EPA's Draft Criteria for Radon Credentialing Organizations

On this page:

• Proposed Radon Credentialing Criteria
• List of Radon Credentialing Organizations
• Summary of August 2017 Federal Register Notice
• Background on the EPA’s Role Establishing Standards for Qualified Radon Service Providers

Proposed Radon Credentialing Criteria

Based on stakeholder feedback received through a 2017 Federal Register Notice and consideration of conformity assessment practices in place across the federal government, in March 2023, the EPA released Proposed Radon Credentialing Criteria, composed of an Evaluation Framework and Implementation Approach. The comment period for the EPA’s proposed radon credentialing criteria closed on June 21, 2023. The EPA is processing feedback received to inform the path forward.

• Access the criteria document.
• See the Federal Register Notice.

These criteria will help align and encourage consistency across radon credentialing programs operated by certification bodies and states. The criteria are designed to support establishment and maintenance of a base level of organizational and program-specific competencies, grounded in third-party accreditation to ISO/IEC 17024:2012, while still maintaining flexibility for state-run programs.

April 12, 2023 Information Session

The EPA hosted an information session about the criteria addressing the EPA’s role in overseeing quality of radon service providers and conformity assessment and application of voluntary consensus standards within federal programs.

• See the presentation slides.
• Read the questions and answers document.
• Watch the recording.

List of Radon Credentialing Organizations

As part of the Implementation Approach, the EPA will maintain a list of credentialing organizations and accreditations bodies that are recognized by the EPA as meeting the Evaluation Framework.

While the criteria are being finalized, the EPA will continue to acknowledge the two certification bodies that have met the EPA’s previously established criteria to perform radon inspections, use certified radon measurement equipment, and perform radon mitigation activities:

• National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP)
  Toll Free: (828) 348-0185
  Email: National Radon Proficiency Program (info@nrpp.info)
• National Radon Safety Board (NRSB)
  Phone: (914) 345-1168
  Fax: (914) 345-1169
  Email: National Radon Safety Board (info@NRSB.org)

Once the criteria are finalized and during the 3-year phase-in period, in addition to these two certification bodies, credentialing organizations and accreditation bodies that are recognized by the EPA as meeting the Evaluation Framework will also be listed.

After the 3-year phase-in period, only credentialing organizations and accreditation bodies that are recognized by the EPA as meeting the Evaluation Framework will be listed.

Summary of August 2017 Federal Register Notice

An August 2017 Federal Register Notice outlined proposed non-regulatory criteria aimed at establishing consistency across credentialing programs. These criteria included a third-party process for accrediting radon professional credentialing organizations to an international standard for certification bodies (International Organization for Standardization/ International Electrotechnical Commission [ISO/IEC] 17024:2012), options for how the Agency might support development of a certification scheme(s) as a means to support organizations seeking accreditation to ISO/IEC 17024:2012, and a proposal for how to address testing devices within the criteria. The Agency requested public comment on the proposed approach, including:

• whether the criteria should apply to state-run credentialing programs and what, if any, standards or requirements should apply to accreditation bodies;
• whether the EPA should support development of ISO/IEC 17024:2012 program-related components (certification scheme); and
• scope of the effort, including devices, laboratories and radon service provider job categories.

Background on the EPA’s Role Establishing Standards for Qualified Radon Service Providers

Since 1988, the EPA has administered a non-regulatory program under the Indoor Radon Abatement Act (IRAA) to reduce exposure to indoor radon by promoting awareness, testing, installation of radon mitigation systems in existing homes, and use of radon-resistant new construction (RRNC) techniques in new buildings. The EPA works with state and tribal programs, industry, and the public to reduce human exposure to radon, thereby reducing lung cancer deaths. Access to quality service providers who possess the skills required to measure indoor radon levels and conduct mitigation when necessary is essential to this mission.

Historically, the EPA has played a key role in establishing a standard of quality for radon service providers. The EPA has developed and maintained a provider credentialing program (or provider proficiency program) and completed a one-time evaluation of two certification bodies in 2001: the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP; initially affiliated with the National Environmental Health Association and currently affiliated with the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists) and the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB). Since then, the EPA has maintained oversight of radon credentialing systems, provided an associated national radon reference, and supported development of and access to standards of practice for radon measurement and mitigation. Taken together, these activities align with the EPA’s authority to operate a proficiency program designed to identify quality radon measurement and mitigation service providers and radon measurement devices. It is important to note that the EPA does not have statutory authority to require actions on the part of state or tribal governments, with the exception of requirements set forth as conditions for receiving funding.