The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Feb. 17 published in the Federal Register the recently signed rule modifying the requirements for the refresher training course under the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting rule. As NAHBNow reported earlier this month, the changes are not as extensive as NAHB wanted.
Remodelers can find the required training course or e-learning training provider on the EPA website. About 100,000 remodelers are facing a March 31 deadline to complete this refresher training in either form to retain their Lead-Safe Certified Renovator status.To find an online-only refresher training course, go to the Find the Trainer box on the bottom right of the EPA search page. Check “Renovator” for discipline and “Yes” for e-learning (see example shown at right).
To search for in-person, scheduled refresher training courses, enter the information on the bottom left of the page in the “Find a Course” box (see example shown below).
Check “Refresher” under Course and “Renovator” under “Discipline” to search nationally for all scheduled, in-person refresher training courses. You can then refine the search by language, state and date.EPA’s changes only apply to those states where the federal agency administers the program. The 14 states that administer their own programs will have to take legislative or regulatory action to adopt the online refresher course option.
Whether members choose to opt for the new online-only course or the traditional in-person course, many will have to move swiftly to complete the refresher training before deadline.
March 31 marks the end of an unprecedented extension granted last year for those remodelers and other contractors who received their EPA Lead-Safe Certified Renovator certifications on or before March 31, 2010.
After March 31, 2016, the clock will resume ticking for the second phase of renovators. Those who became certified between April 1, 2010, and March 31, 2011, must be re-certified within six years from the exact date they completed the original training course.
In any case, if any EPA Lead-Safe Certified Renovator does not complete a refresher training course before their certification expires, he or she must instead retake the initial eight-hour training course to continue to be certified.
Learn more about the rule at nahb.org/leadpaint, or contact Tamra Spielvogel at 800-368-5242 x8327.