Indoor Air Quality Solutions, IAQS

I raise this question because once again I’ve been called in to provide a peer review of a mold remediator that is advertising and providing assessment and remediation on the same job.  Oddly the remediator who is not licensed as a mold assessor states on his website “With the Florida Mold Law in effect, it is (finally!) illegal to test and remediation the same property in the State of Florida.” Wrong!  Assess and Remediate, which is not limited to testing.

So apparently this mold remediator who isn’t licensed as a mold assessor thinks that a mold assessment is limited to the “testing” or sampling for mold.

The question of just what is a mold assessment is a frustrating and surprisingly hard question to answer for many licensed professional.  That’s right; many mold professionals just don’t know their own industry and the laws governing them.  Many believe that a mold assessment is simply testing for mold.  Wow, for an industry professional that is trained, licensed and insured how is it possible to not know what a mold assessment is? Incredible.

So for the benefit of those who still don’t know what a mold assessment is I have included the Florida Statute Definitions of Mold Assessment and Mold Remediation and the links to the Florida Mold Related Services Statute.

Please read the sections below that clearly describe the services a mold professional can provide and the clear separating between mold assessment and mold remediation.

More importantly I would stress that a mold assessment is NOT the collection of mold samples or testing for mold.  It may include the collection of mold samples but the collection of mold samples is NOT, on its own, a mold assessment.

If you hire a licensed mold assessor you should receive a written report signed by the licensed mold assessor that performed the assessment.  Not by someone in another location that never visited you home or office.  When you hire a licensed mold assessor you should receive the written report signed by the licensed mold assessor that performed the assessment and never be required to pay an additional fee for a written report.

See the recent channel 9 news sting where three companies sent out unlicensed mold assessors to provide an assessment with one actually requiring additional payment for a written report.  Action 9 hidden camera mold investigation

That’s ridicules, what are you paying for if you aren’t receiving a written mold assessment report from your licensed assessor.

So what should the written mold assessment report include?

A detailed evaluation of data obtained from a building history and inspection to formulate an initial hypothesis about the

• origin,
• identity, location,
• and extent of amplification of mold growth

The written report can then be provided to licensed mold remediators that can then provide you with a written estimate for the remediation.

Which brings us to the question of “What is Mold Remediation?”

The Florida Statute states that “Mold remediation” means the

• removal,
• cleaning,
• sanitizing,
• demolition,
• or other treatment, including preventive activities, of mold or mold-contaminated matter.

Cut and dry.  No gray area in the definition of mold assessment and mold remediation.

I hope this information helps when you find yourself in need of a qualified mold professional.

Finally I close with questions you should ask your mold assessor before you hire them.

• Are you licensed by the State of Florida? FL DBPR Verify a License
• What qualifications do you have to perform mold inspection and/or testing?
• What certifications do and your company have?
• Are you familiar with the IICRC S-520?
• Will I be getting a written report from you or the laboratory?
• Will you be conducting a visual inspection or just mold testing?
• How do you interpret the laboratory results?
  •  (Tip: You’re looking for conflicts of interest here. If they also perform remediation, they have a vested interest in finding mold to clean up.)
• Do you have references from clients within the past year that I can call to ask how the inspection went?
  • (Tip: Be cautious of anyone new to the business and doesn’t have references.)
• Do you perform mold remediation?
  • (Tip: Never hire anyone providing both mold assessment and mold remediation it’s a direct conflict of interest and against the law in Florida.)

The 2012 Florida Statutes Chapter 468 468.8411 Definitions

(3) “Mold Assessment” means a process performed by a mold assessor that includes the physical sampling and detailed evaluation of data obtained from a building history and inspection to formulate an initial hypothesis about the origin, identity, location, and extent of amplification of mold growth of greater than 10 square feet.

(4) “Mold Assessor” means any person who performs or directly supervises a mold assessment.

