The Hazardous Substance Removal Certification is issued by the Contractors State License Board to contractors who already hold a listed license class, including A, B, C-12, C-21, C-36, C-57 and C-61/D-40. Whether a water damage job needs the certification is not confirmed by the sources this guide uses, so the question should be put to the crew directly.
Key takeaways
- The Hazardous Substance Removal Certification is issued by the Contractors State License Board in California.
- It is attached to an existing contractor license and is not a license on its own.
- The listed classes are A, B, C-12, C-21, C-36, C-57 and C-61/D-40.
- No California license category specific to mold removal was found in the sources this guide uses.
- Whether a particular water damage job requires the certification is not confirmed, so the answer should come from the crew in writing.
- Check any license number and classification with the Contractors State License Board before work begins.
What is the Hazardous Substance Removal Certification?
It is a certification the Contractors State License Board issues to contractors who already hold one of several license classes. It covers the removal of hazardous substances, and it is held in addition to the contractor license, not in place of it.
A contractor license tells you what kinds of work a business is allowed to perform. The certification adds a specific authority on top of the license, in this case for the removal of hazardous substances. A business that does not hold a qualifying class cannot hold the certification, and it cannot use the certification to extend its license.
The distinction matters for a water job, because a crew may describe its credentials in ways that blur the license and the certification. Ask for the license number and the classification first, and then ask whether the certification is also held and whether it applies to the work.
| Class | Shown on the board's listing | What to check on the crew's paperwork |
|---|---|---|
| A | Listed as a qualifying class | Whether the crew's license is in this class |
| B | Listed as a qualifying class | Whether the crew's license is in this class |
| C-12 | Listed as a qualifying class | Whether the crew's license is in this class |
| C-21 | Listed as a qualifying class | Whether the crew's license is in this class |
| C-36 | Listed as a qualifying class | Whether the crew's license is in this class |
| C-57 | Listed as a qualifying class | Whether the crew's license is in this class |
| C-61/D-40 | Listed as a qualifying class | Whether the crew's license is in this class |
Does a water damage job need the certification?
The sources used for this guide do not confirm whether a particular water damage job requires the certification. The answer depends on the material involved and the work, and the crew should explain its position in writing before work starts.
Clean water from a supply line that is dried in place is often a different matter from water that has contacted contaminated ground, sewage or a chemical. Where removal of hazardous material is part of the work, the certification question becomes more relevant, and the crew should say so.
This guide does not decide that question for any job. It sets out what the certification is and what to ask, so that you can get a clear answer from the crew and check the answer against the Board's own information.
Is there a mold license in California?
No California license category specific to mold removal was found in the sources this guide uses. Mold work may fall under other classes or under the certification, but that is a question to check with the Board and the crew, not a claim made here.
A mold certification offered by an industry body is not the same as a state license. Some crews hold industry training or certificates, and those can be useful evidence of training. They should be presented as what they are, and a crew should not describe an industry credential as a state license.
Ask the crew what any mold credential is, who issued it and whether it has legal standing in California. If the answer is that it is an industry credential, that is useful information, and it is the answer to record.
How do the license and the certification fit together?
The license is the base, and the certification is an addition attached to certain license classes. A valid license in a listed class is the precondition for the certification, and a crew should be able to show both on request.
Think of the license as the permission to work in a trade and the certification as a further permission in one area. Both matter, and neither replaces the other. A crew that shows a certification but not a license has not shown what you need to know.
Ask for the license number and the classification, then check them with the Board. Once the license is confirmed, ask whether the certification is held, and ask the crew to show the paperwork for it.
What should you ask a crew about the certification?
Ask for the license number and classification, whether the certification is held, whether it applies to your job and the reason in writing. Ask how the water was categorized and what material, if any, is being removed.
A good answer is short and specific. It names the license, says whether the certification is held, explains whether it is needed for this job and gives the reason. It does not promise an outcome, and it does not rely on a general claim that every water job needs the certification.
If the answer is vague, ask for it in writing and keep the reply with the scope. A written answer is the record that a board, an insurer or a court would look at first, so it is worth asking for.
How do I check a license and a classification?
Check the license number and classification with the Contractors State License Board. The Board's own licensing classifications page lists the classes and their descriptions, including the certification.
Use the license number the crew gives you, not a name alone, since a business can trade under a name that is similar to another. Compare the classification on the license with the Board's list of classes, and note the date you checked.
If the license or classification does not match what the crew told you, stop and ask the crew to explain before any work starts. A mismatch is a reason to pause, not a reason to assume it is a mistake.
What if a crew says the certification is not needed?
Ask why, and ask for the reason in writing. A crew that says the certification is not needed should be able to explain how the water was categorized and what the removal work involves.
The reason should refer to the water and the materials, not only to the crew's experience. A crew that has classified the water and can show the readings is in a better position to say whether the certification applies than one that makes a general statement.
If you are not satisfied with the reason, check the question with the Board before you approve the scope. You can also ask a second contractor to read the same scope and say whether it agrees.
What does this mean for a homeowner or a business owner?
It means asking the right questions before work begins, keeping the answers in writing and checking the license with the Board. The certification is one credential among several, and it does not answer every question about a water job.
A homeowner can do the checks in a few minutes and keep the record in one file. A business owner can add the license number and the certification details to the vendor file, so that the same question does not have to be asked again for each job.
The point of this guide is not to make the certification sound required or unnecessary. It is to make sure you know what it is, which license it attaches to and what to ask, so that the answer is yours to judge.
How should the crew record its decision on the certification?
The decision should be written on the scope, with the water's category, the material involved and the reason the certification does or does not apply. A decision with no written reason is worth asking the crew to complete.
Ask the crew to put its decision in one short paragraph on the scope. The paragraph should name the source of the water, the category, any material being removed, and the license class and certification that apply. A brief written decision of this kind is easy to check against the Board's information.
Keep the decision in the file with the readings and the photographs. If the decision changes later, because the water is found to have a different source, the crew should record the change and the reason for it on a revised scope.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hazardous Substance Removal Certification a state license?
It is a certification the Contractors State License Board issues to contractors who already hold a listed license class. It is held in addition to the license, and it is not a license on its own.
Which classes can hold the certification?
The sources list classes A, B, C-12, C-21, C-36, C-57 and C-61/D-40. Check the Board's classifications page to confirm the current list before relying on it.
Does a water damage job need the certification?
The sources used for this guide do not confirm that. Ask the crew for its position in writing, with the reason, and check the answer against the Board's information.
Is there a California mold license?
No California mold-specific license category was found in the sources used for this guide. An industry mold certificate is not a state license, and a crew should say so if it holds one.
How do I check a contractor?
Use the license number the crew gives you and check it with the Contractors State License Board. Compare the classification on the license with the classes the certification attaches to.
What should I do if the answers do not match?
Stop before any work begins and ask the crew to explain the difference in writing. A mismatch between a license and what the crew says it holds is a reason to pause and check with the Board.
Where should I keep the crew's decision?
Keep it with the scope, the readings and the license details, in the same file. A written decision on the certification question is the record that matters if the work is reviewed later.
Sources
This guide is general information for San Diego County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.