How to become a Licensed Lead Inspection Professional
Lead Inspectors in the State of RI are able to perform environmental lead inspections and issue lead certificates. The types of inspections they are able to perform include:
- Comprehensive Environmental Lead Inspections (CELI)
- Lead Hazard Mitigation inspections
- Clearance inspections (after hazard reduction or hazard control work)
- Annual re-inspections
- Limited inspections for lead in paint, dust, soil, and water
All Lead Inspectors must comply with the Rules and Regulations Governing Lead Inspections.
The steps below outline how to get licensed:
-
Become a Licensed Lead Inspector-In-Training (LIT) or Become Licensed by Reciprocity
Become a Licensed Lead Inspector-In-Training (LIT)
In order to become a LIT, applicants must have a general education diploma (GED), high school diploma, or higher degree. A 40-hour initial Lead Inspector training course, taken with a RI licensed provider of this class, must be taken and two examinations passed, one by the course provider, and the RI Department of Health State Lead Inspector examination.
Become Licensed by Reciprocity (must be licensed in another state and have taken an EPA equivalent class)
A lead inspector licensed for 3 years or more in another state can bypass the LIT step by providing proof of their license and inspection history.
-
Complete a Mentorship
A mentorship is required by any LIT with a RI licensed lead inspector who has been in the field for 3 years and is approved by the department to mentor LITs in the field. The RI Licensed Lead Inspector is required to submit the LIT Mentorship form for approval.
Once a mentorship has begun, a LIT needs to complete the following with their mentor:
- 15 Comprehensive Environmental Lead Inspections at 15 different properties
- 5 Lead Hazard Reduction (LHR) or Lead Hazard Control (LHC) Clearance Inspections
- 5 Lead Hazard Mitigation (LHM) Inspections
The mentorship will also teach the inspector how to use the RI electronic database for generating lead certificates.
It is recommended that any person interested in becoming a lead inspector establish a relationship with a lead inspector to mentor them in advance to enrolling and taking the lead inspector course. There is no guarantee of a mentorship to anyone taking the course.
Any inspector wishing to be licensed by reciprocity needs to complete with a mentor 5 Lead Hazard Mitigation (LHM) Inspections, and learn how to use the RI electronic database, as well as pass a RI State Inspector Examination.
A satisfactory field audit and report review by the Department of all mentored inspections is required. Before applying for a lead inspector license, a 8-hour RI Inspector review course is required.
-
Apply for RI Lead Inspector License
Apply for License Lead Inspector, Lead Inspector application.
Upon approval of your licensing application, you are able to work as a licensed lead inspector in RI and get your own log in for the electronic database so you can document all inspections (pass and fail) and generate lead inspection certificates for all passed inspections. You will be expected to attend any RIDOH supplemental trainings, stay abreast of any departmental updates, and abide by all regulations and implement any changes to regulations, and only use certified environmental lead laboratory.
RI Licenses last two years. An 8-hour review Lead Inspector training course is required every renewal period.
Licensed Lead Assessor
A lead assessor license is a variation of a lead inspector license, only available to persons authorized to enforce housing, health, child welfare, or environmental rules as an official or employee of a municipal or government agency. This licensed requires a 24-hour Lead Assessor training course and passing of a course exam. This license only allows for you to conduct lead hazard mitigation inspections and issue certificates of conformance if the applicant completes an mentorship of 5 lead hazard mitigation inspections.