Asbestos Training

Small Trans EPA LogoAsbestos is the name for a group of natural occurring minerals with a fibrous structure. Three types of asbestos were commonly used to manufacture products (Chrysotile, Amosite and Crocidolite). Residential and commercial buildings can have asbestos-containing building materials and untrained contractors conducting renovation and demolition activities can cause asbestos fibers to become airborne and increase exposure to themselves and the public.

Asbestos training for professionals engaged in asbestos-related activity is required under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP). The MAP mandates the use of accredited asbestos professionals when conducting asbestos work activity at schools and public and commercial buildings. It provides guidance to states
on the minimum asbestos training requirements for the following asbestos certifications:

  • Asbestos Worker
  • Asbestos Contractor/Supervisor
  • Asbestos Inspector
  • Asbestos Management Planner
  • Asbestos Project designer


Asbestos Contractor/Supervisor Certification Initial Course


The asbestos contractor/supervisor is responsible to act as the OSHA competent persons during asbestos abatement activities, providing supervision and direction to workers engaged in asbestos-related work activity. Certification as an asbestos contractor/supervisor ensures that the individuals who supervise asbestos-related work are properly trained.



Asbestos Contractor/Supervisor Certification Refresher Course


Designed for individuals who are responsible for overseeing the work of employees who have an EPA Asbestos Worker Certification and are permitted to enter regulated areas where asbestos-containing building materials may be disturbed. This Asbestos Contractor/Supervisor Training Course centers on the characteristics of asbestos, health effects, personal protective equipment, work practices, personal hygiene, safety hazards, medical monitoring, air monitoring, regulatory requirements, respiratory protection program, insurance and liability, recordkeeping, supervisory techniques, and contract specifications.



Asbestos Inspector Certification Initial Course


This Asbestos Inspector Initial Certification course is required for those individuals who want to conduct inspections and assessments for asbestos containing materials (ACM). As an accredited Asbestos Inspector, you may conduct asbestos building inspections to identify and assess the condition of asbestos containing materials for asbestos building surveys including activities for building renovation, building demolition and property assessments.



Asbestos Inspector Certification Refresher Course


Designed for individuals who will perform building inspections to identify asbestos-containing building materials. The course provides detailed instruction on how to safely and effectively conduct asbestos inspections. This Asbestos Inspector Training Course centers on the characteristics of asbestos, health effects, role of inspector, legal liabilities, building systems, occupant relations, planning, assessing condition, sampling, respiratory protection, personal protective equipment and regulatory requirements.



Asbestos Operations & Maintenance Certification Initial Course


This Asbestos Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Initial Certification course accredits individuals who perform repair or removal of a small quantities of asbestos containing material. The Asbestos Operations & Maintenance training is designed to provide special work practices for custodial, maintenance, and construction staff where the likelihood that asbestos-containing materials (ACM) will be disturbed and that asbestos fibers will be released.



Asbestos Operations & Maintenance Certification Refresher Course


The Asbestos Operations & Maintenance training is designed to provide special work practices for custodial, maintenance, and construction staff where the likelihood that asbestos-containing materials (ACM) will be disturbed and that asbestos fibers will be released. Certification as an asbestos operations and maintenance worker ensures that the individuals who perform OSHA Asbestos Class 3 and Class 4 work activity are properly trained.



Asbestos Project Monitor Certification Initial Course


The Asbestos Project Monitor interprets asbestos abatement project plans and specifications, perform asbestos project air monitoring and final clearance sampling, and asbestos abatement contractor oversight to ensure compliance local, state, and federal regulations. Certification as an asbestos Project Monitor ensures that the individuals who conduct asbestos abatement project oversight work are properly trained.



Asbestos Project Monitor Certification Refresher Course


This Asbestos Project Monitor Refresher Certification course accredits individuals who serve as an on-site representative of the building owner to oversee asbestos abatement work to insure that work is performed in accordance with specifications and regulatory requirements. The Asbestos Project Monitor interprets asbestos abatement project plans and specifications, perform asbestos project air monitoring and final clearance sampling, and asbestos abatement contractor oversight to ensure compliance local, state, and federal regulations.



Asbestos Worker/Handler Certification Initial Course


This Asbestos Abatement Worker Initial Certification course is required for individuals who perform asbestos-related work activity. The asbestos abatement worker is responsible for activities that disturb asbestos containing building materials (ACBM) including asbestos removal, repair, encapsulation, enclosure and operations and maintenance.



Asbestos Worker/Handler Certification Refresher Course


Designed for individuals performing asbestos abatement work activity. This course will enable participants to perform asbestos abatement work safely and in a manner that is consistent with efforts to minimize the hazards of asbestos contamination. This course centers on the characteristics of asbestos, health effects, personal protective equipment, work practices, personal hygiene, safety hazards, medical monitoring, air monitoring, regulatory requirements and respiratory protection program.



Asbestos Worker/Handler Certification Initial Course (Spanish)


This Asbestos Abatement Worker Initial Certification course is required for individuals who perform asbestos-related work activity. The asbestos abatement worker is responsible for activities that disturb asbestos containing building materials (ACBM) including asbestos removal, repair, encapsulation, enclosure and operations and maintenance.



Asbestos Worker/Handler Certification Refresher Course (Spanish)


Designed for individuals performing asbestos abatement work activity. This course will enable participants to perform asbestos abatement work safely and in a manner that is consistent with efforts to minimize the hazards of asbestos contamination. This course centers on the characteristics of asbestos, health effects, personal protective equipment, work practices, personal hygiene, safety hazards, medical monitoring, air monitoring, regulatory requirements and respiratory protection program.



Asbestos Management Planner Certification Refresher Course


Designed for individuals who will write asbestos management plans for schools. This Asbestos Management Planner Training Course centers on asbestos survey interpretation, hazard assessment, legal implications, control options, roles and responsibilities, operations and maintenance plans, regulatory requirements, recordkeeping, submission and financing asbestos abatement activity.



Asbestos Project Designer Certification Refresher Course


Designed for individuals who will develop written asbestos project design specifications for asbestos abatement projects. This Asbestos Project Designer Training Course centers on asbestos identification, health effects, abatement projects, design and writing specifications, personal protective equipment, safety hazards, control measures, abatement solutions, clearance testing, budgeting, preparation activity, legal liabilities, roles and responsibilities, occupied buildings and regulatory requirements.



OSHA Asbestos Awareness Class IV Training


Designed for custodial and maintenance individuals who work in buildings with asbestos-containing materials (ACM). This course provides a basic understanding of asbestos, the health effects associated with exposure, locations of ACM in buildings and how to recognize and control damaged ACM.


 

What are the EPA Asbestos Certification requirements?

Each professional who completes the required asbestos training, passes the required examination, and fulfills any other additional state requirements will receive an asbestos accreditation certificate in the corresponding discipline. Some states directly issue asbestos accreditation certificates and others authorize training providers to issue them. If your state does not offer asbestos training or have asbestos training requirements, you will need to complete an EPA-approved asbestos training course, or an asbestos training course approved by another state that has an EPA-approved MAP program.