Radon Reporter Dec 2024

14 | December 2024 THE RADON REPORTER | 15 PROFICIENCY NRPP’s Certification Council recently approved updated NRPP’s compliance policies. The updates included: 1. Clarified policy and process for filing complaints against NRPP-certified professionals; 2. Detailed descriptions of various types of infractions and associated disciplinary actions for each class of infraction; 3. New policy and procedures for filing complaints against NRPP and its certification programs; and 4. New policy and procedures for filing an appeal. 1. Complaints against certified professionals are for instances in which the certified professionals’ work is not in compliance with the ANSI/AARST Standards or whose behavior is not in agreement with the NRPP Code of Ethics/ Certification Terms Agreement. Formal complaints are submitted to the Compliance Office on a completed Complaint Form and accompanied by evidence to support the complainant’s claim. Evidence may include but is not limited to photos and copies of communications such as texts, emails, contracts, and test results. The Compliance Office will not consider complaints received through other means. Complaints can be submitted by an aggrieved party (e.g. person who owns or occupies the property), a contractor (certified or not), a State Radon Office, or a certifying, code, health, environmental or licensing agency (public or private). Contractors may assist an aggrieved party in compiling evidence and submitting a complaint against a certified professional or may independently submit a complaint directly to NRPP. Contractors do not need to be certified to submit a complaint against a certified contractor. The NRPP handles contractual complaints that pertain to compliance with national standards or fulfilling the terms of the contract, including guarantees and warranties. Contractual issues that are beyond the scope of the complaints process include complaints about pricing, timelines, competitive practices, and market activities. Complainants are advised to seek legal remedies on a local basis for these issues. The policy for filing a complaint against NRPP-certified professionals and NRPP’s procedure for handling these complaints, including timelines and classes of infractions, can be downloaded here . 2. NRPP has identified four classes of infractions for noncompliance with the NRPP Code of Ethics/Certification Terms Agreement and ANSI/AARST Standards and has assigned disciplinary actions for substantiated violations in each class. Classes range from A through D and increase in severity moving from A to D. The goal of NRPP’s compliance process and disciplinary policy is to correct any issues with the certified professional’s work and resolve the complainant’s concerns, educate the certified professional and nurture professional practice & conduct, and prevent the issue from happening again. In all cases, not responding to a disciplinary inquiry or not cooperating with an investigation automatically results in a Class D infraction, which is the most severe. Class A and B violations are the least severe of the 4 classes. The initial corrective action requires the certificant to return to the building and correct any issues with the work they performed. Additional continuing education may be assigned, depending on the class of violation and severity of the infraction. Class C violations are those that place the homeowner in short term imminent danger and require immediate correction. Class C infractions may require a third-party inspection, paid by the certificant, to ensure the issue has been adequately corrected and the risk eliminated. Class D infractions are the most serious type of violation and involve actions that violate the NRPP Exam Conduct and Confidentiality Agreement (i.e., failing to maintain the security of exam content), actions that violate the NRPP Code of Ethics/Certification Terms Agreement such as deception or dishonesty about any activity related to NRPP (i.e., falsifying certification documents), violating the terms of a client contract (i.e., accepting payment for services and PROFICIENCY not performing those services) and acts of discrimination, assault, battery, harassment or non-consensual physical contact involving a customer, member of a customer’s family or NRPP personnel). A detailed description of the classes of infractions can be found here. 3. Complaints against certification activities are for instances in which individuals believe that NRPP is not in compliance with its own policies or with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17024, policies have been unfairly applied, or certification decisions are unjust or inaccurate. This category includes complaints against NRPP’s policies, certification requirements, certification decisions, and complaints about anyone involved in any part of the certification process such as training providers, exam proctors, and NRPP employees and volunteers. Disputes and grievances are considered informal complaints and are not governed by this policy or processed according to this procedure. NRPP staff are encouraged to resolve disputes and grievances as they occur and are empowered to do so. The complainant is encouraged to file a formal complaint if the issue cannot be resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction or when an acceptable resolution cannot be reached by informal means. To be considered a formal complaint, the party must complete and submit a Complaint Form . The policy for filing a complaint against NRPP or its certification programs and NRPP’s procedure for handling these complaints, including timelines, can be downloaded here . 4. Appeals may be filed by examinees, candidates and certified professionals (certificants) against any decision that adversely affects their certification. Decisions that may be appealed include, but are not limited to: • Reconsideration of Eligibility Decision. Candidates whose initial course is rejected or who are denied certification for any reason may file an appeal to request a reconsideration of the denial decision. • Reconsideration of Recertification Decision. Individuals whose recertification requirements are rejected or who are denied recertification for any reason may file an appeal to request a reconsideration of the denial decision. • Reconsideration of Disciplinary Decision . Certificants and examinees may file an appeal if they disagree with discipline administered as a result of a conduct or compliance issue. • Reconsideration of Other Adverse Certification Decision. Examinees, candidates and certificants may file an appeal against any other decision that adversely affects their certification, such as denial of a testing accommodation. Appellants must submit a completed Appeal Form within 30 days of the decision they are appealing. Failure to submit an appeal within thirty calendar days shall be deemed a waiver of the individual’s right to protest the charges. All appeals are handled by NRPP’s Certification Management Committee. The policy for filing an appeal and NRPP’s procedure for handling appeals, including timelines , can be downloaded here. All compliance policies can be found on the NRPP website. Under the HOME tab select File a Complaint . Compliance Updates (continued on next page)