Instructions for Accredited RRP Training Providers

This page provides instructions for training providers accredited by EPA to teach renovator and dust sampling technician courses in accordance with the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule.

On this page you will find the following information:

• Certificate requirements and numbering protocol
• How to notify EPA of training activities
• Eligibility requirements for refresher training
• Instructions for submitting digital photographs
• Recordkeeping requirements
• Amending training provider program accreditation
• Expedited approval process for e-learning for certain training providers
• Cleaning verification cards
• Course test and course test blueprint
• Logo use guidelines
• Have a question?

Certificate Requirements and Numbering Protocol

Certificate requirements

Training providers are required to issue unique course completion certificates to each individual who passes the training course. The course completion certificate must include:

• Name, a unique identification number, and the individual’s address.
• Name of the course the individual completed.
• Date(s) of course completion/test passage.
• Name, address, and telephone number of the training provider.
• Language in which the course was taught.
• An accurate and recognizable photo of the individual who successfully completed the course. The photo must not be smaller than 1 square inch and should be the same photo submitted with the post-training notice.
• For renovator course completion certificates, the certification expiration date. Please note, the expiration date is five years from the date of course completion for refresher courses with hands-on training, and only three years from the date of course completion for refresher courses that do not include hands-on training.
• For dust sampling technician course completion certificates, we recommend you include the training expiration date (five years after training completion), or a note that the training is effective for a five-year period.

The certificate does not have to be an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper; it can be a laminated card the size of a driver's license. The text must be easy to read, and the photo must be no smaller than 1 square inch. The photo should follow the requirements discussed below.

Creating the unique identification number

Unique certificate numbers are required to be generated for each certificate. The certificate numbers should be made up of the following five parts.

Example: R-I-T56789-09-00025

• Part 1 ("R" in the example) represents the type of training received.
  • "R" is for renovator training, and "D" is for dust sampling technician training.
• Part 2 ("I" in the example) represents whether the course taken was the eight-hour initial or the four-hour refresher course.
  • “I” is for the initial course and “R” is for the refresher course
• Part 3 ("T56789" in the example) represents the training provider's applicant number, which is part of the accreditation number for the course being taught.
  • This number is four to six digits and may be preceded by the letter "T".
• Part 4 ("09" in the example) represents the last two digits of the year the course was completed.
• Part 5 ("00025" in the example) represents a unique number assigned by the training provider and should be sequential.
  • The first number 00001 should be assigned to the first student completing training in a given calendar year.

How to Notify EPA of Training Activities

EPA has requirements for accredited training providers to notify EPA prior to and following completion of renovator and dust sampling technician courses, which are covered below. For more detailed information, review the notification requirements located in 40 CFR 745.225.

When to notify EPA about training activities (all courses except an e-learning renovator refresher course without hands-on learning)

The training provider must notify EPA at least seven business days prior to offering a renovator or dust sampling technician course, and also within ten business days of completing the course. In addition, the training provider must notify EPA of any changes to the original notification.

• If the course will begin before the original start date, or if the location changed, notice must be provided at least seven business days before the training course start date.
• For other changes, such as a cancelation or delay, notice must be provided at least two business days prior to the training course start date.

Notification requirements for an e-learning renovator refresher course without hands-on learning

Notifications for an e-learning renovator refresher without hands-on learning must be submitted through CDX, no later than the 10th day of the month, and include all students trained in the previous month.

Requirements for each notification

Pre-training notices are required to include:

• Notification type (original, update, cancelation);
• Training provider name, EPA accreditation number, address, and phone number;
• Course discipline, type (initial or refresher), and the language in which instruction will be given;
• Date(s) and time(s) of training;
• Training location(s) phone number and street address;
• Principal instructor’s name; and
• Training program manager's name and signature.

Post-training notices are required to include:

• Training provider name, EPA accreditation number, address, and phone number;
• Course discipline and type (initial or refresher);
• Date(s) of training;
• Training program manager's name and signature; and
• The following student information: name, address, date of birth, course completion certificate number, course test score, and a digital photograph of the student (see instructions for digital photograph submission).
• For renovator refresher courses, the expiration date of certification.

Methods available for submitting pre- and post-training notifications

There are several methods available to you as a training provider to submit pre- and post-training notifications to EPA for renovator and dust sampling technician courses. We recommend using CDX to submit training notices electronically. Submitting online is easy, fast and free. In addition to CDX, notices can also be submitted:

• By fax to 202-566-0471 (if submitting post training notice by fax, see note below regarding student photos);
• By mail to the US EPA / Lead Paint Program, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Mail Code 7404T, Washington, DC 20460; or
• By commercial or hand delivery to the US EPA / Lead Paint Program, 1201 Constitution Avenue, NW [EPA East Room 5115M], Washington, DC 20460

Note: If you are not using CDX for post-training notices, save your students’ photographs on a compact disc, and deliver or mail it along with a copy of the notification form as described above.

Sample forms to use for submitting both pre- and post-training notifications

Sample forms are available to facilitate the notification process. The training program manager may complete this sample form or a similar form, which includes all of the required information, when notifying the EPA of planned training. The forms below are fillable and can be completed on your computer or printed and completed by hand.

