Resources

Lead-Safe (RRP) certification guides.

Straight answers on EPA and state Lead-Safe firm certification, written for contractors. Cost, who needs it, how to get certified, renewal, and more.

EPA Lead Certification Cost: Firm Fee vs. Renovator Course (Why They Are Two Different Prices)EPA lead certification has two separate prices: the firm certification fee ($129 service fee plus the government fee) and the individual renovator course tuition.
How to Get Your Firm EPA Lead-Safe Certified: Step-by-StepHow to get EPA Lead-Safe (RRP) certified: submit your firm name, address, and EIN through EPA's CDX system, pay the $300 fee, and get your certificate in one to two weeks
Certified Renovator vs. Certified Firm: What's the Difference?A certified firm is a company application (no class). A certified renovator is a person's 8-hour course. Most contractors need both. Here is the difference.
Who Needs RRP Certification? Trades, Landlords, and House Flippers ExplainedWho needs EPA RRP certification? Any firm paid to disturb paint in pre-1978 homes: painters, plumbers, electricians, HVAC, GCs, landlords, and flippers. See the rules.
RRP Violation Fines: What Happens If You're Not Lead-Safe CertifiedEPA RRP fines reach up to $49,772 per violation, per day, rising with inflation. See real enforcement cases and why certification beats the penalty.
EPA Lead-Safe Firm Certification Renewal: Deadlines, Fees, and How to RenewRenew your EPA RRP firm certification before it expires. Learn the 90-day rule, the 5-year cycle, fees, and why renewing a firm is not a refresher class.
EPA-Administered vs. State-Run RRP Programs: Which Applies to You?Fifteen states run their own RRP program; the rest are EPA-administered (filed via CDX). See which list your state is on and where your firm certifies.
North Carolina RRP Firm Certification: Requirements, Fees, and Annual RenewalNorth Carolina RRP firm certification is filed with NCDHHS, not the EPA. The state fee is $300, it renews every year, and a certified renovator is required.
Wisconsin Lead Company Certification (WALDO): How to Apply and RenewGet your company lead certified in Wisconsin: the WALDO portal, the $250 four-year state fee, the certified-individual rule, and how to apply or renew. We file it.
Lead-Safe Certified Firm Logo and Certificate: How to Prove You Are CertifiedHow to get the EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm logo, find your firm certification number, and prove RRP certification for bids, permits, insurance, and required ads.
Is the Building Pre-1978? How to Check the Year It Was BuiltHow to find out if a building was built before 1978 for the EPA RRP Rule: check county property records, the deed, and permits, and what to do when the year built is unknown.
RRP Rule Exemptions: When Lead-Safe Certification Is Not RequiredWhen the EPA RRP Rule does not apply: buildings from 1978 or later, minor repairs below the threshold, components verified lead-free by testing, and certain housing exemptions.
Do I Need a Lead Test Before Renovating a Pre-1978 Home?You do not have to test for lead before an RRP job; you can assume lead-based paint is present and follow lead-safe practices. When a lead test is worth it to exempt components.

Lead-Safe (RRP) certification guides.

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