Certification

Florida radon certification is required for the following activities:

• Testing: the placement and retrieval of radon measurement devices
• Mitigation: reducing radon levels
• Consultation: professional consultation about radon measurement and mitigation with other radon professionals, other building professionals or building owners
• Environmental assessments: radon as part of the whole environmental review or separate review and any other radon related activity.

In Florida, businesses and individuals need to be certified by the Florida Department of Health prior to providing radon services for remuneration. Certified specialists and technicians must work with acertified radon business or as associates of a certified radon business. Several certified radon measurement businesses also provide nationally proficient radon analytical laboratory services. The department will accept only radon measurements performed with radon devices meeting national proficiency requirements established by the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) and the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB).  Reporting to customers must meet the criteria established by the department.

There are currently six certificates issued by the Department: measurement technician, measurement specialist, measurement business, mitigation technician, mitigation specialist, and mitigation business. Each certificate carries different duties, responsibilities and requirements. 

• The individual certifications are based on skills and abilities as demonstrated by successful completion of the radon training courses, passing the training exam, and properly following standards of practice. 
• There are no educational or work experience prerequisites for the measurement technician. There are limited work experience prerequisites for the mitigation technician level certification. All technicians must be supervised by specialists. 
• Measurement and mitigation specialists are required to have four years of related professional or work experience, of which three can be substituted for with related post- secondary education. 
• Business certifications are granted to those providing radon services by delegating these services to certified individuals.  Requirements include record keeping, reporting and other compliance requirements.

General Activities of Certified Businesses and Individuals:

• Radon measurement businesses provide on-site measurement services for radon.
• Radon measurement technicians are limited to placing and retrieving test devices. They may also provide radon customer reports and radon informational literature on measurement results as directed by the measurement specialist.
• Radon measurement specialists may perform the radon activities that a radon measurement technician may offer. They may also offer additional evaluative interpretation and guidance on radon measurements, health risks, radon related exposure, radon entry routes, environmental assessments, and any other radon related activity.
• Radon mitigation businesses provide designs of radon mitigation systems or install radon mitigation systems in existing buildings to reduce radon levels.
• Radon mitigation technicians install or supervise the installation of radon reducing systems on existing buildings under the supervision of a mitigation specialist.
• Radon mitigation specialists may perform the radon activities that a radon mitigation technician may offer. They may also offer additional evaluative interpretation of diagnostic testing and offer guidance to determine mitigation strategies for a building.
• Below are listed some of the specific duties for each level of certification.  Additional information can be found by reading Florida Statute 404.056 and Florida Administrative Code 64E-5, 1201 through 1207:

Radon Measurement Business:

• Shall be Florida radon certified
• Maintains copies of radon test reports
• Provides monthly reports of radon activities to the department
• Maintains records of quality control activities, specialist site visits, worker health and safety exposure
• Uses NRPP and/or NRSB radon proficient devices, or becomes a proficient business

Measurement Specialist:

• Shall work for or formally associate with a Florida certified radon business or own a certified radon measurement business
• Places and retrieves radon test devices
• Develops quality control procedures in conjunction with business or laboratory
• Evaluates, interprets and advises on radon test results
• Responds to non-routine customer inquiries
• Reviews and approves reports to customers and the Department of Health

Radon Measurement Technician:

• Shall work for or formally associate with a Florida certified radon business or own a certified radon measurement business
• Places and retrieves radon test devices
• Provides information on measurement results as directed by a radon measurement specialist
• Is supervised by a measurement specialist

Radon Mitigation Business:

• Shall be Florida radon certified
• Maintains copies of radon mitigation reports
• Provides monthly reports to clients and the Department
• Maintains records of quality control activities, mitigation plans, worker health and safety exposure

Radon Mitigation Specialist:

• Shall work for or formally associate with a Florida Certified Radon Mitigation Business or own a certified radon mitigation business
• Installs mitigation systems
• Performs radon mitigation diagnostic testing
• Designs mitigation systems
• Prepares worker health and safety program
• Develops quality control procedures
• Responds to non-routine customer inquiries
• Reviews and approves reports for customers and the department

Radon Mitigation Technician:

• Shall work for or formally associate with a Florida certified radon Mitigation Business  or own a certified radon mitigation business
• Installs or supervises the installation of mitigation systems
• Is supervised by a mitigation specialist

• New radon business applicants need to submit a check or money order payable to the “Florida Department of Health/Radon” for $450, and a completed application form DH 1749.
• Businesses wishing to apply for renewal of their certification prior to certificate expiration, need to submit a check or money order payable to the Florida Department of Health/Radon for $425.
• Businesses with expired certification applying for renewal within 90 days of the expiration date and those applying for renewal 90 or more days after the expiration date need to refer to the renewal page.

