California Asbestos License Lookup

In California, asbestos contractor licenses are required for contractors and other employers who engage in asbestos-related projects.

There are three types of asbestos licenses in California: an asbestos contractor license, an asbestos consultant certification, and a site surveillance technician certification. California asbestos certifications are usually required for participation in projects in which 100 feet or more of the surface area contains asbestos construction materials, with an asbestos fiber content of an excess of 0.1%.

The Asbestos Contractors Registration Unit (ACRU) is responsible for overseeing and validating the initial registration and renewal of asbestos licenses in California. The ACRU also superintends administrative disciplinary action against registrants and abet the compliance efforts of the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) enforcement District office.

A Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC) is a health professional qualified to render health and safety services on asbestos-containing construction materials comprised of a total surface area of 100 square feet or more. These certified professionals can engage in contract administration, building inspection, clearance monitoring, sample collection, e.t.c.

A Certified Site Surveillance Technician (CSST) is an independent on-site representative of a certified asbestos consultant. The responsibilities of a site surveillance technician include motoring asbestos abatement activities and providing professional air motoring services for samples and the site in general. A certified asbestos consultant may also direct a site surveillance technician to perform contract administration or site surveys.

Per section 341.15 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR), an asbestos consultant or site surveillance technician certification is required for individuals who render asbestos health and safety services in California. The Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Asbestos Consultant Certification Unit, superintends the state's registration process for both professionals (CAC and CSST).

Asbestos contractors' licenses may be looked up through the Asbestos Registrant Database, while both asbestos consultants' and site surveillance technicians' certifications may be verified through the DOSH certification search page. Inquirers may also verify an asbestos consultant's or site surveillance technician's certification by email at ACTU@dir.ca.gov.

California Asbestos License Lookup

In California, inquirers can look up an asbestos license by viewing the entire listing of the asbestos registrant database or the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) certification database. Interested persons may skim through these databases to verify an asbestos license using personal information provided by an asbestos contractor, certified asbestos consultant (CAC), or accredited site surveillance technician (CSST).

Alternatively, the asbestos registrant database may be sorted or searched using the search form provided on the Asbestos Registrant Database page. The database may be sorted by the name of registered contractors, Doing Business As (DBA) name, city, state, registration number, contractor's state license board (CSLB) number, and telephone area codes. Depending on the contractor's information, these categories may be used individually or as a combination to perform a search.

The following rules are applicable to the categories used to sort or perform a search on the asbestos registrant database:

Search by number: When using a registrant's number to perform a search, note that contractors who specialize exclusively in services such as roofing and flooring are not required to have a CSLB California Asbestos (ASB) certification. An R or F is also placed before the registrant number of these types of contractors by the Asbestos Contractors Registration Unit (ACRU). Hence, inquirers may use an F or R instead of using the registrant number when searching for flooring and roofing specialists.
Search by name: when performing a search by contractor name, the names reflected on the asbestos registrant database list are the legal names of registrants, including; the names on their CSLB license, other registered DBA names (as a contractor), names registered with the secretary state (as non-contractor private entities), and statutory names registered with public agencies. Note that registrants are required to work under these names. The database also uses periods and spaces ( for example. ABC, A B C, or A. B. C.) as identifiers, and names with these particularities are placed at the beginning of an alphabetic list. On the other hand, names with continuous letters (e.g. ABC) are considered words and are placed alphabetically on the database.
Search by city or area code: performing a search using this category does not indicate that a contractor strictly works in a particular city or area code. Contractors often have multiple offices or work out of different states. It is advisable to contact the contractor directly to make inquiries or review local phone or business directories.

Although the asbestos registrants database is updated regularly, some registrants with expired licenses may remain on the database. However, these registrants are not allowed to work pending the successful renewal of their licenses. After successfully performing an asbestos registrant's database search and selecting a contractor, the inquirer would be directed to the registration detail information page.

