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Taking Lead Training
California Department of Health Services -- Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch

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    If you wish to become certified to do lead-related construction in California, you must take training from one of the Department of Health Service's (DHS) accredited training providers. To find out where you can take the this training, see the List of Approved Lead-related Construction Courses and the training providers who offer them.  If you take courses from a training provider that has not been accredited by DHS, you will not be eligible for certification.  To obtain a schedule of courses or to sign up for a course, contact the training provider directly at the phone numbers given on the list.

    Getting a New Certificate?
    The type of training you should take depends on which lead certificate you want to apply for.  Before you spend money on a course:

     
    Type of Certificate Required Training
    Lead Inspector/Assessor Inspection/Assessment (40 hours); or 

    CIHs may take the 24 hour Certified Industrial Hygienist Course

    Lead Project Monitor Supervision & Project Monitoring (40 hours); or 
      
    Work (24 hours) + 
    Supplemental Supervision & Project Monitoring (16 hours); or   

    CIHs may take the 24 hour Certified Industrial Hygienist Course

    Lead Project Designer Supervision & Project Monitoring (40 hours) +   
    Project Design (16 hours); or   

    Work (24 hours) +   
    Supplemental Supervision & Project Monitoring (16 hours) +   
    Project Design (16 hours); or   

    Certified Lead Supervisors and Project Monitors may take only the 16 hour Project Design course.

    Lead Supervisor Supervision & Project Monitoring (40 hours); or    

    Work (24 hours) +   
    Supplemental Supervision & Project Monitoring (16 hours)

    Lead Worker Work (24 hours)
     
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    Refreshing old Training?
    If you are applying for a new certificate and it has been more than 1 year since you completed your DHS-approved training, you must "refresh" that training by taking DHS-approved Continuing Education before applying for certification. The type of continuing education you should take depends on which lead certificate(s) you want to get.  Look at the chart below to see which continuing education is required for the certificate you want to get.

    Starting August 23, 1998, if it has been more than 3 years since you completed your DHS-approved training, you must retake that training from a DHS-approved training provider before applying for certification.
     
    Type of Certificate Required "Refresher" Continuing Education
    Lead Inspector/Assessor   
    Lead Project Monitor   
    Lead Project Designer 
    General Continuing Education (7 hours)
    Lead Supervisor General Continuing Education (7 hours); or   
    Worker Continuing Education (7 hours)
    Lead Worker Worker Continuing Education (7 hours)
     

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    Renewing an Existing Certificate?
    If you are renewing your certificate(s), you must take continuing education.  The type of continuing education you should take depends on which lead certificate(s) you have.  Look at the chart below to see which continuing education is required for the certificate you want to get.  
    Type of Certificate Required Continuing Education
    Lead Inspector/Assessor   
    Lead Project Monitor   
    Lead Project Designer 
    General Continuing Education (7 hours)
    Lead Supervisor General Continuing Education (7 hours); or   
    Worker Continuing Education (7 hours)
    Lead Worker Worker Continuing Education (7 hours)
     
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    Training Costs:
    DHS does not keep information on prices.  Prices vary depending upon the type of course and training provider. Contact training providers directly for prices and to compare costs.
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    Recommendations:
    DHS does not recommend one training provider over another.  The Training Providers listed here meet DHS’s minimum requirements for accreditation.  To ensure that a training provider will be able to meet your needs, you may wish to contact several training providers and ask each for three references who are in a field of work similar to yours.

    For example, if you are a painting contractor, ask for the names of three other painting contractors who have taken training from those training provider.  Contact the references and ask if they were satisfied with the training provider and the course.

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    Applying for Certification: 
    After you finish your course, you must apply to DHS separately for certification.  You do not become automatically certified when you complete a DHS-approved course.  The course “certificate” that your training provider may give you is not the same as a DHS certificate.  If you have not done so already, get the Application Forms and Instructions to apply for or renew your certificate.
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    Your Comments:
    DHS is always interested in hearing what you thought of your lead-related construction training and continuing education.  If you have comments about a DHS-accredited training provider or a DHS-approved course, call the Lead-Related Construction Information Line at 1-800-597-LEAD, or write to:

    Department of Health Services
    Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch
    Lead-Related Construction Unit
    1515 Clay St. Suite 1801
    Oakland, CA 94709
    Attention:  Training Comments

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