Lead-Safe Wisconsin: Getting Certified to Work with Lead-Based Paint
You must go through training and get certified to work with lead-based paint in houses and child care centers built before 1978. Both individual and company certification are needed. If you work for yourself, you must certify your company in a name you choose.
Lead-based paint work refers to:
- Reducing harmful lead (called abatement).
- Performing lead testing, inspection, and risk assessments.
- Renovations that disturb paint, such as replacing windows or scraping paint before re-painting.
- Post-renovation and post-abatement clearance, which includes dust wipe sampling to measure the amount of lead dust left behind.
Learn the difference between lead-safe renovation and lead abatement, P-03180. (English and Spanish)
Certification is also required to offer lead training.
Individual and company certification
There are several individual lead certification options. You can learn about the different types using the Certification Requirements for Lead Disciplines, P-00848 (English and Spanish). Along with the certification type, you can find their corresponding certification fee and requirements for:
- Prior education or experience.
- Training.
- A state certification exam.
The steps to certification are below. If you have questions, email us at
Step 1: Apply to certify your company
If you work for yourself, you must certify your company under a name you choose. If you don’t work for yourself, you must work for a certified company.
We recommend applying to certify your company before completing even completing training. It takes up to 3 weeks to receive company certification. Learn more in the “Company certification” section.
Step 2: Get training and experience
Make sure you’ve met all the general education and experience requirements for the type of certification you’d like. Then complete the required training class or classes before you apply. Use our lead training providers directory for a list of companies offering accredited lead training classes.
If you take lead training outside of Wisconsin, you'll need to submit these additional items with your application for certification:
- An additional $25 processing fee,
- Copies of all out-of-state training diplomas, with the most recent signed by a notary public as a true copy or submitted directly by the trainer to DHS,
- A recent photo for your certification card, and
- A clear copy of your government-issued photo ID.
Note: Applicants for lead risk assessor or inspector don't have to complete x-ray fluorescence (XRF) device training before qualifying for certification. Learn more about licensing and registration requirements before buying an XRF for lead risk assessment or inspection work.
Step 3: Apply to certify yourself
You can apply online for certification if you’re paying with Visa, MasterCard, or electronic check. If you’ve taken training outside of Wisconsin, or if you’re fee-exempt or prefer to pay by money order or paper check, don’t apply online. In these cases, complete a paper application and mail it to us. You can visit our lead and asbestos certification application page to:
- Apply online.
- Download forms.
- Learn how to apply by mail.
- Learn about expedited service and the fee waiver for veterans.
Once you submit your individual application for certification, you can work under provisional certification until your card is issued. To work under provisional certification, you must:
- Meet all requirements for certification,
- Apply for certification, and
- Keep a copy of your training diploma with you while doing regulated work. An electronic or printed copy is fine.
For additional background information, see our publication on provisional certification for individuals, P-03614 (in English and Spanish).
Step 4: Determine whether you need to take a state certification exam
If you’re applying for lead abatement supervisor, inspector, hazard investigator, or risk assessor certification for the first time (or if you haven’t been certified in over a year), you must pass a state certification exam. Lead-safe renovators, sampling technicians, and abatement workers don’t have to take a state exam. If you've already passed the exam and gotten certified in a different state, provide documentation with your application form.
You’ll choose a testing location and pay for the state exam at the same time you apply for certification. When we receive your application, we’ll place you in the next available exam in your chosen city. If you’re otherwise qualified for certification, we’ll issue you an interim certification card, which is good for six months after you finish your training. With this card, you can work while waiting to take and pass the state exam. Once you pass the exam, we’ll issue you your initial certification card, which is good for two years after you finish your training.
Learn more about registering for a state certification exam.
Step 5: Have proof of certification with you
You must have your certification card with you (or a clear, legible copy; having it on your phone is also OK) when performing regulated work. If you’re working under provisional certification, you must have a copy of your training diploma with you.
If you’re a lead-safe renovator, abatement worker, or abatement supervisor and lost the cleaning verification card you received in your training class, you can email
Step 6: Work safely using what you learned in training
Keep yourself, your employees, and your customers safe from hazardous lead dust. Learn more using these resources:
- Lead-safe renovation videos—These videos show what it looks like to work lead-safe. You can see:
- An interior and exterior containment being set up and taken down.
- How to properly put on and take off personal protective equipment.
- How to use a 3M LeadCheck Swab.
- Lead Paint Safety: A Field Guide for Interim Controls in Painting and Home Maintenance
(PDF) (opens external link) —This manual shows you which safety precautions you should take when you’re painting, doing maintenance, or renovating homes built before 1978. - Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing, 2012 Edition (PDF
) (opens external link) —The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s guidelines provide detailed, technical information on how to identify and address lead-based paint hazards.
To offer or conduct lead-based paint work (including training), you must first certify as a lead company. Learn how to get your company certified below.
If you have questions, email us at
Step 1: Get your staff appropriately trained and certified
Companies are responsible for using appropriately trained and certified people to perform this type of work. For example, a certified lead company must have one or more certified lead-safe renovators to assign to renovation projects. The same is true for a certified lead company hoping to conduct lead abatement work. Everyone on the abatement crew must, at a minimum, be a certified lead abatement worker under the supervision of at least one certified lead abatement supervisor. Similarly, a certified lead company may only use appropriately certified lead inspectors, hazard investigators, or risk assessors to conduct lead investigation activities.
Step 2: Certify your company
You can apply for lead or asbestos certification on our lead and asbestos certification application page:
- Using our online
application (opens external link) - By mailing a paper application, F-00171
There is no provisional certification for companies, so make sure to allow at least 1 month from applying to receive your certificate in the mail.