The Radon Reporter Summer 2019

12 The radon reporter / Summer 2019 In response to a need to provide for accurate and consistent results in radon testing and to deliver effective radon mitigation to reduce radon levels, consensus-based professional standards and a cadre of trained certified professionals have emerged over the past three decades. There is little doubt that radon risk and exposure in dwellings and in the workplace presents a complex building problemdemanding personnel who are appropriately trained and following recognized national standards. In the United States, eighteen states (CA CT FL IL IN IA KS KY ME MN NE NH NJ OH PA RI VA WV) have laws or regulations in place that require some form of proficiency qualifications for professionals doing radon work in the marketplace. Eleven operate state-based licensing systems, through which state regulations define state-specific terms and conditions (rules) under which licensees will secure, renew and retain radon credentials. Seven other states offer licensing through certification, requiring that radon work be performed by persons who have earned certification from an EPA-recognized proficiency program (National Radon Proficiency Program and National Radon Safety Board). Some of the “licensure through certification” states offer a license or certificate that documents state oversight of the credential provided by the proficiency program. States’ continuing oversight of professionals’ radon credentials is a central element of radon risk reduction. These regulatory structures encourage compliance with recognized standards of practice and ethical professional behavior to ensure citizen protection; when necessary, they enable enforcement, with consequences for non-compliance. Although they don’t guarantee quality, when designed and administered properly, such regulatory programs will influence positively the effectiveness and reliability of radon services. This is no different from the professional oversight of other licensed professionals, be they doctors, engineers, barbers or occupational therapists. If necessary, state oversight of State regulatory programs, both licensing and licensure through certification, have built the reputation and credibility of The biennial report on radon certification State Certification and Licensure Laws UPDAT L ANTI-REGULATION LITIGATION