Health: Lead & Healthy Homes Division: Contractors

Overview

Indiana law requires that any person who engages in lead-based paint activities must first obtain a license from IDOH for each activity. “Lead-based paint activities” means the inspection, risk assessment, and abatement of lead-based paint in targeted housing and child-occupied facilities and includes project design and supervision. Lead licensing information is found below.

To determine the appropriate regulations to follow, is the primary purpose of the work to permanently eliminate lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards?

If YES: Go to the Abatement section below for information
If NO: Go to the Non-abatement section below for information

Abatement Information

Lead Abatement Notification and Monitoring

Indiana law states that companies or individuals who perform lead abatement on target housing (houses or child occupied facilities built before 1978) must:

be licensed by IDOH as an abatement contractor,
provide written notification to the IDOH of each abatement project,
conduct a pre-abatement lead inspection or lead hazard screen,
conduct abatement activities using appropriately licensed individuals,
conduct the abatement activities using lead safe work practices, and
pass a post-abatement clearance procedure.

This page explains the requirements for conducting abatement activities.

What is Abatement?

Abatement means any measure or set of measures designed to permanently eliminate lead-based paint hazards. Projects which are represented by a licensed abatement contractor and resulting in the elimination of lead-based paint hazards are considered abatement. Projects conducted in response to local abatement orders, such as those issued by local health or building officials, are considered abatement. In some circumstances, abatement may also be required under federally funded programs such as the HUD Lead Safe Housing Rule.
Abatement activities include but are not limited to the replacement of building components, the complete removal of lead paint, encapsulation of lead-based paint hazards, enclosure of lead-based paint hazards, and other permanent measures to eliminate lead-based paint hazards.
The rules recognize that some renovation, repair, remodeling, landscaping, maintenance, or other activities are not conducted for the express purpose of lead hazard abatement. In general, lead abatement rules do not apply to those activities, even when they incidentally result in the elimination of lead-based paint hazards. Interim control measures intended to temporarily address lead paint hazards are not considered abatement.
Who may conduct abatement activities?
A licensed abatement contractor is required for the abatement project. Abatement work must be carried out under an approved abatement plan by lead professionals licensed to conduct such activities. The licensed abatement project staff may include:
Lead inspector
Risk assessor (lead hazard screener)
Project supervisor
Contractor and designated representative
Project designer
Lead worker
Applicants for a contractor license must include a signed statement that they have read and understand the following:
- Indiana Administrative Code 410 IAC 32
- U.S. Code of Federal Regulations 40 CFR 745
What are the responsibilities of the abatement contractor?
Abatement contractors have the overall responsibility to see that all activities are in compliance with the state regulations of Indiana Administrative Code 410 IAC 32.
The contractor’s responsibilities include the following:
- Notify IDOH in advance of each abatement project
ABATEMENT NOTIFICATION FORM - State Form 49150 - Notification of Lead Abatement Activities
OCCUPANT PROTECTION PLAN TEMPLATE
ABATEMENT NOTIFICATION: HOW TO GUIDE
- Design each abatement project within the regulations.
- Complete a pre-abatement lead inspection or lead hazard screen using only licensed personnel.
- Use appropriately state licensed personnel for all abatement activities.
- Post all state licenses at the work site.
- Maintain a licensed project supervisor on-site during all site preparation, abatement activity, and site cleanup.
- Complete all abatement work using lead safe work practices.
- Follow all work with a post-abatement clearance conducted by a licensed Risk Assessor or Lead Inspector.
- Maintain proper records including a description of the abatement project design, start up and completion dates, occupant protection plans, and receipts from waste disposal sites.
- Retain all records for three years.
- Allow reasonable access to the worksite by IDOH environmental staff.
- Allow reasonable access to all pertinent records of the project by IDOH environmental staff.
What are the disclosure requirements for contractors?

The federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. 4852d) requires anyone who works on a property built before 1978, before doing any work that will disturb the paint, to give the homeowner or tenant the pamphlet "Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers and Schools". The rule also requires a written acknowledgement that the homeowner or tenant receives the pamphlet. Failure to provide the pamphlet and secure written acknowledgements is a violation of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations at 24 CFR Part 35 and 40 CFR Part 745 and can result in a fine of up to $11,000 per violation. To find out more information about your obligations under federal lead-based paint requirements, call 1-800-424-LEAD or go to the web to Lead | US EPA or http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/healthy_homes.
Where can contractors get more information?
Additional information is available by calling the IDOH Lead and Healthy Homes Program at 317-233-1250.
The Indiana Public Licensing Agency maintains the list of abatement contractors and other licensed lead professionals at the License Express option at:
- http://www.in.gov/pla/

Non-Abatement Information

Non-abatement activity requirements

Indiana law requires the use of Lead Safe Work Practices in a number of work situations in which lead-based paint is likely to be hazardous. Although the requirements do not apply to every situation, the IDOH strongly recommends that, unless testing has concluded there is no lead paint present, anyone working on a pre-1978 home or child-occupied facility follow Lead Safe Work Practices to avoid dangerous lead hazards.

