The Contractor Coaching Partnership Blog

I am a contractor in MA. have a job starting in June on an old house.So do I have to take the 4 day class and test for $575? 
or can I just do the EPA test and get a certificate for $195? 
I am getting mixed messages. The building inspectors have no idea. Any idea if the building permit requires this to be approved???

Hi 
 
You will need to do two things; 
 
1. Become a certified firm by filling out the application for Firm Certification and sending 300.00 to the EPA. 
 
2. Sign up and take the EPA RRP Certified Renovator Course. 
 
Currently the EPA is the administrator and enforcer of the law. The state of Mass is seeking authorization to take this over right now. The building inpsectors do not have to request this certification right now. That may change when the state takes over. 
 
I am meeting with the EPA, The DOS and the Building inspectors next week to discuss this issue and more. I will be blogging about it when I have factual information form the meeting. 
 
 
 

Whenever the adds start is up to the EPA. I think its time the industry takes matters into their own hands.They did this in the 70s and called it something else Money is all this is for. It's so easy to find some one with the certs they need to do a job. People run a business with out anything they need by finding suckers that spent there money for classes like this. I have every cert there is in masshole and to tell you the truth you really don't need any. Most contractors pay people as subs any way. Every time they come up with a bullshit cert.. bookworms think they need all this to do business. Run an add and find what you need or hit the yellow pages to find a person with a cert. The building inpsectors do not have to request this certification right now. That may change when the state takes over....May change till then save your money.When you add it up it's the new people coming up in the construction back round that thinks he needs all the certs. I have run a business for over 30 years. Trust me loop holes are out there. People need things done they want it done. I think it's great they have classes for people so they don't get hurt or exposed to jobs they should know about. But we did the lead thing one guy takes the lead off one guys cleans it. It cost home owners millions of dollars with the back fire the state made on all the bad calls with lead paint on the grounds or in the houses. More people know contractors no the business better than any one when your working in the business every day.It's people like this and the state that give contractors a bad rap. Then the money they spend to educate contractors or collage kids to enforce they new rule.Every contractor knows a job has to be safe,on time and clean or they would be out of business. Do your self a favor save your money. There is no work out there. Theres money out there to get what you need for nothing. Don't be fooled by hog wash that book worms sell you. From what we see its all about money. Home owners that try to be a contractor them self get screwed any way. Maybe they should spend money on finding all the cheap help that carry a green card to work in the usa lol. Hell I could sell you a cert for that that the state will love you. Remember how hard it is to run a business in Ma already. Not many young people even want to do construction so your stuck with older contractors that know more than you ever will. Just a point I want to put out there. but someone always wants your money. Its so much better not to have certs and pay no tax. You want a good class the IRS will show you how to save money running a business and will help you get what you need.Good luck if you think you will get a job full time because you have a cert lol.