In 1998, due to a cut back in funding
from Congress, the EPA shut down their Radon Proficiency Program and turned over
the management of "certification of radon professionals" to two
independent groups: The National Radon Safety Board, (NRSB) and The
National Environmental Health Association (NEHA). Every contractor in the
country working with radon should be "listed" by one or both of these
groups on their organization's website. NRSB
and NEHA
There are TWO types of certification.
1) Individuals that have met proficiency requirements to
perform "Radon testing and test interpretation" in accordance
with EPA protocols.
2) Individuals that have met proficiency requirements to "design
and install radon mitigation systems" in accordance with relevant EPA
mitigation standards.
Just because you are "certified" in one area doesn't necessarily mean
you are qualified to offer services in the other area! Being
"certified" not only means you have demonstrated your professional
expertise/knowledge on an exam in a given area, but that you have also AGREED to
perform all the services you provide in accordance with EPA protocols!
Be SURE that the individual is "certified" in the area of service you are needing!
Furthermore, upon closure of the EPA's radon program, participants were instructed by the EPA to destroy all EPA contractor identification badges AND were informed that they were no longer to use the EPA's name to imply any sort of "government endorsement".
However, since that time there have periodically been contractors that have taken "liberties" in their yellow page advertising in an effort to present themselves as "more qualified" than their competitors. The use of the term "EPA-listed", "EPA-licensed", "EPA-certified", or "EPA-approved" are such examples. If you run across a company that is holding themselves out as "EPA-anything" you should call your local Better Business Bureau office and ask to include a complaint in their file regarding "false advertising" so that future consumers can be informed before deciding to use them. Furthermore, if they are members of NEHA or the NRSB also consider contacting these organizations to report the "false advertising" you have encountered. They will take the necessary actions to halt the practice!
