Mold Program

The Mold Program is responsible for enforcing Article 32 of the New York State Labor Law, establishes licensing requirements and minimum work standards for professionals engaged in mold assessment and remediation. There are three main components to the new law:

1. Training: The Mold Program will protect consumers by requiring contractors to obtain appropriate training prior to being licensed to perform mold assessment, remediation or abatement services.
2. Licensing: Contractors will not be allowed to advertise or perform covered work without the required license, with limited exceptions such as home or business owners performing work on their own properties.
3. Minimum Work Standards: The Mold Program also establishes new minimum work standards for mold assessments and remediation activities by licensed professionals, including:

• Protection against fraud by prohibiting the performance of both the assessment and remediation on the same property by the same individual;
• Protection against fraud by requiring an independent mold assessment to define the scope of the remediation work;
• Identification of disinfectant products, consistent with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards;
• Provision of personal protection equipment to employees, as necessary;
• Posted notice of the project and the contractor's licenses; and
• Completion of a post-remediation assessment.

What's Related

Compliance

The Mold Program establishes new minimum work standards for mold assessments and remediation activities by licensed professionals, including:

• Protection against fraud by prohibiting the performance of both the assessment and remediation on the same property by the same individual;
• Protection against fraud by requiring an independent mold assessment to define the scope of the remediation work;
• Identification of disinfectant products, consistent with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards;
• Provision of personal protection equipment to employees, as necessary;
• Posted notice of the project and the contractor's licenses; and
• Completion of a post-remediation assessment.

The Department of Labor enforces these work standards as well as mold-related licensing requirements.

Complaints

To submit a mold complaint, please fill out the following form. Once submitted an inspector from the district serving your county will investigate the complaint as soon as possible.

Licensing

Important!

Applications for Mold Licenses are now online.

This completely online system speeds up the application process and makes information about applications readily available, so we encourage all applicants to use MPWR for all their application needs. Using MPWR, you can:

• Pay online
• Submit and upload the required documentation
• Receive real-time updates about the status or issues with respect to their application

To access MPWR, create an ID at NY.gov and log into the MPWR homepage at https://mpwr-public.labor.ny.gov/en/login

The following changes to the Mold Licensing Program are now in effect:

• Applications for Individual Licenses and Business Licenses must be made separately
• The Fees for Mold Supervisors License and Individual Mold Assessor Licenses have been eliminated
• Application for Mold Remediation Contractor will no longer includes an individual license to work as a Mold Remediation Contractor Supervisor. Individuals wishing to apply for or renew their individual Mold Remediation Contractor License should use the Mold Supervisor License Application (Form SH127.2)
• Renewal applications cannot be submitted more than 90 days prior to the expiration of the current License

It is unlawful for any person to engage, advertise or hold themselves out as a mold assessor, remediation contractor, or abatement worker unless they have a valid mold license, issued by the Commissioner, for the type of work they will be performing. Individuals who do so may be subject to a civil penalty.

You can still apply using our new paper forms, which can be found on the Safety and Health Documents and Publications page.

As of July 1, 2023, only the most current version of the paper application forms will be accepted. Older versions contain outdated information and will be returned unprocessed.

For questions regarding mold-related licenses, please contact:

NYS Department of Labor
License and Certificate Unit
Building 12, Room 161A
State Office Campus, Albany, New York 12226
License& [email protected]
(518) 457-2735

Please consult the Mold-Related Licensing and the Mold License Renewal Frequently Asked Questions for details about the different mold-related licenses and their requirements.

Specific information for home inspectors can be found at Home Inspectors and Mold Assessment Licensing.

You may be required to take training in order to obtain a mold-related license. Please see the Required Training Courses to Obtain Mold-Related Licenses (PDF).

Licensed Mold Assessor and Mold Remediator Contractors

You can search for licensed mold assessor and mold remediator contractors by using the Department's Licensed Mold Contractors Search Tool.

Home Inspections and Mold Assessment Licensing

Persons who conduct home inspections as part of potential real estate transactions must also be licensed as a “Mold Assessor” IF their inspections/reports include an assessment of mold conditions in the home or property in question.

Excerpts From Labor Law Article 32:

Definition of “mold assessment”:

Ҥ 930. Definitions. As used in this article:

4. "Mold assessment" means an inspection or assessment of real property that is designed to discover mold, conditions that facilitate mold, indication of conditions that are likely to facilitate mold, or any combination thereof.”

Therefore, Home Inspectors need to be licensed if they also provide mold assessments as per:

“§ 931. Licensing requirements. 1. It shall be unlawful for any contractor to engage in mold assessment on a project, or to advertise or hold themselves out as a mold assessment contractor unless such contractor has a valid mold assessment license issued by the commissioner.”

Steps to obtain a “Mold Assessor” license:

1. Attend a DOL approved Mold Assessor course. Approved training providers can be found on the DOL website.
2. Pass the course. Full attendance is required.
3. The Training Provider for the course will issue a “certificate of completion” to the Licensee.
4. Licensee will then submit the application form, appropriate fee and a copy of the “certificate of completion” to DOL.
5. DOL will issue the Mold Assessor license, which is valid for two years.

For additional information contact:

New York State Department of Labor
Engineering Services Unit
Building 12, room 154
Albany, NY 12226
Phone: 518-457-1536

Licensed Mold Assessor and Mold Remediator Contractors

You can search for licensed mold assessor and mold remediator contractors by using the Department's Licensed Mold Contractors Search Tool.

Training

The Mold Program requires contractors to obtain appropriate training prior to being licensed to perform mold assessment, remediation or abatement services.

For assistance in determining appropriate training, please see the Required Training Courses to Obtain Mold-Related Licenses (PDF).

For questions regarding mold-related training providers, please consult the following:

• Mold Initial Course Curriculums (PDF)
• Mold Refresher Course Curriculum Information.
• For specific topics and issues that must be covered in the Case Studies & Group Discussion Forum section of the mold refresher course, please review the Supplement to the Mold Refresher Course Curriculum.
• Training providers who wish to conduct online mold refresher courses should also review the Online Mold Refresher Course Requirements.

For further questions regarding mold-related training providers, please contact:

NYS Department of Labor
Engineering Services Unit
Building 12 - Room 154
State Office Campus, Albany, NY 12226
P: (518) 457-1536
F: (518) 457-1301