Mold Frequently Asked Questions

• Multi-cellular fungi, similar to mushrooms and yeast
• Thousands of species, found naturally in both indoors and outdoors
• Can have different colors, with fuzzy, slimy or powdery appearance
• In nature, mold helps decompose dead leaves, wood and plant debris
• Emits musty odor when present in large quantities
• Needs three basic conditions to grow:
  • water/moisture (typically more than 55% indoor humidity levels)
  • organic food source (paper, fabric, sheetrock, etc.)
  • proper temperature (typically 40OF to 99OF)
• Mold can begin to develop and grow on damp surfaces within 24 to 48 hours
• Reproduce through tiny airborne spores
• Impossible to ‘mold-proof' your house; however, mold growth can be reduced by controlling indoor humidity levels and eliminating water leakage/problems

• Health problems can potentially occur when people inhale large quantities of airborne mold or are allergic to mold. This typically occurs indoors where there is a lack of air circulation in an enclosed space.
• Exposure by swallowing moldy/spoiled food.
• Vulnerable populations include infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, people with allergies and asthma, and people with compromised immune system.
• Symptoms can be immediate or delayed:
  • a) Common Symptoms: Wheezing, difficulty breathing, nasal congestion, eye, nose and throat irritation, skin rashes
  • b) Severe Symptoms: Headache, fatigue, nausea, memory problems, mood swings, fever
• Keep in mind that symptoms associated with mold exposure may also be caused by many other illnesses. Consult a health professional if you suspect you have been exposed to mold and are exhibiting symptoms.

• In most cases, air sampling and mold testing is unnecessary. There are currently no EPA or Federal standards for mold, so any interpretation of sampling results would not be based on any established health or environmental standard. If the total mold affected area is less than 10 square feet (approximately 3' by 3' square) and you do not have any sensitivity towards mold, mold removal may be done on your own.
• Biocide is not recommended as a routine cleanup for mold as it may cause sensitivity in some people. Ventilate the room if a biocide is used. Observe and follow the manufacturer's labeling instructions.
• If the total mold affected area is more than 10 square feet or if you have sensitivity towards mold, consider hiring a professional for assessment and remediation.

Do:

• Use non-ammonia soap and hot water for cleaning; dry thoroughly
• Use personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles) if necessary
• Throw out items that are extensively damaged by mold. Wrap and seal in a plastic bag prior to disposal

Do Not:

• Mix ammonia and bleach for cleaning as this could release toxic fumes
• Paint or caulk over moldy surfaces
• Leave any areas of dry mold remain after cleaning since this could still cause allergic reactions in some people

The key to mold control is moisture control. Practice the following housekeeping tips to reduce moisture and humidity in your house:

1. Allow adequate air flow - open windows, use exhaust/vent fans when high humidity is present inside the house
2. Reduce humidity inside the house - air-conditioning, dehumidifiers, use of heavy plastic to cover earth floors in crawl spaces,
3. Eliminate water problems - repair water leaks, get rid of standing water, insulate cold surfaces to prevent water condensation, slope the ground away from the house foundation, ensure air-condition drip pans and drain lines are dried, cleaned and drained properly
4. Dry water-damaged items within 24 to 48 hours. If mold is already present, scrub the mold off the surface completely and dry thoroughly.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Environmental Protection Agency
• New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• New York State Department of Health

A Mold Project is defined as mold remediation, mold assessment, or mold abatement, of areas greater than ten (10) square feet undertaken for purpose of mold remediation or abatement.  It does not include:

1. routine cleaning, or
2. construction, maintenance, repair or demolition of buildings, structures or fixtures undertaken for purposes other than mold remediation or abatement.

The mere presence of mold does not trigger any obligation to obtain an assessment or perform remediation. However, if a property owner does elect to hire either an assessor or remediator, for the purposes of mold assessment or remediation, those individuals must be licensed and follow the requirements in the law.

