Asbestos Occupation Certification

The following are the minimum qualifications for each job category.

• Asbestos Air Sampling Professional - professional must satisfy one of the following qualifications for certification.
  1. Bachelor of Science degree in industrial hygiene plus one year of field experience.
  2. Master of Science degree in industrial hygiene.
  3. Certification as an industrial hygienist as designated by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.
  4. Three years of practical industrial hygiene field experience including significant asbestos air monitoring and completion of a 40-hour asbestos course (NIOSH 582 or equivalent) including air monitoring instruction. At least 50% of the three-year period must have been on projects where a degreed or certified industrial hygienist or a Missouri certified asbestos air sampling professional was involved.
  5. Other qualifications including, but not limited to, an American Board of Industrial Hygiene accepted degree or a health/safety related degree combined with related experience.
• Asbestos Air Sampling Technician - technicians are not required to be certified but are required to pass a training course and have proof of passage of the course at the site along with photo identification. The course shall include air monitoring equipment and supplies; experience with pump calibration and location; record keeping of air monitoring data for asbestos projects; applicable asbestos regulations; visual inspection for final clearance sampling; minimum of 16 hours of air monitoring field equipment training by a certified air sampling professional.
• Asbestos Inspector - copy of initial certificate from a Missouri-accredited AHERA inspector course and a high school diploma or its equivalent.
• AHERA Asbestos Management Planner - copy of initial certificate from a Missouri-accredited AHERA inspector course and a fully-approved U.S. Environmental Protection Agency- or Missouri-accredited management planner course. The individual must also hold a high school diploma or its equivalent.
• Abatement Project Designer - copy of initial certificate from a Missouri-accredited project designer course; engineering or industrial hygiene degree; working knowledge of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; high school diploma or its equivalent; at least four years experience in building design, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
• Asbestos Supervisor - copy of initial certificate from a Missouri-accredited AHERA abatement contractor/ supervisor course; one year full-time prior experience in asbestos abatement work or in general construction work.
• Asbestos Abatement Worker - copy of initial certificate from a Missouri-accredited AHERA worker training course.

Initial Certification

To become certified in one of the asbestos occupations, the individual must successfully complete a fully-approved Missouri-accredited AHERA training course and pass the training course exam. The applicant must also pass the Missouri Asbestos Exam with a minimum score of 70%. The Missouri Asbestos Exam is specific to the Missouri asbestos regulations and is in addition to the occupation-specific test given by your training provider. For more information, visit the department's list of Asbestos Training Providers and the training courses they are accredited to instruct. 

The individual must then submit a completed application for certification, proof of meeting the minimum qualifications for the job category, a recent passport-style color photo of the applicant's face and payment of the appropriate fees to the department. 

• Application for Asbestos Occupation Certification MO 780-2667

The application and additional documents may be submitted by email to AsbestosCertifications@dnr.mo.gov or by mail to the address noted on the application. The department will process certifications on a first-come, first-served basis. Please allow two weeks for processing from the date the department receives the application. The department will mail the certificate once it has received all necessary documentation and fees. 

Certification Renewal

The applicant must submit a completed application for certification, proof of completing a Missouri-accredited AHERA refresher class in that occupation, a recent passport-style color photo of the applicants face and payment of the appropriate renewal certification fee.

The fee payment may be made by check enclosed with the application or electronically. A convenience fee will be charged to all customers who wish to pay by electronic method.

The Missouri Asbestos Exam Fee submitted with the application is separate from the fee you may have been charged by your training provider to administer the exam.

• If you are currently certified in Missouri in another asbestos occupation, you do not have to submit the Missouri Asbestos Exam fee.
• If you are required to take the Missouri Asbestos Exam, submit the $25 fee with your application.
• If you are applying for certification in more than one occupation, only submit one Missouri Asbestos Exam fee.
• If your asbestos refresher training certificate has been expired for more than one year, you must retake and pass the Missouri Asbestos Exam and submit the $25 fee with your application.