Radon professional licensure now required in Colorado

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 at https://apps.colorado.gov/dora/licensing/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery. 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 nonsmokers, responsible for approximately 500 deaths annually in Colorado, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

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