Presently, there are five (5) mold-related licenses:

1. Mold Assessor License
2. Mold Assessment Contractor License
3. Mold Remediation Contractor License
4. Mold Abatement Worker Supervisor License
5. Mold Abatement Worker License

An applicant for a Mold Assessor License must:

• be eighteen (18) years of age or older,
• satisfactorily complete a Mold Assessor Training Course from a Department of Labor approved training provider,
• submit a fully complete application,
• pay the statutorily required application fee of $150, and
• submit proof of employment by a licensed Mold Assessor Company.

• Any business that engages in mold assessment on a project, advertises that it is a mold assessment business, or holds itself out as a mold assessment business.
• Any individual engaged in mold assessment.

Mold assessment is defined as any inspection or assessment of property for the purpose to discover mold, conditions that facilitate mold, and/or any conditions that indicate they are likely to encourage mold.

An applicant for a Mold Assessment Contractor License must:

• be eighteen (18) years of age or older,
• satisfactorily complete a Mold Assessor Training Course from a Department of Labor approved training provider,
• submit a fully complete application,
• pay the statutorily required application fee of $150, and
• submit proof of:
  • Workers' Compensation Coverage, if required
  • Disability Insurance Coverage, if required
  • Liability Insurance Coverage of at least $50,000 providing coverage for claims from the licensed activities and operations performed according to New York State Labor Law  Article 32.

An applicant for a Mold Remediation Contractor License must:

• be eighteen (18) years of age or older,
• satisfactorily complete a Mold Remediation Contractor Training Course from a Department of Labor approved training provider,
• pay the statutorily required application fee of $500, and
• submit proof of:
  • Workers' Compensation coverage (if required),
  • Disability insurance coverage (if required),
  • Liability insurance coverage of at least $50,000 providing coverage for claims from the licensed activities and operations performed according to New York State Labor Law Article 32.

An applicant for a Mold Abatement Worker Supervisor License must:

• be eighteen (18) years of age or older,
• satisfactorily complete a Mold Remediation Contractor Training Course from a Department of Labor approved training provider, and
• pay the statutorily required application fee of $50.

An applicant for a Mold Abatement Worker License must:

• be eighteen (18) years of age or older,
• satisfactorily complete a Mold Abatement Worker Training Course from a Department of Labor approved training provider, and
• pay the statutorily required application fee of $50.

Yes, the following persons/entities are not required to obtain a license in order to perform mold assessment, remediation, or abatement:

1. A residential property owner who performs mold inspection, assessment, remediation, or abatement on his or her own property;
2. A non-residential property owner, or the employee of such owner, who performs mold assessment, remediation, or abatement on an apartment building owned by that person where the property has four or fewer dwelling units;
3. An owner or a managing agent or a full-time employee of an owner or managing agent who performs mold assessment, remediation, or abatement on commercial property or a residential apartment building of more than four dwelling units owned by the owner. This exemption will not apply if the managing agent or employee engages in the business of performing mold assessment, remediation, or abatement for the public; and
4. A federal, state, or local governmental unit or public authority and employees thereof that perform mold assessment, remediation, or abatement on any property owned, managed, or remediated by such governmental unit or authority.

The Department will maintain a list of approved training providers and their respective websites on the Department of Labor Mold Program website.

Interested members of the public who wish to enroll in a class can contact the mold training provider directly for more information. Please note that the list of approved training providers is subject to change, and will be updated periodically.

Students who completed initial mold training but never obtained a license can take the mold refresher.  However, depending on the amount of time that has passed since completion of their initial mold training course, the student's mold refresher may not be valid for obtaining the mold licensing requirements.

Training providers should advise students to apply for a mold license within two years of completing the initial mold training course.  Students who apply for a mold license more than two years after completing the initial mold training course must also show proof of completing a mold refresher course within three years of the initial course and every other year thereafter in order to be eligible for licensure.  If a mold refresher course was not completed within the appropriate timeframe(s), the student will be required to repeat the initial mold training course in order to apply for licensure.

No. Labor Law Article 32 Section 946 (1) provides that a licensed mold remediator cannot perform work on a project without an assessment performed by a licensed assessor. Before beginning site preparation work, the law requires that a licensed remediator:

• obtain a copy of the licensed mold assessor's mold remediation plan from the client;
• prepare a mold remediation work plan ("work plan") that fulfills all of the requirements of the licensed assessor's mold remediation plan; and
• provide a copy of the newly prepared "work plan" to the client.

