Lead testing: a guide for pros
What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.
Offering lead testing
You test paint, dust, soil and water for lead, using on-site methods and lab samples to report what is present. Clients rely on you for correct sampling, a clear report and an honest explanation of what the results mean for their home and their work.
What customers ask
- Which tests do I need for this renovation?
- Are you certified, and can I see your credentials?
- How long until I have the lab results?
- Do you test dust and soil too?
- What should I do if the paint is positive?
- Can I share the report with my contractor or buyer?
How to win the job
- On the first call, ask for the home's age, the planned work, the occupants and any children in the home, then say which tests fit the job
- Test the painted surfaces that will be disturbed by the work, and mark each one on a floor plan in the report
- Put the tests, the lab names and the turnaround in the proposal, with the number of samples for each
- Explain in writing how the results apply to children and to the work the client plans, using plain words
- Give the client a list of lead-safe work practices for the planned work, and tie them to the test results
- Offer a clearance test after the work, with the method and the lab named in the proposal
What to put on your profile
- Post a sample report with the floor plan, the test points and the results table, with client details removed
- List the tests you run, including on-site paint tests, dust wipes, soil and water samples
- Show your sampling method in photos, including the protective equipment you use
- State your certification, your license and the states where you test
Follow-up that helps the customer
- Offer a clearance test after the renovation, to confirm the area is safe to reoccupy
- Suggest a retest of dust in high-traffic areas after the work, especially where children play
- Offer to keep the test results and the floor plan on file for the owner's future work
Licenses and permits
Lead testers and inspectors commonly need a state certification, and some states require a separate license for lead risk assessment. Check with your state or local health or environmental agency for your certification, the training rules and the reporting requirements before you take the work.
Questions
What do I do if a client asks me to test only the surfaces that look good?
Explain that the plan should cover the surfaces the work will disturb, not only the ones that look fine. Put the scope in the proposal, and note in the report which surfaces were left out and why.
How do I explain a positive result without causing panic?
State the result, where it was found and what it means for the planned work. Give the client the lead-safe practices and the next step, in plain language, and do not overstate the risk or the cure.
How do requests reach me on infinibell?
Customers describe the job and pick the pros they want by name, and only the pros they picked see the request. Joining is free. You pay only for the leads you accept, and you can decline a request for free. Every pro is reviewed before going live.
About this guide
This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
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