(5) “Mold Remediation” means the removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment, including preventive activities, of mold or mold-contaminated matter of greater than 10 square feet that was not purposely grown at that location; however, such removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment, including preventive activities, may not be work that requires a license under chapter 489 unless performed by a person who is licensed under that chapter or the work complies with that chapter.

(6) “Mold Remediator” means any person who performs mold remediation. A mold remediator may not perform any work that requires a license under chapter 489 unless the mold remediator is also licensed under that chapter or complies with that chapter.

The 2012 Florida Statutes Chapter 468 468.8419 Prohibitions; penalties.—

(1) A person may not:

(a) Effective July 1, 2011, perform or offer to perform any mold assessment unless the mold assessor has documented training in water, mold, and respiratory protection under s. 468.8414(2).

(b) Effective July 1, 2011, perform or offer to perform any mold assessment unless the person has complied with the provisions of this part.

(c) Use the name or title “certified mold assessor,” “registered mold assessor,” “licensed mold assessor,” “mold assessor,” “professional mold assessor,” or any combination thereof unless the person has complied with the provisions of this part.

(d) Perform or offer to perform any mold remediation to a structure on which the mold assessor or the mold assessor’s company provided a mold assessment within the last 12 months.

(e) Inspect for a fee any property in which the assessor or the assessor’s company has any financial or transfer interest.

(f) Accept any compensation, inducement, or reward from a mold remediator or mold remediator’s company for the referral of any business to the mold remediator or the mold remediator’s company.

(g) Offer any compensation, inducement, or reward to a mold remediator or mold remediator’s company for the referral of any business from the mold remediator or the mold remediator’s company.

(h) Accept an engagement to make an omission of the assessment or conduct an assessment in which the assessment itself, or the fee payable for the assessment, is contingent upon the conclusions of the assessment.

(2) A mold remediator, a company that employs a mold remediator, or a company that is controlled by a company that also has a financial interest in a company employing a mold remediator may not:

(a) Perform or offer to perform any mold remediation unless the remediator has documented training in water, mold, and respiratory protection under s. 468.8414(2).

(b) Perform or offer to perform any mold remediation unless the person has complied with the provisions of this part.

(c) Use the name or title “certified mold remediator,” “registered mold remediator,” “licensed mold remediator,” “mold remediator,” “professional mold remediator,” or any combination thereof unless the person has complied with the provisions of this part.

(d) Perform or offer to perform any mold assessment to a structure on which the mold remediator or the mold remediator’s company provided a mold remediation within the last 12 months.

(e) Remediate for a fee any property in which the mold remediator or the mold remediator’s company has any financial or transfer interest.

(f) Accept any compensation, inducement, or reward from a mold assessor or mold assessor’s company for the referral of any business from the mold assessor or the mold assessor’s company.

(g) Offer any compensation, inducement, or reward to a mold assessor or mold assessor’s company for the referral of any business from the mold assessor or the mold assessor’s company.

(3) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits:

(a) A misdemeanor of the second degree for a first violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(b) A misdemeanor of the first degree for a second violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(c) A felony of the third degree for a third or subsequent violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

 

It seems that there remains some confusion on just who is required to have a mold license as well as just what direct supervision is. 

Let’s tackle the first question as to who is required to have a mold license. 

Simply stated: Anyone who performs mold assessments or mold remediation must either have a mold license or be directly supervised by a licensed mold assessor or licensed mold remediator.  Seems pretty straight forward doesn’t it. 

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation has it straight. 

Representative Workman was clear in his drafting the law. 

Several thousand mold professionals have it clear.

So why do many in the industry continue to provide unlicensed mold assessments and mold remediation?  Why is it that many continue to print their license number on someone else business card?  Could it be ignorance of the law or is it just greed at the consumer’s expense?

I personally believe that it’s greed.  It’s easy to send an unlicensed assessor to a home to collect a few mold samples or walk a dog through the home waiting for alerts.  There is very little investment in an untrained assessor or a trained mold sniffing dog compared to a truly trained, licensed, and insured mold professional that can actually provide a written mold report or professional mold remediation.

