treasury. Training programs must notify the Agency in writing in order to qualify for a refund. The date of withdrawal is the date the Agency receives the withdrawal notification. EPA will not refund fees after granting a training program accreditation or reaccreditation. Refunds are granted only on a per discipline basis. Therefore, training programs must withdraw their applications for a particular discipline on the application. If your application is disapproved, EPA will not refund fees. Refunds are not available for replacing a certificate. Refund and withdrawal requests must be sent to the following address:
U.S. EPA
P.O. Box 14417
Washington, DC 20044-4417
Have a Question?
If you have questions about applying for accreditation and/or maintaining your RRP training provider accreditation, please visit: