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Radon professional licensure now required in Colorado
DENVER - Consumers building or buying homes
should be aware that any associated radon
measurement or radon mitigation services must
now be performed by a licensed professional in
Colorado. This requirement took effect July 1.
A searchable database of licensees is available
here. More than 300 professionals have
obtained licensure to date.
The prevalence of homes with excessive levels
of radon had created a market in which
unqualified individuals were representing
themselves and practicing as radon
professionals. Licensure was created statutorily
as a consumer protection measure, ensuring
that these mitigation and measurement
professionals have the necessary minimum
qualifications.
Radon measurement professionals place and
retrieve measurement devices for the purpose
of collecting radon data. Radon mitigation
professionals identify, recommend and explain
appropriate radon abatement methods,
equipment and installation and handle the
mitigation process. Standards from the
American Association of Radon Scientists and
Technologists have been adopted into law for
professionals in the state.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas
that comes from the breakdown of uranium in
the soil that can enter homes from the soil
below. It is the second leading cause of lung
cancer in the U.S. among non-smokers,
responsible for approximately 500 deaths
annually in Colorado, according to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Data collected by the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment indicates that
approximately 50 percent of homes in Colorado
have radon levels higher than the EPA-
recommended action level of 4 picocuries per
liter of air (pCi/L). All of Colorado – not just the
mountains or foothills – is considered to be at
high risk for elevated indoor radon levels.
For questions regarding licensure as a Radon
Measurement Professional or Radon Mitigation
Professional, please contact dora_dpo_licensing
@state.co.us or 303-894-7800. Consumers may
file a complaint, including reports of unlicensed
practice, via the Office of Radon Professionals
Additional information on radon licensure is
available in the following booklet, also available