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John Thompson
09-10-2009, 05:14 PM
Does anyone out there have specifics on radon measurement certification? What organizations offer it. What kind of training and/or testing they require, etc.? Additionally, are any of you inspectors involved in mold sampling-testing-mitigation? I'm not really interested in mitigation, but I'm looking for a little more knowledge than simply writing "mold like substance found in crawl space". I know it goes beyond most of our standards of practice, but I'm looking to expand the services I offer. Any help would be appreciated!

Ryan Stouffer
09-10-2009, 07:29 PM
John, go to CERTI - Home (http://www.certi.us) Their phone number is 800-513-8333. They can get you going.

Bruce Breedlove
09-10-2009, 09:31 PM
I agree. CERTI (http://certi.info/) offers very good courses to get your certification as well as Continuing Ed.

The two organizations that EPA has authorized to certify radon professionals are NEHA (http://www.radongas.org/) (National Environmental Health Association) and NRSB (http://www.nrsb.org/index.html) (National Radon Safety Board).

If you plan to only use devices that you place and retrieve and someone else processes (e.g., charcoal canisters or Radalink) then all you will need to do is take a measurement course, pass an exam and apply (and pay) for your certification. Then every two years you will need to take a few hours of CE. Your initial certification will cost you around $150 (good for two years).

If you plan to use devices that you will process yourself (e.g., a CRM (Continuous Radon Monitor) or E-PERMS) you will also need to pass a performance test. (You submit your devices to a certified lab where they are placed in a radon chamber with a known level of radon and exposed like a normal radon test. After the devices are returned to you you process them and report the radon level to the lab. If your reported radon concentration is within +/-25% of the known level you pass.) You must pass a performance test every two years. The performance test will cost you about $125 (plus shipping each way). And each device group you add to your certification will cost you about $75. You will have to pass the performance test and pay for the device group to be added to your certification every two years (when you renew your certification).

Don't forget that if you use devices that you process yourself you will have to get them calibrated every year. For E-PERMs you only have to calibrate your voltage reader no matter how many electrets or chambers you own. That will cost you $125 (plus shipping each way). If you use CRMs every CRM will have to be calibrated once a year. The cost for that varies with manufacturer but figure on $125 or more per CRM (plus shipping each way).

I don't do mold. Many home inspectors would advise you not to do mold. I would investigate it thoroughly before jumping in. (In other words, I would not take the word of the people trying to sell you mold training or mold testing equipment.)

Hope this helps you.

Debra Monte
09-11-2009, 02:10 AM
Go to the ESA (Environmental Solutions Association) website at esaenviro.com

I am taking the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) course with them today and tomorrow. I joined the organization and you can get a lot of various environmental education and certifications with them to add ancillary services and enhance your business.

Michael Schirmer
09-11-2009, 02:43 AM
The one and only National Radon Proficiency Program
National Environmental Health Association National Radon Proficiency Program (http://radongas.org/)

Patrick McCaffery
09-11-2009, 04:30 AM
Go to eradalink.com or contact Radalink, they offer classes throughout the country. Radalink is a very reputable organization, who provides good equipment and excellent service.

John Thompson
09-11-2009, 02:34 PM
Thanks for all the replies folks! All this information will certainly help!

Debra Monte
09-11-2009, 05:40 PM
ESA conducts the NEHA Radon measurement course with the exam.

Patrick Pisani
09-18-2009, 05:03 AM
Hi guys
Along that same line does anyone know of a good on line mold class ?
thanks for the info
Pat Pisani

Ryan Stouffer
09-18-2009, 05:46 AM
I think the same people who do the radon also offer mold classes.

Scott Patterson
09-18-2009, 07:38 AM
Hi guys
Along that same line does anyone know of a good on line mold class ?
thanks for the info
Pat Pisani

Enter Lisa Endz from stage left! :)

Scott Patterson
09-18-2009, 07:43 AM
Click on this link for a free radon course you can take online

Radon Measurement Service Provider course - InterNACHI

The course is also approved for home inspector continuing education by

Alaska Department of Commerce Community and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Home Inspector Program
Arkansas Home Inspector Registration Board
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Home Inspector Licensing Board
IAC2
Indiana Real Estate Commission, Home Inspector Licensing Board
InterNACHI
Master Inspector Certification Board
Mississippi Home Inspector Board
Oregon Construction Contractors Board
South Dakota Real Estate Commission
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Division of Regulatory Boards, Home Inspector Licensing Division
Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC)
West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, State Fire Marshal's Office
Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing

The course is online and free.



It might be free but it will not satisfy any requirement to be listed or certified with NRHA, NRSB or NRPP, many states require this if you are testing for radon.

Bob Lynett
09-18-2009, 10:29 AM
Hey Guys, just wondering what your thoughts are on a certified radon mitigator giving out free tests at the realtor of course only to get the work if the reading is high? Doesn't this sound like a conflict of interest? Plus we don't get the work with our monitors!

Scott Patterson
09-18-2009, 01:41 PM
Now how did I know Lisa would make an apperance! ;)

Gotta get support for that certification diploma mill some how some way. I guess since IN has more visitors than her site this is the only way.

