Asbestos Licenses, Certifications & Training
Working with asbestos isn’t a job you can learn on the fly. Federal rules set minimum training for asbestos workers, supervisors, inspectors and designers, and most states add their own licenses, exams and fees. This page explains the main credentials, how much training each takes, and how to get licensed in your state.
- Abatement
- Inspectors
- Contractors
- Maintenance
- California
- Florida
- Idaho
- New Jersey
- Wyoming
Part of our asbestos deep dive: Asbestos basics · Asbestos laws explained · Rules by state · For homeowners
Accreditation vs. license vs. certification
- Accreditation usually means you completed an EPA- or state-approved training course and passed its exam. It’s the federal baseline.
- A state license or certification is issued by your state agency after you show your training, pass any state exam and pay a fee. Most states require it to work on asbestos projects.
- A company or contractor license is issued to the business. Many states require the company to be licensed in addition to its workers.
The names vary by state (license, certificate, permit, accreditation, card), but the idea is the same: trained, approved people only.
The five EPA disciplines
EPA’s Model Accreditation Plan (MAP) sets the minimum initial training and annual refresher training for five asbestos disciplines. Accreditation under MAP is required for work in schools and in public and commercial buildings, and states build their licensing on it.
| Discipline | What they do | Initial course | Annual refresher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abatement worker | Removes, encapsulates or encloses asbestos under a supervisor | 4 days (32 hours), with hands-on training | 1 day (8 hours) |
| Contractor/supervisor | Runs abatement projects and supervises workers; often serves as the OSHA competent person | 5 days (40 hours), with hands-on training | 1 day (8 hours) |
| Inspector | Surveys buildings, collects samples and identifies asbestos materials | 3 days (24 hours) | Half day (4 hours) |
| Management planner | Writes asbestos management plans, mainly for schools | Inspector course plus 2 days (16 hours) | Inspector refresher plus half day |
| Project designer | Writes abatement specifications and designs projects | 3-day designer course (24 hours) or the 5-day supervisor course | 1 day (8 hours) |
- Courses end with an exam. A passing score of 70% is standard.
- Accreditation is good for one year from the course date. Take the refresher before it expires. If you let it lapse too long, you’ll have to retake the full initial course.
- Keep your certificates. States ask for copies of every initial and refresher certificate.
Other asbestos credentials
| Credential | What it’s for |
|---|---|
| Project monitor or air monitoring technician | Monitors abatement work and collects air samples, including clearance samples. Many states license this separately. |
| Asbestos consultant | Licensed in some states (such as California and Florida) to do surveys, design and project oversight |
| Site surveillance technician (California) | Works under a certified asbestos consultant to monitor projects |
| Asbestos safety technician (New Jersey) | Monitors projects in buildings covered by New Jersey’s asbestos subcode |
| Operations and maintenance (O&M) training | 16-hour course for maintenance workers who may disturb small amounts of asbestos during repairs (OSHA Class III work) |
| Asbestos awareness | 2-hour course for custodial and maintenance staff who may contact asbestos but don’t disturb it (OSHA Class IV work) |
| NESHAP on-site representative training | Required for the foreman or management-level person on site when regulated asbestos is disturbed during renovation or demolition |
| Analyst or laboratory accreditation | Labs analyzing bulk samples are typically accredited through NIST’s NVLAP program, and air sample analysts through proficiency programs |
OSHA training by class of work
OSHA’s construction standard ties training to the class of work, whether or not your state issues a license:
- Class I (removing thermal system insulation and surfacing material): training equivalent to the EPA worker or supervisor course
- Class II (removing other asbestos materials such as flooring, roofing and siding): at least 8 hours of hands-on training for the specific material, or the EPA worker course
- Class III (repair and maintenance that disturbs asbestos): training equivalent to the EPA 16-hour O&M course
- Class IV (custodial work and cleanup): at least 2 hours of awareness training
- Competent person: for Class I and II work, training equivalent to the EPA supervisor course
Training must be repeated every year.
Company and contractor licenses
Many states license the business doing asbestos work, not just the people. Common requirements include:
- At least one licensed supervisor on staff, and licensed workers on every project
- Proof of liability insurance (some states require $1 million or more)
- A written respiratory protection program and medical surveillance program
- An annual fee and renewal
- A general or specialty contractor license from the state contractor board, in some states
How to get licensed: step by step
- Find your state program. Use our Asbestos Rules by State table to find the agency.
- Choose an approved training provider. Your state lists providers whose courses it accepts. Some states only accept courses taught in that state, or require a state-approved refresher.
- Complete the initial course and pass the exam.
- Get a medical exam and respirator fit test if your state or employer requires them for a worker or supervisor license.
- Apply to the state with your certificate, photo ID, a recent photo, the fee and any required experience documents. Some states also give their own exam.
- Carry your card on the job. Inspectors often ask to see it.
- Renew every year with a refresher course and renewal fee.
Working in more than one state
There’s no national asbestos license. Each state decides whether to accept training from other states:
- Many states accept EPA-approved training from other states, but still require you to apply for their own license.
- Some require a state exam or a refresher course taught in that state.
- A few states, such as Idaho and Wyoming, don’t have their own licensing program, but federal training requirements still apply.
Check with each state before you start work there.
Typical experience requirements
- Workers: usually no prior experience required beyond the course.
- Supervisors: some states require experience as an abatement worker or in the building trades.
- Inspectors, planners, designers and consultants: some states require a degree, years of related experience, or both.
Warning: Fake and “online only” asbestos certificates exist. Initial worker and supervisor courses require hands-on training. Make sure your provider is approved by your state, and verify a contractor’s license with the state before you hire them.
Checklist for contractors hiring asbestos help
- The company holds a current state asbestos license (if your state requires one)
- Every worker and supervisor on the job has a current card for the right discipline
- The supervisor or competent person will be on site during the work
- Required notifications have been filed with the state or local agency
- Workers are fit-tested and in a medical surveillance program
- Proof of insurance is on file
- The disposal landfill and waste transporter are identified
Standards & references
- EPA: Asbestos laws and regulations, including the Model Accreditation Plan
- 29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(9): Asbestos training requirements (construction)
- EPA: State asbestos contacts
Related: Asbestos · Asbestos Laws Explained · Asbestos Rules by State · Asbestos & Lead Abatement Workers · Respiratory Protection
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