And yes I’m called to review the unlicensed pump jockey’s poor attempts at passing off a lab report as a mold assessment all the time.  I peer review botched assessments from unlicensed mold assessors and botched remediation from unlicensed mold remediators every week.  And unfortunately I’ve been receiving calls from clients that paid to have a mold dog walked through their home and receive nothing more than areas of alert from an unlicensed dog handler. 

I guess the handler expected the license requirement to be the dog’s responsibility. 

Which brings us to the direct supervision confusion.  Yes the dog is exempt from the requirement of a mold license but only if he is directly supervised by a licensed mold assessor.  However some feel that direct supervision can be provided from Miami while the unsupervised can be performing an assessment in Orlando.  Not quite.

Let’s put it this way.  I’ll provide your children, let’s say ages 2 and 3, direct supervision at a local theme park.  I’ll begin with asking you to drop them off at the gate because my direct supervision will be via my office chair across town.  Not going to happen.  No confusion regarding direct supervision in that scenario.  How about going to the beach and seeing a sign on the lifeguard chair stating that the direct supervision is at lunch.  Is he still providing direct supervision in his absence?   Not a chance.  Again no confusion regarding direct supervision in that scenario.

So why is it that a remediation contractor in south Florida thinks that he can directly supervise remediation in north Florida?  Greed gets my vote again, greed at the consumer’s expense.  It’s easier to send an unlicensed, untrained, uninsured mold remediator to provide unsupervised remediation than to train, license, and insure the professional remediators.  Let’s face it many in the unlicensed world of mold professionals spend all their money on wrapping their flashy vans not training their employees.

So now it has become necessary for the state to attempt to add two words to the law in an attempt to make direct supervision a bit more clear to those still looking for a licensing loop hole.  The two words are “on site”.  That’s right we will be attempting to make the intent of the law more clear by adding the two words on site to the law.  It would read on site direct supervision.  That should clear that up.

But what about the Division 1 Contractor exclusion and apparent confusion.  The law states the following.

(1) A person may not:

(d) Perform or offer to perform any mold remediation to a structure on which the mold assessor or the mold assessor’s company provided a mold assessment within the last 12 months. This paragraph does not apply to a certified contractor who is classified in s. 489.105(3) as a Division I contractor. However, the department may adopt rules requiring that, if such contractor performs the mold assessment and offers to perform the mold remediation, the contract for mold remediation provided to the homeowner discloses that he or she has the right to request competitive bids.

This is the part of the law that GC’s refer to when they attempt to justify their not requiring a mold license. 

It is interesting that they can find 468.8419 Prohibitions; penalties — section 1 paragraph (d) and overlook section 1 paragraph (a), (b), and (c)

(1) A person may not:

(a) Effective July 1, 2011, perform or offer to perform any mold assessment unless the mold assessor has documented training in water, mold, and respiratory protection under s. 468.8414(2).

(b) Effective July 1, 2011, perform or offer to perform any mold assessment unless the person has complied with the provisions of this part.

(c) Use the name or title “certified mold assessor,” “registered mold assessor,” “licensed mold assessor,” “mold assessor,” “professional mold assessor,” or any combination thereof unless the person has complied with the provisions of this part.

Just how do they miss that section?

What about the well-publicized FL GC – Mold Law Declaratory Statement 10-12-2011

The declaratory statement provides clarification on the fact that a Division 1 contractor can provide mold remediation so long as it is within his scope of work as a Division 1 contractor.  A Division 1 contractor cannot provide mold remediation following a written mold remediation protocol under a general contractor’s license. The division 1 contractor is no longer working within the scope of a Division 1 contractor.  The Division 1 contractor is working within the scope of a mold remediator which requires a mold remediator’s license.

So guys let’s just get licensed and provide direct supervision for the good of the Florida consumers that are paying for our professional services.

www.FloridaIAQ.com

This question just can’t seem to be answered by those that want to preform mold inspections or mold remediation and are on the hunt for a licensing loop hole.