• Pre-training notification form (PDF)
• Post-training notification form (PDF)

Training notification requirements apply everywhere

If the training is provided by an EPA-accredited training provider, and would result in federal certification, then the training provider must comply with EPA's regulations (even if it was provided in an authorized state). This includes the requirement that the training provider notify EPA before and after conducting the course.

Eligibility Requirements for Refresher Training 

A certified renovator or dust sampling technician is eligible to take a refresher course if the refresher course will be completed before their previous certification expires. The training provider must collect a copy of each student's prior course completion certificate demonstrating their eligibility to take the refresher course. The training provider must retain a copy of each student’s prior course completion certificates for a period of five years.

Note: Individuals currently certified as lead-based paint inspectors or risk assessors may act as certified dust sampling technicians without further training.

Instructions for Submitting Digital Photographs

When submitting a post-training notification for renovator and dust sampling technician courses training providers are required to submit a digital photo of each student (this must be the same photo used on the student’s course completion certificate). This photo should adhere to the following compositional and technical specifications and can be produced by either taking a new digital image or using a digital scanner to scan a printed photo. The photo may be submitted electronically via CDX, by mail, or by commercial or hand delivery. If the photographs are submitted by mail, commercial or hand delivery, they must be provided on a compact disc, include the post-training notification form, and be mailed to the appropriate address below:

• By mail to US EPA / Lead Paint Program, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Mail Code 7404T, Washington, DC 20460 
• By commercial or hand delivery to US EPA / Lead Paint Program, 1201 Constitution Avenue, NW [EPA East 5115M], Washington, DC 20460

Compositional specifications

The submitted photo must provide an accurate and recognizable image of the applicant and should meet the following compositional specifications:

• Person being photographed should directly face the camera;
• Head of the person should not be tilted up, down, or to the side;
• Head of the person should cover about 50% of the area of the photo;
• Photos should be taken with the person in front of a neutral, light-colored background; and
• Photos must be in focus.

Additionally, photos that include the following will not be accepted:

• The person is wearing sunglasses or other items that detract from the face;
• The person is wearing tribal or other headgear not specifically religious in nature; or
• Military, airline, or other personnel wearing hats.
• However, head coverings or hats are allowed if based on religious beliefs, but may not obscure any portion of the face of the person.

Photos may either be downloaded from a camera or scanned to be turned into a computer file. If you are using a scanner, the settings should be for True Color or 24-bit color mode. See the additional details regarding scanning below.

Composition checklist -- six steps to successful photos

Composition Checklist
	Frame subject with full face, front view, eyes open
	Make sure photo presents full head from top of hair to bottom of chin
	Center head within frame (see examples below)
	Photograph subject against a plain white or off-white background
	Position subject and lighting so that there are no distracting shadows on the face or background
	Encourage subject to have a natural expression

Technical specifications

The submitted digital photo should meet the following specifications.

When taking a new digital image:

• Image files should be in the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format;
• It should have a maximum file size of 240 kilobytes (240 KB);
• Resolution should be of sufficient pixel size to ensure the photograph is clear and recognizable; and
• Image color depth should be 24-bit color Note: Photographs should be in color, not in black and white, monochrome (2-bit color depth), 8-bit color, or 8-bit gray scale.

Before a printed photo print is scanned it should be in color and should also meet the compositional specifications. If the printed photo is in color and meets the compositional specifications, scan the photo using the following scanner specifications:

• Scanner resolution should be at least 150 dots per inch (dpi);
• Image file should be in Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format;
• Maximum image file size should be 240 kilobytes (240 KB);
• Image resolution should be of sufficient pixel size to ensure the photograph is clear and recognizable; and
• Image color depth should be 24-bit color. Note: images should not be in black and white or gray scale with 24-bit color depth and monochrome (2-bit color depth), 8-bit color, or 8-bit gray scale.

Photo file identification

As discussed above, training providers must create a unique certificate number for each student. Each student’s photo should be given a file name using their unique certificate number and the "jpg" file extension. Example: R-I-56789-09-00025.jpg.

Recordkeeping Requirements 

Accredited training providers must maintain, and make available to EPA, upon request, the following records:

• All documents that demonstrate the qualifications of the training program manager and principal instructor;
• Current curriculum/course materials and documents reflecting any changes made to these materials;
• The course test blueprint;
• Information regarding how the hands-on skills assessment is conducted including but not limited to who conducts the assessment, how the skills are graded, what facilities are used, and the pass/fail rate;
• The quality control (QC) plan;
• Results of the students' hands-on skills assessments and course tests, and a record of each student's course completion certificate; and
• Any other material not listed above that was submitted to EPA as part of the training provider's application for accreditation.

The training provider shall retain these records at the address specified on the training provider accreditation application for a minimum of five years.

The training provider shall notify EPA electronically via CDX within 30 days of changing the address specified on its training provider accreditation application or transferring the records from that address.