An asbestos consultant certification may be verified through their DOSH identification card and a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) refresher training certificate. The personal information obtained from these certifications and forms of identification may be used to perform a search on the DOSH certification database. Building owners/homeowners may also request this personal information from consultants. The required information needed to perform a search includes the consultant's last name, affiliation (employer), and city of the consultant. These parameters (fields) may be used individually or as a combination to perform a search on the DOSH certification database.

Typically an "AND" operator must be added after each parameter when using multiple parameters to perform a search. The inquirer would need to fill out at least one of the relevant search fields on the asbestos consultants and site surveillance technicians page to perform a search.

Asbestos License Renewal in California

In California, asbestos license renewal and registration applications are reviewed by the Asbestos Contractors Registration Unit (ACRU). An asbestos contractor license is only valid for a year after successful registration, and registrants would have to reapply each year to renew their license. During the renewal process, a registrant's Cal/OSHA compliance history for the past year will be reviewed by the ACRU. Other relevant information will also be reviewed to ascertain if an applicant can still provide a safe and sanitary workplace and working conditions.

Registrants may be penalized by the ACRU for Cal/OSHA citations and violations of relevant California Business and Professional Codes or environmental regulations. For minor offenses, evidence of counteractive measures used by a registrant may be requested by the ACRU. Furthermore, serious violations can lead to the ACRU taking administrative actions against a registrant. In critical cases, a probationary status may be entered against these individuals, and their asbestos contractor licenses may be suspended or revoked.

An asbestos consultant and site surveillance technician certification are renewed one year after their issuance. These certifications are renewed by completing the renewal request form and mailing the form with other relevant documents to the address provided at the bottom of the form.

Per section 341.15 of the California Code of Regulation (CCR), a renewal request must be made 60 days before the certification expires. As detailed in the certification renewal fact sheet, other documents and fees are required and must be submitted along with the renewal request form. These include:

A renewal fee of $325 for consultants and $270 for site surveillance technicians by check or money order payable to "Asbestos Certification Fund".
Two passport photographs that are not less than 20 days old.
Non-expired Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) certificates. Depending on the weather the renewal request form is submitted for an asbestos consultant or site surveillance technician certification, different AHERA certificates may be required. AHERA management planner and project designer certificates are required for asbestos consultants. On the other hand, AHERA contractor/supervisor and building inspector certificates are required for both asbestos consultants and site surveillance technicians.
Original form 5144 (if applicable); this form is submitted once, and yearly resubmission is not required.

Per section 341.15 of the CCR, asbestos consultants and site surveillance technicians must retake and pass all qualifying examinations for certification renewal past the certification expiry date. They would also need to pay a new application fee. It is also essential for consultants to take AHERA refresher courses regularly. Consultants and Site surveillance technicians are advised not to allow more than a year to pass between AHERA refresher courses to avoid complications during the renewal of certifications. If any AHERA course certificate expires before an asbestos consultant or site surveillance technician certificate, the registrant runs the risk of not meeting the requirements for renewal. However, there are no penalties for renewing certificates after their expiry.

California Asbestos License Application

Several requirements and registrations are needed to begin a California asbestos license application. Certain exceptional circumstances may also determine the requirements for the different asbestos license application processes.

To apply for a license, contact the Asbestos Contractors Registration Unit (ACRU) at ACRU@dir.ca.gov to request an asbestos contractor application packet or a certified asbestos consultant (CAC) and Site Surveillance Technician (CSST) application packet.

Subsequently, an asbestos contractor applicant would also need to contact the Contractor State License Board (CSLB) to request other pertinent licenses or certifications required for their license registration.

Contractors that are only seeking a Roofing Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) registration can alternatively obtain a California asbestos certification (ASB). A C-22 license must be obtained from the CSLB for contractors seeking unrestricted DOSH registration. A contractor can only request a C-22 license when undergoing their DOSH registration. Furthermore, private and public employers are not required to have a CSLB license when working on properties they own. However, a Cal/OSHA registration is required.