To become certified as a specialist OR technician complete the following steps:

• Confirm that you meet the minimum requirements of the certification level you wish to obtain.
• Complete the two page certification application (DH1751) and pay a non-refundable fee for the certification level you wish to obtain and forward to the Florida Department of Health/Radon address on page 2.
• Register and take a training class from one of the Department approved training providers.
• Pass the Department’s Certification Exam. The exams are scheduled at least 3 times a year.
• Note: Certified Specialists and Technicians must be associated with a certified business or become a certified business before providing services.

Measurement Specialist Qualifications:

• 64E-5.1204(2) Measurement specialist applicants shall possess 4 years of relevant radiation or radiological safety professional or work experience. Relevant post-secondary education may be substituted on a year for year basis for 3 of the 4 years of experience.
• Relevant post-secondary education includes curriculum in a natural science, engineering, radiation, radiological safety or health physics, mathematics or statistics.
• For other relevant radiation education such as military or technical school training, 15 classroom hours of instruction shall be equivalent to 1 credit hour of college level course work.
• Relevant professional or work experience includes radiation physics, radiation protection, radiation biology, radiation risk communication, nuclear medicine technologist, radiation therapy, health physicist, nuclear navy engineering technician, health physics, hospital radiation safety officer, or occupations requiring equivalent experience.

Mitigation Specialist Qualifications:

• 64E-5.1205(2) Mitigation specialist applicant shall possess a valid residential, building or general contractor’s license issued by the State of Florida, or possess 4 years of relevant professional or work experience.
• Relevant post-secondary education may be substituted on a year for year basis for 3 of the 4 years of relevant professional or work experience.
• Relevant post-secondary education includes curriculum in architecture, engineering, building construction, or the physical sciences.
• Relevant professional or work experience includes the design or construction of buildings, or associated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, or closely related activities.

Obtaining your radon specialist certificates:

• Radon specialists need to meet the Certification Requirements found in 64E-5.1204. New radon specialist applicants need to submit a check or money order payable to the Florida Department of Health/Radon for $375.00, with a completed application form DH 1751. 
• Currently certified radon specialists wishing to apply for renewal of their certification prior to certificate expiration need to submit a check or money order payable to the Florida Department of Health/Radon for $350.
• Radon specialists with expired certification applying for renewal within 90 days of the expiration date and those applying for renewal 90 or more days after the expiration date need to refer to the radon certificate renewal page.

Florida radon technician certificates:

• New radon technician applicants need to submit a check or money order payable to the Florida Department of Health/Radon for $300.00, the current certification fee in effect at this that time,  with a completed application form DH 1751. 
• Current radon technicians wishing to apply for renewal of their certification prior to certificate expiration need to submit a check or money order payable to the Florida Department of Health/Radon for $275.
• Radon technicians with expired certification applying for renewal within 90 days of the expiration date and those applying for renewal 90 or more days after the expiration date need to refer to the renewal page.

Listed below are the chapters for a Radon Manual to help you prepare for your examination:

• Chapter 64E5 Florida Administrative Code
• Unit 0. state and federal rules and regulations objectives
• Unit 1. radon occurrence and health effects
• Unit 2. radon entry and behavior
• Unit 3. radon measurement
• Unit 4. mitigation systems
• Unit 5. building investigation
• Unit 6. domestic water radon measurement and control
• Unit 7. radon-resistant new construction
• Unit 8. worker health

If you have any questions about this process, you may contact us at 800-543-8270 or 850-245-4288.

The Florida Department of Health Radon Program has implemented a new application process whereby the electronic submission of applications is now accepted.  Each individual or business applying electronically may complete the appropriate form (fillable PDF), provide a signature on the application, and send it to radon.applications@FLHealth.gov ** along with any associated documentation.

** Please note: Florida has a very broad public records law. Most written communications to or from state officials regarding state business are public records available to the public and media upon request. Your e-mail communications may therefore be subject to public disclosure.

Application and renewal fees cannot be paid online or by credit cards. Payments by mail will be accepted in the form of a check or money order.

After an application has been successfully submitted to radon.applications@FLHealth.gov, and the application fee is paid, it must be approved by the Department.  You will receive communication as to whether your application has been approved, or to request additional information.

Follow these easy steps:

• Complete the DH1749 Business Application and or
• Complete the DH1751 Individual Application
• Mail Application Fee Payment (nonrefundable)
• Send applications and documents to radon.applications@FLHealth.gov

Certain Florida certified radon measurement businesses (18KB PDF file) offer Radon Measurement Device Services, and Analytical Laboratory Services.  These businesses use National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) and/or National Radon Safety Board (NRSB) radon proficient devices.  If you have any questions about these radon measurement businesses call the Florida Radon Program at 800-543-8279.  For the current radon proficiency status and proficiency program information on these businesses please contact NRPP (800-269-4174) and NRSB (866-329-3474).

Additional information on re-certification (renewal) may be found here.