What are non-abatement activities?
When are lead safe work practices required?

Along with covering other lead-based paint activities (e.g. inspection), the rule requires the use of lead-safe work practices whenever remodeling, renovation and maintenance activity on rental property built before 1960 is going to disturb a minimum area of lead paint, as defined by the rule.
The requirements do not apply if someone is working on their own home, unless it is a home that they are renting out, or the home is occupied by a child with a confirmed elevated blood lead level. The requirements do not apply to housing that has been determined to be free of lead paint through a qualified lead inspection. If a lead inspection has not been completed, the rule assumes that all paint in a pre-1978 house is leaded.
Where do I get more information on non-abatement activities?

EPA requires that RRP projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and preschools built before 1978 be performed by lead-safe certified contractors. Generally, EPA’s Lead RRP rule does not apply to homeowners doing RRP projects in their own homes. However, it does apply if you rent all or part of your home, operate a child care center in your home or if you buy, renovate, and sell homes for profit (i.e., a house flipper).
Additional information is available by calling IDOH Lead and Healthy Homes Program at 317-233-1250.
Detailed regulations are available at 410 IAC 32-5 Work Practices for Non abatement Activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs a lead-based paint license?
Need to find an Indiana-licensed Lead or Radon Professional? Please refer to:
- Indiana Professional Licensing Association
- Indiana Professional Licensing Search How-To Guide
Anyone who conducts lead-based paint activities must be licensed. Such activities include:
- Inspection for lead based paint
- Risk assessment for lead hazards
- Clearance examination following lead abatement
- Abatement of lead-based paint
- Project design, supervision, and work in abatement projects
Licenses are issued only after an applicant has successfully completed course certification by an accredited training facility and has passed the licensing examination administered by the IDOH. A separate license is required for each of the authorized lead disciplines. All licenses must be renewed every three (3) years by successfully completing refresher training approved by IDOH.

What kinds of licenses are available?

	Application	Education/Experience	Training	Examination
Lead Inspector	State Form 49240	High School or General Equivalency Diploma (GED)	Complete IN approved Lead Inspector training course (24 training hours)	70% or higher on certification exam in training course 70% or higher on 3^rd Party licensing exam administered by IDOH
Risk Assessor	State Form 49240	High School Diploma or GED and three (3) years of related experience (with lead, asbestos, or environmental remediation or construction) or Associate' degree and two (2) years related experience; or Bachelor's degree and one (1) year related experience	Complete IN approved Lead Inspector training course (24 training hours) Complete IN approved Risk Assessor training course (16 hours)	70% or higher on certification exam in RA training course 70% or higher on 3^rd Party licensing exam administered by IDOH
Clearance Examiner	State Form 49240	N/A	Complete IN approved Clearance Examiner training course (5 hours)	70% or higher on certification exam in training course
Project Supervisor	State Form 49240	One (1) year experience as a lead-based paint (LBP) abatement worker; or Two (2) years' experience in a related field	Complete IN approved Lead Supervisor training course (32 hours)	70% or higher on certification exam in training course 70% or higher on 3^rd Party licensing exam administered by IDOH
Lead Contractor	State Form 48739 State Form 50745	One (1) year experience as a lead-based paint (LBP) abatement worker; or Two (2) years' experience in a related field	Complete IN approved Lead Supervisor training course (32 hours)	70% or higher on Lead Supervisor exams
Project Designer	State Form 49240	Bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture, or a related professional field; and One (1) year experience in building construction design or a related field; or No Bachelor's degree with four (4) years' experience in building construction design or a related field	Complete IN approved Lead Supervisor training course (32 hours) Complete IN approved Project Designer training course (8 hours)	70% or higher on Lead Supervisor exams 70% or higher on Project Designer certification exam in training course
Worker	State Form 49240	N/A	Complete IN approved Lead Worker training course (16 hours)	70% or higher on certification exam given by training provider