The necessary documents and proofs that must be provided by employers and contractors when registering with the ACRU as an asbestos contractor to perform asbestos-related works include:

Proof of registration with the Cal/OSHA.
A nonrefundable $125 application fee in check or money order made payable to the registrar of contractors.
A CSLB certification or license provided the contractor or employer is not operating on a self-owned property.
Health insurance coverage or a $500 per employee trust account to cover the medical expenses for medical examinations and monitoring of each employee. (This is not a requirement for contractors without employees.)
Workers' compensation coverage: this applies to every applicant, regardless of whether the applicant had any employees when submitting their application to the ACRU.
An OSHA competent person in the form of certified supervisor(s): Per 29 CFR 1926.32 (f), a competent person is proficient at identifying and predicting hazards in a working environment that poses health risks and threats to the overall safety of employees.
Training courses comprising Cal/OSHA-approved courses. These include the Cal/OSHA approved AHERA initial course and annual refresher for contractors/supervisors and abatement workers.
Evidence of the applicant's strict adherence to relevant asbestos-related standards.
Written operating policies and procedures for asbestos removal that the applicant would follow.
A list of equipment that would be used by the applicant to perform the asbestos-related work.

During the initial process of reviewing an application, the applicant's documents would be checked, their compliance history evaluated, and their procedures reviewed by the ACRU. Additional information may also be requested, explanations, or procedures re-evaluation. Provided the applicant passes the initial review process, a certificate of registration will be issued by the ACRU.

Under Chapter 6, section 6507 of the California Labor Code, a denied or revoked application for an asbestos license may be appealed to the director of the ACRU.

The first requirement for applying for an asbestos consultant or site surveillance technician certificate is being an American citizen, national, or qualified alien. To prove their eligibility, a registrant would need to complete and sign the Cal/OSHA-W-1 form (Attachment B), which is included in their application packet. The Cal/OSHA-W-1 form would be used to determine an applicant's eligibility, and it is a requirement for the application process.

In addition, a certified asbestos consultant (CAC) applicant would need different AHERA training certificates, including a building inspector, management planner, project designer, and contractor/supervisor certificate. A $500 check or money order payable to the asbestos consultant certification fund and credentials of all subsequent annual refresher courses the applicant takes are also required.

Other requirements include professional work experience and:

A high school diploma or equivalent and at least four (4) years of asbestos-related experience.
An associate arts degree in architecture, engineering, construction management, industrial hygiene, or a related biological or physical science and at least three (3) years of asbestos-related experience.
A bachelor's degree and at least two (2) years of asbestos-related experience.
A bachelor of science degree in architecture, engineering, construction management, industrial hygiene, or a related biological or physical science and at least one (1) year of asbestos-related experience.

Similarly, other requirements for a Site Surveillance Technician (CSST) certification include; a $400 check or money order payable to the asbestos consultant certification fund, an AHERA certificate for a building inspector, contractor/supervisor, and all subsequent annual refresher courses taken by the applicant.

The required education and work experience also includes a high school diploma or equivalent education and six (6) months of asbestos-related work experience under the direction of any certified asbestos consultant. Applicants are allowed to request to sit for the certification exam after three (3) months of qualifying work experience. However, a certification card can only be issued to applicants who have finished the additional three (3) months of qualifying work experience. The BP 7180A form (attachment A) must be completed to verify the applicant's qualifying work experience.

Penalties for Handling Asbestos Without a License in California

Per Section 6509 of the California Labor Code, entities (employer, organization, or contractor) can be found guilty of a misdemeanor for handling asbestos withOUT a license in California. Under Section 6509.5, an asbestos consultant found guilty of falsifying their reports or operating without a license may be charged with a misdemeanor. Further penalties may include; a fine of not less than $3000 and not more than $5000 or imprisonment of not more than a year in county jail.

Furthermore, according to Section 6510, the division may apply for an injunction from the superior court through their attorney to restrain the activities of an entity that is operating without a valid license in a county. However, the issuance of the injunction is left to the discretion of the superior court after all provided evidence and affidavits have been reviewed.