So who in the State of Florida is required a have license to preform Mold Assessments and/or Mold Remediation. The answer is simple.

Anyone who advertises themselves as a professional providing mold assessments and/or mold remediation.

 

Mold Assessment

If you provide mold assessments and you advertise your company or yourself as a mold inspection company or inspector you must be licensed by the state as a mold assessor.

• You cannot add someone else’s license number to your business card.  That’s not legal, honest, or ethical.  These actions will be reported to the State as unlicensed activity.
• You cannot call the collection of air samples for mold spores an indoor air quality test to avoid the need to obtain a mold assessors license. The collection of air samples for mold spores is a mold sample not an indoor air quality test so let’s just be honest with our clients and call it what it is and get licensed.
• You cannot assess the extent of mold damage on a home where you intend to provide the remediation.  The law is very clear on this and is one of the primary reasons for the law, conflict of interest.  Just call an independent licensed assessor to provide an assessment and then you can provide your estimate.

 

Mold Remediation

If you provide mold remediation and you advertise your company as a mold remediation and emergency services company you must have a Mold Remediation license and the license holder must be onsite supervising the mold remediation.

• You cannot provide mold remediation under a general contractor’s license if you are advertising yourself as a mold remediator.
• You cannot provide mold remediation following a written mold remediation protocol under a general contractor’s license.  You are no longer working within the scope of a Division 1 contractor.  You are working within the scope of a mold remediator that requires a mold remediator’s license.
• You cannot provide mold remediation outside of a Division 1 Contractors scope of work FL GC – Mold Law Declaratory Statement 10-12-2011

 

So why did the state of Florida decided to require a license for mold related services?

The Florida Legislature finds it necessary in the interest of the public safety and welfare, to prevent damage to real and personal property, to avert economic injury to the residents of this state, and to regulate persons and companies that hold themselves out to the public as qualified to perform mold-related services.

Now let’s get to the individuals that believe they don’t require a mold license. First home inspectors and the answer is yes, a home inspector requires a mold assessor’s license to conduct a mold inspection and yes the collection of samples to identify the presence of mold requires a mold assessor’s license.

As for the duct cleaners and air conditioning contractors, the answer is also yes. Anyone removing or identifying mold in a home or business requires a mold assessment or mold remediation license and that includes those in the air conditioning and duct cleaning business.

There are exceptions to the law and those are listed below. Which brings us to the general contractor? Does the GC need a mold license? No. As the law currently states the prohibitions in the law do not apply to a Division 1 contractor as stated below.

468.8419 Prohibitions; penalties.—

(1) A person may not:

(d) Perform or offer to perform any mold assessment to a structure on which the mold remediator or the mold remediator’s company provided a mold remediation within the last 12 months. This paragraph does not apply to a certified contractor who is classified in s. 489.105(3) as a Division I contractor. However, the department may adopt rules requiring that, if such contractor performs the mold remediation and offers to perform the mold assessment, the contract for mold assessment provided to the homeowner disclose that he or she has the right to request competitive bids.

(d) Perform or offer to perform any mold remediation to a structure on which the mold assessor or the mold assessor’s company provided a mold assessment within the last 12 months. This paragraph does not apply to a certified contractor who is classified in s. 489.105(3) as a Division I contractor. However, the department may adopt rules requiring that, if such contractor performs the mold assessment and offers to perform the mold remediation, the contract for mold remediation provided to the homeowner disclose that he or she has the right to request competitive bids.

You may want to ensure that your GC is actually trained in Mold Assessment or Mold Remediation before you hire him. Currently the law requires nothing in the form of mold assessment or mold remediation training for a GC.

A Florida Licensed Mold Assessor or Mold Remediator must first take and pass one of the examinations approved by the department and administered by the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC).

