Washington Asbestos Abatement Contractor License

Washington L&I certification is required before any asbestos abatement work begins. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries issues the asbestos contractor certificate under RCW 49.26.115. Operating without a current certificate is a WISHA violation and can result in project shutdowns and fines.

Who must hold the certificate

Any contractor performing asbestos removal, encapsulation, or enclosure in residential, commercial, or industrial structures must hold a valid L&I asbestos contractor certificate. The certificate must cover the type of work performed and be current at the time work begins.

Personnel requirements drive the certificate

The contractor certificate depends on having certified personnel in place. Before L&I issues a contractor certificate, the firm must have:

• At least one L&I-certified supervisor who has completed an L&I-approved asbestos training program meeting EPA Model Accreditation Plan (MAP) standards and passed the required supervisor examination (WAC 296-65-012 requires a 100-question closed-book exam with a minimum 70% passing score)
• Individual workers performing abatement tasks must also hold valid L&I worker certifications

Insurance via contractor registration: Asbestos contractors must hold a valid Washington contractor registration under RCW 18.27, which requires:

• General liability insurance in the amounts required by RCW 18.27.050 (property damage, per-person bodily injury, and aggregate minimums set by statute)
• Workers' compensation coverage (active L&I industrial insurance account or equivalent)

Fees and renewal

• Initial certificate fee: $1,050 (nonrefundable) per WAC 296-65-025
• Annual renewal fee: $1,050 per WAC 296-65-025 — renewal is every 12 months per RCW 49.26.115
• L&I coordinates the asbestos certificate expiration with the contractor's RCW 18.27 registration expiration date (WAC 296-65-017)
• Renewal applications must allow sufficient time for processing — submit before the expiration date

Penalties for unlicensed work

Performing asbestos abatement without a current L&I certificate is a WISHA violation. Under RCW 49.17.180, willful violations carry civil penalties up to $70,000 per incident (minimum $5,000 per willful violation). L&I enforcement can also result in certificate denial or revocation on subsequent applications.

*Verify current requirements with Washington L&I's asbestos certification program at lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/other-licenses-permits/asbestos-certification before bidding or performing abatement work.*