Amending Training Provider Accreditation

If information included in a training provider's most recent application to EPA changes, the training provider has 90 days to amend their accreditation. If an amendment is not submitted within 90 days the training provider may not provide training until their accreditation is amended.

Training provider accreditations are not transferable. If the training business is sold, the new owner must submit a new initial application for accreditation.

How to Submit an Amendment

Amended applications are submitted using CDX.

• For amendments adding a training program manager or principal instructor, you must attach documentation that they meet the education, work experience, training requirements or demonstrated experience required. Documents acceptable for this purpose include:
  • Official academic transcripts or diploma as evidence of meeting the education requirements;
  • Resumes, letters of reference, or documentation of work experience, as evidence of meeting the work experience requirements; or
  • Certificates from train-the-trainer courses and lead-specific training courses, as evidence of meeting the training requirements.
• For amendments adding a new permanent training location, you must submit a photo(s) of the lecture area, a photo(s) of each hands-on area, and a diagram of the training facility including dimensions.

Amendment Approval

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 30 days have elapsed, whichever occurs earlier. Except:

• If the amendment includes a new training program manager or principal instructor that was already approved under another EPA training provider 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.

The 30-day amendment review period begins on the date the completed amendment is submitted in CDX. If the amendment does not include all required information, EPA will notify the applicant within 30 days of the information needed, and the 30-day review period will begin over on the date the missing information is submitted to EPA.

Expedited Approval Process for E-Learning for Certain Training Providers

EPA has developed an expedited process for training providers with an existing EPA accreditation to teach the initial or refresher renovator RRP course. This process allows accredited trainers to amend their accreditations in order to offer an e-learning course component using a course and learning management system from a trainer accredited by EPA to provide e-learning training.

Use our training course search tool to find which trainers are accredited to provide renovator e-learning training. Through this process, EPA will issue to the training provider a separate accreditation number specifying that the provider is accredited for e-learning. The expedited process may not be used by training providers to make other changes to their accreditation, e.g., it does not allow for changes to student-to-teacher ratio, facility information, permanent location vs. traveling trainer location, etc. To make these changes, please contact the appropriate regional lead coordinator. Learn more.

Cleaning Verification Cards

EPA provides cleaning verification cards (used to compare to disposable cleaning cloths to ensure an area has been adequately cleaned) to accredited training providers for distribution to renovator students. EPA will mail a box of cleaning verification cards to training providers upon their initial EPA accreditation to provide renovator training. Once this supply is exhausted, EPA-accredited training providers can obtain additional cards at no cost by calling the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323). Training providers accredited by an authorized state or tribal program can obtain cleaning verification cards through that authorized program.

Cleaning verification cards can be used for five years from the date given to a student and thus it is extremely important the expiration date be punched on the cards before giving them to students. Using a regular hole punch, punch out the number corresponding to the month the card was given to the student, and then punch out the number corresponding to the year, five years after the card was given to the student. (For example, if the card was given to the student in May of 2021, you would punch out the number 5 in the month row, and the number 21 in the year row.)

Course Test and Course Test Blueprint

Course completion exams developed by EPA are available for the 4-hour and 8-hour renovator courses. These exams were developed and statistically validated to ensure their fairness and accuracy. Training providers have the option to either use the exam developed by EPA or one that they develop. If a training provider decides to use the EPA exam, they do not need to submit a course test blueprint, just note in their application they plan to use the EPA exam in their application materials. Once a training provider’s accreditation is complete, the training program manager must contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD to get a copy of the EPA-developed course completion exams.

If a training provider wants to use their own course completion exam, they must provide a copy of the course test blueprint for each course for which they are applying for accreditation with their accreditation application. A course test blueprint is a written document identifying the proportion of course test questions devoted to each major topic in the course curriculum. Training providers should not submit a copy of the course test. For an initial course, the course test blueprint should use the course topics established in 40 CFR 745.225(d) to identify the proportion of course test questions that should be devoted to each topic. For a refresher course, the course test blueprint should use the course topics established in 40 CFR 745.225(e)(1) to identify the proportion of course test questions that should be devoted to each topic.

Logo Use Guidelines

Accredited training providers may use the Lead-Safe Certified Firm logo (logo) on their website and marketing materials provided it does not include a certification number. Upon request, EPA will provide accredited training providers a copy of the logo for their use. Requests can be made to the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD.

Training providers may not distribute or provide a downloadable version of the logo. Training providers may inform students that EPA will provide certified firms a customized logo exclusively for their use to advertise their businesses once their firm has been certified. Training providers may distribute the logo ONLY to principal instructors affiliated with their accreditation and may NOT distribute the logo to unaffiliated entities.

Principal instructors may use the logo as described above, but only under the name of the accredited training provider for whom they work. A principal instructor may NOT use the logo in any manner except under the name and authority of their accredited training provider. They may also state that the organization that employs them, if different from the accredited training provider, is assisting with the training.

Have a Question?

For more information or to get answers to your questions, please visit:

• Resources for RRP training providers
• Learn more about EPA's RRP Program.
• Frequent questions about the lead program
• National Lead Information Center (NLIC) at 1-800-424-LEAD
• Regional Lead Contacts