The ACAC has certifications for both the Assessor and Remediator, such as the CIEC Council-certified Indoor Environmental Consultant Required: 8 years’ experience consulting on indoor environmental issues including asbestos, lead, HVAC, building science, chemicals, mold and microbial contamination, or the CMC Council-certified Microbial Consultant Required: 8 years’ experience in designing and conducting microbial sampling regimens, or the CMRS Council-certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor Required: 5 years’ experience remediating microbial issues in the indoor environment, and the CMR Council-certified Microbial Remediator Required: 2 years, experience remediating microbial issues in the indoor environment.

I would much prefer that my Mold Assessor or Mold Remediator be Licensed by the state and have the ACAC qualifications.

Mold assessment is a process performed by a mold assessor that includes the physical sampling and detailed evaluation of data obtained from a building history and inspection to formulate an initial hypothesis about the origin, identity, location, and extent of amplification of mold growth of greater than 10 square feet.

Mold remediation is the removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment, including preventive activities, of mold or mold-contaminated matter of greater than 10 square feet that was not purposely grown at that location; however, such removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment, including preventive activities, may not be work that requires a license under Chapter 489, Florida Statutes, unless performed by a person who is licensed under that chapter or the work complies with that chapter.

These items are offered as examples of services you do need to hire a person with a Florida license and services you do not need to hire a person with a Florida license. The list is not all inclusive. If you have specific questions, please contact the department at 850.487.1395 or review the rules for the profession at http://www.myfloridalicense.com. You should also check with your county or city to learn whether or not a local business tax receipt or certificate of competency is required for services that do not require a state license. Please visit our Unlicensed Activity page to learn more about how you can help us combat Unlicensed Activity.

Needs a License	Does not need a License
Advertising or representing oneself to be a Mold Assessor or Remediator.	A residential property owner who performs mold assessment on his or her own property.
Taking samples for purposes of testing for the presence of mold.	A person who performs mold assessment on property owned or leased by the person, the person’s employer, or an entity affiliated with the person’s employer through common ownership. This exemption does not apply if the person, employer, or affiliated entity engages in the business of performing mold assessment for the public.
	A person who performs mold assessment on property operated or managed by the person’s employer or an entity affiliated with the person’s employer through common ownership. This exemption does not apply if the person, employer, or affiliated entity engages in the business of performing mold assessment for the public.
	A person working solely as an officer or employee of a governmental entity.

 

 

Here are some Florida Mold License FAQ’s Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.

Q   What are the statutes and rules that govern the mold-related services Profession?

A    Chapter 468, Part XVI of the Florida Statutes and Rule 61-31 of the Florida Administrative Code

Q   What are the statutes and rules that govern the Home Inspection Profession?

A    Chapter 468 Part XV of the Florida Statutes and Rule 61-30 of the Florida Administrative Code.

Q   Where can I obtain the laws and rules of the profession?

A    The laws and rules may be obtained on the website at www.MyFloridaLicense.com > Our Businesses & Professions > the license you are looking for > Statutes and Rules.  If you need further assistance, you may call the Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395

Q   If my company does both Mold Assessments and Mold Remediations, will I be required to get two (2) licenses (one for Mold Assessor and one for Mold Remediator?

A    Yes, in addition, please note Section 468.8419(1)(d), F.S., provides that an assessor may not “perform or offer to perform any remediation to a structure on which the mold assessor or the assessor’s company provided a mold assessment within the last 12 months.” Section 468.8419(2)(d), F.S., provides that a remediator may not “perform or offer to perform any assessment to a structure on which the mold remediator or the remediator’s company provided a mold remediation within the last 12 months.”

Q   Will there be additional requirements by DBPR to have an “applicators” license if the mold remediator applies chemicals to contaminated surfaces during a remediation?

A    No, please see the definition of remediators as it allows the remediator to treat and do preventive activities.

Q   Is there a provision that would allow those licensed by the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) to perform mold related services as long as they stay within the scope of their current licenses?

A    Yes, Section 468.841 F.S., exempts persons from the provisions of Chapter 468, Part XVI, when acting within their authorized scope of practice as licensed under Federal, state or local codes or statutes. Any person acting on this exemption must not hold himself or herself out for hire as a licensed assessor or remediator or any title implying licensure under Chapter 468, Part XVI.

