How To Become Licensed As A Lead Professional In Missouri

Important Definitions.

(as defined in Missouri Revised Statutes section 701.300)

Abatement - Any measure regulated solely by the Missouri Department of Health designed to permanently eliminate lead hazards, which shall include the removal of lead-bearing substances, the replacement of lead-painted surfaces or fixtures, or the permanent enclosure or encapsulation of lead-bearing substances, and all preparation, cleanup, disposal, and postabatement clearance testing activities associated with such measures.

Lead-bearing substance - Any paint or other surface coating materials that contain lead equal to or in excess of one milligram per square centimeter or more than five-tenths percent by weight or such other standard for lead content in paint as may be established by federal law or regulation, surface dust that contains a concentration of lead specified by rules promulgated by the department that shall be consistent with the purposes of laws enacted by the United States Congress and regulations promulgated or guidance issued by any federal agency; or any lead-based paint, lead-based paint hazard or lead-based paint activity consistent with the purposes of laws enacted by the United States Congress and regulations promulgated or guidance issued by any federal agency. Lead-bearing substance as regulated by the Missouri Department of Health does not include any substance generated through the mining, milling or smelting of lead ore or scrap, or generated through lead product manufacturing or use provided that such substance has not migrated off or been transported from the mining, smelting, or manufacturing site and entered a residential area or any other public access environment.

Lead-bearing substance activity - any activity associated with a lead abatement project including, but not limited to, project design, risk assessment, inspection, abatement or deleading.

Lead abatement project - the encapsulation, enclosure or removal of a lead-bearing substance.

Do I Need A Lead License?

Licenses are required for any person who:

Works on a lead abatement project (lead abatement worker or supervisor);

Supervises a lead abatement project (lead abatement supervisor);

Performs a full or limited lead inspection or holds him or herself out as a lead inspector (lead inspector);

Performs a full lead risk assessment, elevated blood level risk assessment, or hazard screen risk assessment (risk assessor);

Performs lead abatement project clearance testing (risk assessor or lead inspector);

Designs lead abatement projects (project designer); and/or

Is a company or a contractor who conducts any of the activities mentioned above (lead abatement contractor). Please see "Who needs to be licensed as a lead abatement contractor?" below.

Licensure is not required if you are a homeowner or property owner who is conducting an abatement project on your own home or dwelling unit so long as you or your immediate family live there, and no child who has been identified as having an elevated blood lead level resides in the building.

Who Needs To Be Licensed As A Lead Abatement Contractor?

Any individual, sole proprietorship, company or corporation that conducts lead-bearing substance activities at a location other than the contractor's own place of business shall be licensed as a lead abatement contractor. This includes businesses conducting lead abatement projects, lead inspections, risk assessments, or post-abatement clearance testing.

How Do I Receive A Contractor License In Missouri?

A person or entity shall make application and be licensed by the Office of Lead Licensing and Accreditation as a Lead Abatement Contractor before conducting lead-bearing substance activities. A completed application shall include a completed Lead Abatement Contractor license application form, a check or money order made payable to the Missouri Department of Health for the nonrefundable fee of $250, and a copy of the corporation's registration with the Missouri Office of the Secretary of State. Licenses are issued within 5 - 10 working days of application approval and are for a 2 year period.

How Do I Receive A Lead Occupation License In Missouri?

Step 1 - Contact us and request a license application packet. The packet will contain a copy of the lead rules and an application form.

Step 2 - Determine if you meet the education and work experience requirements for the license you desire.

Inspector - A Bachelor's degree; an Associates degree and one (1) year experience in a related field such as lead, asbestos, housing repair or inspection, and/or environmental hazard remediation work; or a high school diploma or GED and two (2) years of experience in a related field such as lead, asbestos, housing repair or inspection, and/or environmental hazard remediation work.

Risk Assessor - A Bachelor's degree and one (1) year experience in a related field such as lead, asbestos, housing repair or inspection, and/or environmental hazard remediation work; An Associates degree and two (2) years of experience in a related field such as lead, asbestos, housing repair or inspection, and/or environmental hazard remediation work; Certification as an industrial hygienist, professional engineer, registered architect, and/or certification in a related engineering/health/environmental field such as safety professional, or environmental scientist; or a high school diploma or GED and three (3) years of experience in a related field such as lead, asbestos, housing repair or inspection, and/or environmental remediation work.

Worker - no experience required.

Supervisor - At least one (1) year of experience as a licensed lead abatement worker (from Missouri, EPA or EPA approved state); at least two (2) years of experience in asbestos abatement work or as a construction manager or superintendent; or at least two (2) years of experience as a manager for environmental hazard remediation projects.

Project Designer - Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, architecture, or a related profession, and one (1) year of experience in building construction and design; at least one (1) year of experience as a licensed lead abatement supervisor (Missouri, EPA or an EPA approved state) and at least two (2) years of experience in building construction and design; or at least four (4) years of experience in building construction and design.

Step 3 - Complete the appropriate training course from an OLLA- or EPA-accredited training provider. A score of 70% must be attained on the course examination.

Step 4 - Submit a completed license application form which includes the following:

A copy of your OLLA- or EPA-accredited training course certificate.

Two (2) recent passport size color photographs

(1 x 1 ½).

Required documentation of educational and work experience (work history and copies of diplomas, degrees and/or transcripts).

A check or money order made payable to the Missouri Department of Health in the amount of $100 (which is nonrefundable).

Step 5 - For an Inspector, Risk Assessor and Supervisors license, all qualified applicants must take a state examination administered by the Missouri Department of Health. Applicants approved to take the state examination will be notified in writing of upcoming examination dates and locations. Applicants must receive a 70% or greater to receive an Inspector, Risk Assessor or Supervisor license.

Step 6 - Licenses are issued within 10 - 14 working days of application approval, including passage of the state examination (if required, see Step 5), for all occupations and are for a 2 year time period.

How Do I Renew My Lead Occupation License?

OLLA will send a renewal notice and renewal application form 180 days prior to your expiration date. This notice and application form will be sent to your latest mailing address as reflected in our records. You should notify OLLA immediately when you change your address or employer. It is the responsibility of the applicant to complete a refresher course and submit the renewal application 60 days prior to your expiration date. A renewal application must include a copy of the refresher training course certificate, 2 recent passport size color photographs, and the nonrefundable fee of $50.00.