Jerry Peck
09-18-2009, 02:09 PM
Here is an advanced mold inspection course xxx

Lisa,

As I recall Brian asked you NOT to post links back to the other site, per your very own admission.

Yet you did it anyway?

Lisa Endza
09-18-2009, 02:33 PM
Yes, I believe we are permitted to post a link when answering a question from one of Brian's visitors. That would be helpful to his sponsors, not harmful.

As for Scott's childish stuff like
Gotta get support for that certification diploma mill some how some way. I guess since IN has more visitors than her site this is the only way.I could quickly prove him wrong with a link to alexa.com, but I shant.

Scott Patterson
09-18-2009, 02:46 PM
Yes, I believe we are permitted to post a link when answering a question from one of Brian's visitors. That would be helpful to his sponsors, not harmful.

As for Scott's childish stuff like I could quickly prove him wrong with a link to alexa.com, but I shant.

Lisa, I'm not talking about hits! Talking about folks who are on the message board. Look at the number on the hit counter on your site and then look at the number on this site! Real simple. Alexa counts total hits to the site including robots, etc. it does not record active users.

Brian's site started to surpass your site last year. With all of the new inspectors dropping out of the business it has hurt your numbers. IN has continued to increase in active users, and your site has continued to decline.

As for my childish stuff! Just giving it back, Nick dishes out his moronic rhetoric all of the time but he and his folks can't take it in return.

Lisa Endza
09-18-2009, 02:58 PM
Scott, since the launch of our new message board which already has over 500,000 new posts, 41,000 new threads, and 21,000 new registered users, we have not counted or displayed "unregistered" visitors. Only registered users and registered visitors are counted.

I hope that explains how we have so much more message board activity compared to all other inspection-related message boards combined. But who really cares other than you? The more inspection message boards the better.

Scott Patterson
09-18-2009, 03:16 PM
Scott, since the launch of our new message board which already has over 500,000 new posts, 41,000 new threads, and 21,000 new registered users, we have not counted or displayed "unregistered" visitors. Only registered users and registered visitors are counted.

I hope that explains how we have so much more message board activity compared to all other inspection-related message boards combined. But who really cares other than you? The more inspection message boards the better.

Gotcha! I understand now.

Anyway I just took a look at your site and this is what was listed:

What's Going On? INACHI site.
Currently Active Users: 46 (45 registered users and 1 guests)
Most users ever online was 1,315, 6/20/07 at 9:41 PM.
Joseph T. Burkeson, CMI, W Paul Blakey, Bill Mullen, Marcel R. Cyr, Stephen R. Capo, Dominic J. Maricic, David P. OKeefe, sspradling, Andy Selfridge, Bob Elliott, Bobby Hamilton, Aram (Autm) Sargisian, Kevin R. Weiss, Tim Spargo, Duc J. Nguyen, Michael R. Boyett, Logan Stewart, Thomas J. Palma, Sonny C. Shipler, Steve Taylor, George E. Russell, vinnie, Chuck Lambert, Nick Gromicko, Thomas G. Kollias, Daniel J. Popoff, Robert J. Wind, Wayne B. Wilson, Ron Bibler, Mark Roach, Maxim Kiss, Jeffrey R. Jonas, Andrew Rook, David P. Valley
InterNACHI Message Board Statistics
Threads: 42,941, Posts: 541,616, Users: 21,319, Active Users: 1,332
Welcome to our newest registered user, Rick Vlahos


And this was from Inspection News:
What's Going On?
Currently Active Users: 207 (46 members and 161 guests)
Most users ever online was 831, 07-01-2009 at 01:38 PM.
Scott Patterson, Tony Mount, Rick Cantrell, Jim Anson, Phil Harvey, David O'Keefe, Craig Walker, JB Thompson, Gunnar Alquist, John Goad, Ron Bibler, Eric Barker, Dave Rader, John McQuiggan, Steven Bowman, Ray Toscani, Jim Luttrall, Dom D'Agostino, Dayna Rothenberger, DavidR, Darrel Hood, Darrell Covington, Randy Navarro, Lisa Endza, Chap Fichera, Alan Merrifield, Dan Popoff, Sandy Jones, Daniel Leung, Wes Carlisle, H.G. Watson, Sr., Mark Schaefer, Tim Hill, Raymond Wand, Nick Ostrowski, Bud Butczynski, Michael Thomas, mathew stouffer, Robert S. Mattison, Jim Curtis, Randy Mayo, Matt Fellman, Ted Menelly, Rod Hummel, Jerry Peck
InspectionNews - Home Inspection Statistics
Threads: 8,971, Posts: 93,116, Members: 10,854
Welcome to our newest member, Curtis YostAAA Consulting

Lisa Endza
09-18-2009, 03:26 PM
Scott says


Gotcha! I understand now.No problem.

It appears both message boards use the same software which counts number of threads and number of posts.

We are having a huge online event as we round the 1 millionth post mark.

Dan Popoff
09-19-2009, 05:10 AM
Wow i made both and with a quick scan, I was the only one. Really cool! Honestly, I think both have served me well and enjoy learning from everyone, reguardless if the org starts with an A or iN.

Thanks,
Dan