How do I apply for a license?
Once the certification course is successfully completed, applications can be completed online through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. If necessary, a PDF of the application is available below:
- State Form 49240 Application for Individual Lead License
When required, the applicant must also register to take the third-party examination administered by IDOH. Registration is completed with the form:
- State Form 50748 Registration Form for Lead-Based Paint Third Party Examination
The licensing exam will be scheduled for the next available date on the IDOH Schedule, (Spanish) space permitting. Exams are given approximately twice per month. Tests are administered at the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), 2 North Meridian St, 7th Floor, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Applicants will be notified via email with details of the testing time and place as the application is processed.
A score of 70% is passing. IDOH will issue a license through the Indiana Public Licensing Agency (IPLA). IPLA mails the actual license document, tracks the status of licenses, and maintains the public lists of licensees in each discipline. Reminders are sent to licensees by IPLA near the license expiration date so that renewal applications can be made.
If you choose not to use the online licensing portal, necessary documents and payments should be mailed to:
Indiana Department of Health
Attn: Lead and Healthy Homes
2 N Meridian St., 7th Floor
Indianapolis, IN 46204
How do I renew a license?

To renew a license, the applicant must possess a license in the discipline up for renewal which has been valid within the previous six (6) months. The applicant must successfully complete approved refresher training. For an Inspector, Risk Assessor, Supervisor, or Worker, the refresher training includes a minimum of 8 hours within the previous 36 months. A minimum of 4 hours of refresher training within the previous 36 months is required for a Project Designer.
A license may not be renewed in the instance that 48 months have elapsed between training courses for the same discipline
Refresher course training is most often conducted by an accredited training facility. Additional opportunities for approved training will be communicated to licensees by IDOH. IDOH will consider approval of a licensee’s request for specific training to apply to the renewal requirements.
Renewal applications and payment can completed online at Access Indiana.
If you choose not to use the online licensing portal, necessary documents and payments should be mailed to:
Indiana Department of Health
Attn: Lead and Healthy Home
2 N Meridian St, 7th Floor
Indianapolis, IN 46204
How do I get a duplicate license?
Duplicate licenses are available online at Access Indiana or via paper application:
- State Form 50746 Application for Duplicate Lead License
A maximum of two duplicates will be issued in any calendar year.
Where do I get training?
Prior to applying for a license, you must successfully complete certification by an IDOH accredited training course in each applicable discipline. The list and contact information for all currently approved training providers is available below:
- Indiana Lead Training Course Providers
Contact the training facility directly to register for classes.
How do I become a training course provider?
To become an approved training course provider the applicant must submit one application per license training discipline to be provided. The form used to apply is available at:
State Form 50747 Application for Lead-Based Paint Training Course Provider Approval
An organization wishing to become a training provider should first contact the Indiana Lead and Healthy Homes Program at 317.233.1250 for additional information.
The applicant organization will be required to provide information such as:
- qualifications of the organization to conduct training;
- a course curriculum;
- the intended course fee per course discipline;
- how the course curriculum meets the requirements of the Lead-based Paint Program, as well as EPA training requirements;
- names and qualifications of the instructors;
- copies of course certification examinations and an explanation as to how they were developed; and
- a list of states which have approved organization as a training facility.
The application(s) and other materials are submitted to:
Indiana Department of Health
Attn: Lead and Healthy Homes
2 N Meridian St., 7th Floor
Indianapolis, IN 46204
The initial fee is $1000 per discipline. Training course accreditation must be renewed every three years. The cost for renewal is $500 per discipline.

Additional Information

Additional information is available by calling the IDOH Lead and Healthy Homes Program at 317.233.1250.

Detailed licensing regulations are available at 410 IAC 32-2 - Licensing

All state forms, including lead licensing forms, are available at the Indiana Commission on Public Records at:

http://www.in.gov/icpr/2362.htm

Important Dates

Lead-based Paint - 3rd Party Exam Dates
Lead-based Paint - 3rd Party Exam Dates (Spanish)
Upcoming Events in Indiana:

-CLA TRAINING: Understanding Lead and Train-the -Trainer lead sessions, hosted by EPA Headquarters. The initiative is called Community Lead Awareness (CLA).

Important Documents

Search for Indiana-licensed Lead Licensed Professionals
Lead Abatement Practices & Regulations: Comparisons between HUD, EPA & IDOH
EPA – Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home – Real Estate Disclosure – (Available in Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Arabic, Somali)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (Translated into Spanish)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (English)

Definitions Used by the Lead Program