468.8419 Prohibitions; penalties.—

(1) A person may not:

(a) Effective July 1, 2011, perform or offer to perform any mold assessment unless the mold assessor has documented training in water, mold, and respiratory protection under s. 468.8414(2).

(b) Effective July 1, 2011, perform or offer to perform any mold assessment unless the person has complied with the provisions of this part.

(c) Use the name or title “certified mold assessor,” “registered mold assessor,” “licensed mold assessor,” “mold assessor,” “professional mold assessor,” or any combination thereof unless the person has complied with the provisions of this part.

(d) Perform or offer to perform any mold remediation to a structure on which the mold assessor or the mold assessor’s company provided a mold assessment within the last 12 months. This paragraph does not apply to a certified contractor who is classified in s. 489.105(3) as a Division I contractor. However, the department may adopt rules requiring that, if such contractor performs the mold assessment and offers to perform the mold remediation, the contract for mold remediation provided to the homeowner disclose that he or she has the right to request competitive bids.

(e) Inspect for a fee any property in which the assessor or the assessor’s company has any financial or transfer interest.

(f) Accept any compensation, inducement, or reward from a mold remediator or mold remediator’s company for the referral of any business to the mold remediator or the mold remediator’s company.

(g) Offer any compensation, inducement, or reward to a mold remediator or mold remediator’s company for the referral of any business from the mold remediator or the mold remediator’s company.

(h) Accept an engagement to make an omission of the assessment or conduct an assessment in which the assessment itself, or the fee payable for the assessment, is contingent upon the conclusions of the assessment.

(2) A mold remediator, a company that employs a mold remediator, or a company that is controlled by a company that also has a financial interest in a company employing a mold remediator may not:

(a) Perform or offer to perform any mold remediation unless the remediator has documented training in water, mold, and respiratory protection under s. 468.8414(2).

(b) Perform or offer to perform any mold remediation unless the person has complied with the provisions of this part.

(c) Use the name or title “certified mold remediator,” “registered mold remediator,” “licensed mold remediator,” “mold remediator,” “professional mold remediator,” or any combination thereof unless the person has complied with the provisions of this part.

(d) Perform or offer to perform any mold assessment to a structure on which the mold remediator or the mold remediator’s company provided a mold remediation within the last 12 months. This paragraph does not apply to a certified contractor who is classified in s. 489.105(3) as a Division I contractor. However, the department may adopt rules requiring that, if such contractor performs the mold remediation and offers to perform the mold assessment, the contract for mold assessment provided to the homeowner disclose that he or she has the right to request competitive bids.

(e) Remediate for a fee any property in which the mold remediator or the mold remediator’s company has any financial or transfer interest.

(f) Accept any compensation, inducement, or reward from a mold assessor or mold assessor’s company for the referral of any business from the mold assessor or the mold assessor’s company.

(g) Offer any compensation, inducement, or reward to a mold assessor or mold assessor’s company for the referral of any business from the mold assessor or the mold assessor’s company.

(3) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits:

(a) A misdemeanor of the second degree for a first violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(b) A misdemeanor of the first degree for a second violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(c) A felony of the third degree for a third or subsequent violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

468.841 Exemptions.—

(1) The following persons are not required to comply with any provisions of this part relating to mold assessment:

(a) A residential property owner who performs mold assessment on his or her own property.

(b) A person who performs mold assessment on property owned or leased by the person, the person’s employer, or an entity affiliated with the person’s employer through common ownership, or on property operated or managed by the person’s employer or an entity affiliated with the person’s employer through common ownership. This exemption does not apply if the person, employer, or affiliated entity engages in the business of performing mold assessment for the public.

(c) An employee of a mold assessor while directly supervised by the mold assessor.