No, cost estimates for mold remediation projects should not be provided in the absence of a mold assessment. Providing a cost estimate to the client prior to a mold assessment eliminates the consumer protection aspect of having an independent mold assessor and mold remediation contractor on the project. In accordance with Article 32 of the New York State Labor Law (Article 32), one of the objectives of the mold assessment is to provide the client with information they can use to determine the scope of the remediation.

The licensed mold assessor prepares a mold remediation plan which includes a cost estimate for the completion of the mold abatement. A copy of this plan should be given by the client to the mold remediation contractor to develop a work plan and quote for the project.

In accordance with Article 32 Section 946, the mold remediation contractor shall prepare a work plan which fulfills all the requirements of the mold assessor's remediation plan. This work plan shall be given to the client before mold abatement work begins. This process is further explained in the department's fact sheet, What to Expect When You Hire a Mold Assessor or Mold Remediation Contractor

• The mold license is no longer valid and the individual or company cannot perform work on a mold project until the license is renewed.
• If the license has lapsed for less than or exactly one year from the expiration date, the license can be reinstated by completing a mold refresher course and submitting the application package and non-refundable fee. Note that the new expiration date will be advanced two years from the original expiration date (not from the date of receipt of the renewal application). For example, if a license expires on January 31, 2018 and the applicant submits the renewal application late on August 31, 2018, the new expiration date will be January 31, 2020 (not August 31, 2020). Submitting a renewal application late results in a reduced licensure term for the applicant.
• If the license has lapsed for more than one year from the expiration date, the applicant will be required to repeat the initial mold training course before reapplying for licensure, unless the applicant can show proof of completing a mold refresher course in the appropriate timeframe.

To renew a mold license, applicants must:

• Satisfactorily complete a four-hour mold refresher course from a Department-approved training provider. Please check Approved Mold Training Course Providers for a list of Department-approved training providers.
• Submit the appropriate mold application form(s) and pay the statutorily required application fee(s). The application forms are located on the Department's Documents and Publications webpage.
• Submit proof of Workers' Compensation coverage, and Disability and Liability insurance coverage if required (refer to application form instructions).

The Department recommends that applicants apply for a mold license within two years of completing the initial mold training course.

Applicants who apply for a mold license more than two years after completing the initial mold training course must also show proof of completing a mold refresher course within three years of the initial course and every other year thereafter in order to be eligible for licensure. If a mold refresher course was not completed within the appropriate timeframe(s), the applicant will be required to repeat the initial mold training course in order to apply for licensure.

Students who completed initial mold training but never obtained a license can take the mold refresher.  However, depending on the amount of time that has passed since completion of their initial mold training course, the student's mold refresher may not be valid toward the mold licensing requirements.

Training providers should advise students to apply for a mold license within two years of completing the initial mold training course. Students who apply for a mold license more than two years after completing the initial mold training course must also show proof of completing a mold refresher course within three years of the initial course and every other year thereafter in order to be eligible for licensure. If a mold refresher course was not completed within the appropriate timeframe(s), the student will be required to repeat the initial mold training course in order to apply for licensure.

If a mold license is lost or stolen prior to its expiration, the licensee may request a replacement. The licensee should submit a letter to the Department which includes the licensee's name, DMV ID number, address, and an explanation of the loss. The letter should be sent to the address below. No fee is required for replacement licenses.

NYS Department of Labor
License and Certificate Unit
Building 12 - Room 161A
State Office Campus, Albany, New York 12240

Any change to the information contained in the license application should be reported to the Department in writing within 30 calendar days of the effective date of the change. Such changes include (but are not limited to) changes in address, company ownership, insurance coverage, etc. The updated license information should be submitted to the License and Certificate Unit at the address below.

NYS Department of Labor
License and Certificate Unit
Building 12 - Room 161A
State Office Campus, Albany, New York 12240