EPA’s Draft Criteria for Radon Credentialing Organizations

EPA’s work on radon credentialing is part of the Agency’s responsibility to promote and support the availability of quality radon services to the public. Because of the substantial risk resulting from exposure to radon it is critical for radon service providers to possess the necessary skills to provide quality services and ensure consumer protection.

Since 1988 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has administered a non-regulatory program authorized by the Indoor Radon Abatement Act of 1988 (IRAA) to promote effective practices in radon testing, radon mitigation systems in existing homes, and radon-resistant new construction (RRNC) techniques in new homes. EPA works with state and tribal programs, industry, and the public to reduce human exposure to radon, thereby reducing lung cancer deaths. Access to quality service providers who possess the skills required to measure indoor radon levels and conduct mitigation when necessary is essential to this mission.

Historically, EPA has played a key role in establishing a standard of quality for radon service providers, including development and maintenance of a provider credentialing program (or provider proficiency program) and a one-time evaluation of two certification bodies in 2001, the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP; initially affiliated with the National Environmental Health Association and currently affiliated with the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists) and the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB). Since then, EPA has maintained oversight of radon credentialing systems, provided an associated national radon reference, and supported the development of and access to standards of practice for radon measurement and mitigation. Taken together, these activities align with EPA’s authority to operate a proficiency program designed to identify quality radon measurement and mitigation service providers and radon measurement devices.

An August 2017 Federal Register Notice outlined proposed non-regulatory criteria aimed at establishing consistency across credentialing programs based on voluntary consensus standards and international conformity assessment activities. EPA has received and analyzed comments on the 2017 proposal, drafted a revised proposal, and is working to complete an Agency review of the document. When the document is ready, EPA will publish it on this page and initiate a second public comment period for stakeholders, including one information session.