Becoming Certified to Perform Radon-Related Services

The Radon Certification Act (act of July 9, 1987, P.L. 238, No. 43) requires the Department to establish, by regulation, a certification program for persons conducting radon gas and radon progeny testing, laboratory analysis and mitigation of radon contamination in buildings. Pursuant to the act the Department promulaged radon certification regulations at 25. Pa. Code Chapter 240.

The primary purpose of the Radon Certification Act and the subsequent Chapter 240 Radon Certification Regulations (see this webpage for links to Chapter 240 Regulations) is to protect the health and safety of the public and to protect the public from unqualified or unscrupulous persons.

Radon certification has been required by Pennsylvania state regulation since September 21, 1988. Radon certification must be obtained before any person conducts radon testing, radon mitigation, or radon laboratory analysis in Pennsylvania, with the exception of the few activities listed below:

  • Testing for or mitigating against radon contamination in a building that the person owns or occupies.

  • Using measures designed to prevent radon contamination in newly constructed buildings. This exception does not apply to radon testing or installation of radon mitigating devices in these buildings following occupancy.

  • Performing testing or mitigation in the course of the person's normal duties as an employee or contractor of DEP or the federal government.

  • Performing scientific research if the person discloses the information obtained to the DEP (relating to reporting of information) and the person informs the owner or occupant of the affected building of the following:

    1. That the person in not certified by the Department to test or mitigate against radon contamination.

    2. That the test results are not certified.

    3. That the mitigation methods are for experimental purposes and may be unsuccessful.

  • Distributing, but not placing or retrieving passive radon testing devices, such as charcoal canisters or track etch monitors supplied by a certified laboratory, if radon concentrations determined are reported directly to the owner or occupier of the building tested.
The Two Types of Certification Applications Are:
  1. Initial Radon Certification Application
    • Any applicant:
      • that has never been previously certified, or
      • whose previous certification has expired for one year or longer, or
      • whose previous certification has expired for more than 60 days but less than one year (These applicants must submit an initial application with the exeption that they may choose to either submit proof of passing the required exam OR 16 credits of DEP-approved continuing education.)

  2. Renewal Radon Certification Application
    • Any applicant whose renewal application is received by DEP within 60 days after the previous certification's expiration date.

NOTE
Please allow 30 days for initial or renewal application processing.
Pennsylvania Radon Certification Forms

DEP's eLibrary contains the most recent versions of the Bureau's various Radon Certification Forms.

Submitting DEP 45-day Reporting
NOTE
45-day reporting is required for all primary testers, mitigators and laboratories
Determining Timeliness of 45-Day Reporting

A 45-day late reporting fee letter assessing the $100 fee will be sent if there is a lapse in required reporting greater than 90 calendar days from:

  • The latest test end date received for testing/laboratory reporting

  • The latest mitigation completion date received for mitigation reporting

  • The last date a report of "no radon activities performed" was submitted
(NOT the date the testing/laboratory and/or mitigation reports were submitted and/or received by the Department.)

If no reportable radon-related activity is performed for more than a 45-day period it is the certified individual's responsibility to report this via the main menu on the DEP GreenPort interface or to the Department in writing.

If both the $100 fee and the updated reporting are not received within the required 30 calendar day period, the department may suspend the applicable radon certification until both items are received.

What Certification Number to Use When Submitting Reporting
  • If there is a firm certification, all firm employees and the certified individual in responsible charge of that firm's reportable radon-related activities must submit that reporting under the Firm's DEP certification number.

  • If there is only an individual certification and there is no associated firm certification for that reportable radon-related activity, then that individual must report under their individual DEP certification number.
Web-based Reporting:  DEP GreenPort Webportal
  • The GreenPort is DEP’s computer based website that will allow you to submit and track your 45-day reporting electronically.
  • Reporting via DEP's GreenPort web-based method will be mandatory after January 1, 2010

  • Everyone required to submit 45-day reporting will receive a letter containing a PIN #. If you have not received a PIN # please contact us.

  • For detailed instructions on accessing the new web-based GreenPort system:
  • Primary testers and laboratories and mitigators will have two options for submitting reporting via the DEP GreenPort:
    1. submit each report individually,
           - or -
    2. upload a TXT (comma delimited text) or CSV file of many reports at once. The final uploaded version of your data must be in TXT (comma delimited text) or CSV if you are using another format you must Save As one of these two formats. For Instructions on uploading formating (Section 3.2)

Paper Reporting
  • Only the DEP paper report form will be accepted. To access these forms and codes please click on the links listed below
    • Testing/Laboratory Report Form (Section 3.4)
      • Includes list of codes for completing the testing/lab report form (Section 3.4.1)

    • Mitigation Report Form (Section 3.5)
      • Includes list of codes for completing the mitigation report form (Section 3.5.1)

  • No paper reporting will be allowed after January 1, 2010. All reporting after January 1, 2010, must be submitted via DEP's web-based GreenPort (above).