(d) Persons or business organizations acting within the scope of the respective licenses required under part XV of this chapter, chapter 471, part I of chapter 481, chapter 482, or chapter 489 1are acting on behalf of an insurer under part VI of chapter 626, or are persons in the manufactured housing industry who are licensed under chapter 320, except when any such persons or business organizations hold themselves out for hire to the public as a “certified mold assessor,” “registered mold assessor,” “licensed mold assessor,” “mold assessor,” “professional mold assessor,” or any combination thereof stating or implying licensure under this part.

(e) An authorized employee of the United States, this state, or any municipality, county, or other political subdivision, or public or private school and who is conducting mold assessment within the scope of that employment, as long as the employee does not hold out for hire to the general public or otherwise engage in mold assessment.

(2) The following persons are not required to comply with any provisions of this part relating to mold remediation:

(a) A residential property owner who performs mold remediation on his or her own property.

(b) A person who performs mold remediation on property owned or leased by the person, the person’s employer, or an entity affiliated with the person’s employer through common ownership, or on property operated or managed by the person’s employer or an entity affiliated with the person’s employer through common ownership. This exemption does not apply if the person, employer, or affiliated entity engages in the business of performing mold remediation for the public.

(c) An employee of a mold remediator while directly supervised by the mold remediator.

(d) Persons or business organizations that are acting within the scope of the respective licenses required under chapter 471, part I of chapter 481, chapter 482, chapter 489, or part XV of this chapter, are acting on behalf of an insurer under part VI of chapter 626, or are persons in the manufactured housing industry who are licensed under chapter 320, except when any such persons or business organizations hold themselves out for hire to the public as a “certified mold remediator,” “registered mold remediator,” “licensed mold remediator,” “mold remediator,” “professional mold remediator,” or any combination thereof stating or implying licensure under this part.

(e) An authorized employee of the United States, this state, or any municipality, county, or other political subdivision, or public or private school and who is conducting mold remediation within the scope of that employment, as long as the employee does not hold out for hire to the general public or otherwise engage in mold remediation.

John P. Lapotaire, CIEC

Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant

Indoor Air Quality Solutions, IAQS

Microshield Environmental Services, LLC

Certification by American Council for Accredited Certification ACAC CIEC #0711048

Council-certified Environmental Thermography Consultant ACAC CETC #1005013

Accreditation by Council for Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB)

Florida State License Mold Assessor MRS4

www.FloridaIAQ.com

HB 517 was approved by Governor Rick Scott on April 6, 2012 and reduces the continuing education required to activate an inactive license. You now only have to complete one renewal cycle of continuing education instead of completing continuing education for all the renewal cycles your license was in an inactive status. Applicants will need to provide proof of completing the continuing education requirements in effect at the last renewal date immediately prior to their application. Those requirements are included in Chapter 61-31.504, F.A.C.:
61-31.504 Continuing Education Requirements for Biennial Renewal
(1) Prior to the expiration of each biennial licensure period, and as a condition for renewal of the mold assessor and/or mold remediator license, each person licensed pursuant to Chapter 468, Part XVI, Florida Statutes, shall complete a minimum of fourteen (14) hours of continuing education which shall include, at a minimum, all of the following subjects as they relate to the practice of mold assessment and/or mold remediation:
(a) A minimum of six (6) hours of instruction regarding water (moisture intrusion),
(b) A minimum of four (4) hours of instruction regarding mold and mold safety, to include respiratory protection,
(c) A minimum of two (2) hours of instruction regarding report writing,
(d) A minimum of two (2) hours of instruction regarding standards of practice.
(2) Continuing education credits may be obtained for the completion of courses or seminars offered by education providers approved by the department. A list of such providers is available from the department at www.myfloridalicense.com/CESearch.asp?SID=&div=07
(a) A licensee, who is an instructor, may obtain continuing education credits in the amount of the credits allowed for that course or seminar for his/her first presentation of such course or seminar.
(b) No licensee may claim credit until after the credit has been earned by that licensee.
(3) Licensees need not comply with continuing education requirements prior to the licensee’s first full renewal cycle.

www.FloridaIAQ.com