In Texas, mold assessment and mold remediation are licensed work through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, under Occupations Code Chapter 1958. Before hiring anyone for mold work, check the individual license and the company license for the part of the job they will do, using the name and number they give you.
Key takeaways
- Texas issues a Mold Assessment Consultant license for assessment and a Mold Remediation Contractor license for removal, and both are issued by TDLR.
- Companies that do mold assessment or remediation hold their own company license, in addition to the licenses of the people who work for them.
- A company doing this work must carry commercial general liability insurance of at least one million dollars per occurrence, as TDLR requires.
- One party may not both assess and remediate mold on the same project, except for a school district project.
- Ask for the license numbers in writing and check each one with TDLR before any work is booked or paid for.
- A firm that cannot give you a license number for the part of the work it will do should not be hired for that part.
What license types does Texas issue for mold work?
Texas issues a Mold Assessment Consultant license, usually called a MAC, for assessment, and a Mold Remediation Contractor license, usually called an MRC, for removal. Companies that perform the work also hold company licenses.
The MAC license covers looking for mold, deciding where to sample, and writing the assessment. The MRC license covers carrying out remediation to a written scope. These are different licenses for different jobs, and a person licensed for one is not automatically licensed for the other.
The table in this guide sets out the license types and what each covers. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation is the agency that issues them, and its own website is where you check them.
| License | Held by | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Mold Assessment Consultant (MAC) | An individual | Assessing mold: inspecting, sampling where needed, and writing the assessment |
| Mold Remediation Contractor (MRC) | An individual | Removing or cleaning mold to a written scope |
| Company license | The business | The company that performs mold assessment or remediation, which also carries liability insurance |
| Water extraction and drying with no mold work | Not stated on this site | Ask the firm which license, if any, it holds for that work |
How do I check a license with TDLR?
Ask for the individual's full name and license number, and for the company's license number, then check each one on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's own website. Confirm that the license is current and that its type matches the part of the work being offered.
Write down the names and numbers as they are given to you, and check them yourself rather than relying on a copy someone sends you. A number that does not appear, or a name that does not match the number, is a reason to stop and ask again.
Check the license type as well as the number. A consultant who is licensed to assess is not thereby licensed to remove, and a contractor's license does not cover writing the assessment for the same project.
Does the company need its own license as well?
Yes, where the company itself performs mold assessment or remediation. The company license is separate from the licenses of the individuals who work for it, and it should be checked in the same way.
A company may employ licensed people and still lack the company license it needs. Ask the company to give both the company license number and the names and numbers of the people who will do the work, and check each one.
The company license is the business's own record with the state. If a firm cannot show you one, ask it to explain why before you go further.
What liability insurance should the company carry?
Under TDLR's rules, a company doing mold work carries at least one million dollars per occurrence in commercial general liability cover. Request a certificate, dated and current, naming the company that will do the work.
The insurance is there so that a homeowner has a company that can meet a claim if its work causes damage. A certificate that names a different company, or that has expired, does not show the protection you need.
Ask the insurer or the broker to confirm the policy is in force for the dates of your job. Keep the certificate in the same file as the license checks and the written scope.
What should I ask for in writing before work begins?
Ask for each party's license number and type, the company license number, the insurance certificate, a written assessment or scope, and a written price for each part. Ask who will carry out each part, so the record shows the separation the Texas rules require.
A written scope from the assessor, and a written price from the remediator that follows it, are the two documents that protect you most. Keep both. A verbal promise is not a license, and a price that does not match a written scope is a warning sign.
Confirm the start date, the areas to be covered and the steps for any post-removal check, if one is part of the scope. These details should be on paper before anyone begins.
What if a person has no license number to give?
Do not go ahead with that part of the work. A person who cannot give a license number for mold assessment or remediation is not someone to hire for those tasks, however knowledgeable they seem.
Mold work in Texas is licensed work, and the license is the state's record that the person or company meets the requirements. A reputable firm will give you its numbers without difficulty and will expect you to check them.
If the person says a license is not needed for the job, ask them to name the license they believe applies and to show you where it is recorded. The answer tells you whether they understand the rules they are working under.
What about water extraction and drying when no mold is involved?
This site does not state a license for water extraction and drying on jobs where there is no mold work. Ask the firm which license, if any, it holds for that work, and keep the answer in writing.
The mold licenses described in this guide apply to mold assessment and remediation. Water work without mold is a different question, and the answer depends on the work and on what the firm holds. Asking directly avoids assumptions in either direction.
If mold is found during water work, the mold rules apply from that point, and the licensed parties must be engaged for the mold part of the job.
What if a license has lapsed, changed or does not match the job?
A license that has lapsed, has been changed or does not match the work offered is a problem to resolve before anyone begins. The license must be current and of the right type for each part of the job, and the check should be repeated if the job runs for a long time or the team changes.
A license can be expired, suspended or of a different type from the one a person describes. The check you made when you hired the firm is a snapshot, so repeat it if the start of the work is delayed by weeks, or if the person who arrives on site is not the person you checked.
If the license on the record does not match the work, do not let that part begin. Ask the firm to explain the difference in writing and to bring in a licensed party for the part it cannot cover. A firm that objects to that request is telling you something about how it operates.
What should I keep on file for a later question?
Keep the names and license numbers, the dates you checked them, the company's insurance certificate, the written assessment and the written scope, all in one place. That file is what you will want if a question about the work comes up months or years later.
Write down the date of each check, the name of the person who checked, and the result. A printed record with the date is more useful than a memory of a phone call. Store copies of the certificate and the scope with the same records.
Keep the file where a later buyer, tenant or insurer could be shown it. A homeowner who holds a complete file can answer questions about who did the work, under which license, and on what written scope, without having to rebuild the history.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues mold licenses in Texas?
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, known as TDLR, issues the mold assessment and mold remediation licenses under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1958.
What is the difference between a MAC and an MRC?
A Mold Assessment Consultant assesses mold and writes the assessment. A Mold Remediation Contractor removes or cleans mold to a written scope. The two are separate licenses, and on one project they must be held by different parties, except for a school district project.
Is a license number on a business card enough?
No. Check the number yourself with the state, confirm the name matches, and confirm the license is current and of the right type for the work being offered.
Do I need to check the company as well as the person?
Yes, where the company performs mold work. The company license and its liability insurance are separate checks from the license of the individual who does the work.
What if the firm offers to do both the assessment and the removal?
On a project that is not a school district project, the Texas rule does not allow one party to do both. Ask the firm which license it holds for each part, and hire a separate licensed party for the other part.
Can this site check a license for me?
No. This site does not hold license records. Use the state's own records through TDLR, and keep the results with the job file.
What do I do if the name and the number do not match?
Stop before you agree to anything and ask the person or firm to confirm the number in writing. A mismatch can be an honest error in a quote or a mistake in a form, but it can also be a sign that the license belongs to someone else. Do not proceed until the license you check is the one you were given, under the name of the person who will do the work.
Is a verbal assurance that a firm is licensed enough?
No. A verbal assurance is a starting point for the check, not the check itself. Ask for the numbers in writing, look each one up with the state, and keep a note of the date and the result.
Sources
This guide is general information for Lubbock County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.