Florida distinguishes itself because of its weather. You know you’re in Florida when, at any point of a sunny, delicious day, it starts raining…rains for a bit and stops, suddenly back to perfect sunshine again. Of course some days are deluges. This is all fine and good for Florida’s three climatic zones…
(which one could say is humid-hot, humid-hotter, humid-hottest), fine for Florida’s crop of verdurous flora, and even better for Florida’s unwanted crop of mold.
Because Florida may well lead the country in it’s mold crop (with Louisiana in close competition), it is no surprise that effective July 1, 2010, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation will soon be responsible for licensing mold assessors and remediators.
Florida is going to regulate business organizations which hold themselves out for hire to the public as “certified mold assessor,” “registered mold assessor,” “licensed mold assessor,” “mold assessor,” “professional mold assessor, ” etc…
According to Florida 468.8411 part (6): -effective July 1, 2010, a mold remediator may not perform any work that requires a license under chapter 489 unless the mold remediator is also licensed under that chapter or complies with that chapter.
This legislation also provides that a mold assessor must have at least a 2-year degree in microbiology, engineering, architecture, industrial hygiene, occupational safety, or a related field of science from an accredited institution and a minimum of 1 year of documented field experience in conducting microbial sampling or investigations; or the equivalent with a minimum of 4 years of documented field experience in conducting microbial sampling or investigations.
Bringing the entire field under the umbrella of state licensure will clean shop. It is about time that states provide an official sanction for those with good moral character, a personal history of honesty, fairness, and respect for the rights of others and for the laws of this state and nation.
Florida’s mold legislation is here. Let’s hope the rest of the country will follow suit.