TEXAS MOLD REMEDIATION CONTRACTOR STATE EXAM LATEST UPDATED 2026 (THIS IS A STUDY GUIDE FOR THE TEXAS MOLD STATE EXAM
Can mold be found anywhere? ✔️yes, they can grow on virtually any organic substance (food)
What is needed for mold to to grow? ✔️moisture and oxygen must be present
What is the key to mold control? ✔️Moisture control
According to the EPA, what is the ideal RH? ✔️30 - 50% (below 60%)
If water is detected how quickly should it be cleaned and dried to prevent mold growth? ✔️within 48 hours
What are the EPA regulations for mold? ✔️There are no EPA regulations for mold
What is PPE? ✔️personal protection equipment
What is the minimum PPE recommended? ✔️N-95 respirator, gloves and eye protection.
What should a remediation plan include? ✔️1. Steps to fix the water/moisture problem
2. The use of PPE
3. The steps to contain and remove moldy building materials to avoid spreading
What is the remediation manager's highest priority? ✔️The protection of the occupants and remediators health and safety.
Remediation involves what 3 steps according to the EPA book? ✔️1. Fix the water/humidity problem
2. Continue to communicate with building occupants
3. Completely clean up mold and dry water -damaged areas
What are possible locations for hidden mold according to the EPA book? ✔️pipe chases, utility tunnels, walls behind furniture, condensate drain
pans inside air handler, porous thermal/acoustic liners in duct, roof materials above ceiling tiles
What three water (clean) damaged materials are recommended to discard and replace? ✔️1. ceiling tiles
2. cellulose insulation
3. fiberglass insulation
What should you do if the building occupants are reporting serious health concerns? ✔️Advise them to consult a health professional
According to the EPA, what are the 4 clean-up methods? ✔️1. Wet Vacuum
2. Damp-wipe
3. HEPA Vacuum
4. Discard
What 2 clean-up methods are the same for concrete or cinder block regardless of the square footage? ✔️1 and 3 - Wet vac or HEPA vac
Which clean up method can be used on every piece of material or furnishing affected? ✔️3 - HEPA vacuum
For non-porous, hard surfaces such as plastics and metals, regardless of amount, which cleaning methods are recommended. ✔️1,2 and 3
Wet vacuum, damp wipe or HEPA vacuum
According to the EPA, why is it recommended to clean up mold? ✔️It gradually destroys the things it grows on.
How should materials that cannot be salvaged be disposed of? ✔️Double bagged using 6 mil poly. Bags must be sealed before disposal to
minimize mold dispersion. Large items with heavy mold should be covered with poly sheeting and sealed with duct tape.
Is there special disposal instructions once bagged? ✔️No, mold can be disposed of like regular garbage.
, What size surface area is limited containment? ✔️10 to 100 sq feet
What size surface area is full containment used? ✔️More than 100sf
What is a PAPR and when is it recommended? ✔️Power air purifying respirator used in full containment situations. It uses a blower to force air
through the HEPA filter that is supplied to a mask that covers the entire face.
The containment must be maintained by what type of pressure? ✔️Negative
Double layers of 6 mil poly should be used in what type of containment? ✔️Full - surface area greater than 100 square feet
What type of containment is recommended in the EPA guidance for 10 to 100sf? ✔️Minimum
1. one layer of fire retardant 6mil poly
2. hvac return/supply blocked
3. slit opening and flap on the outside of containment
4. objects being removed must be cleaned/remediated prior to removal
5. the containment is to be ventilated with HEPA ventilation unit exhausted outside the building
What containment is recommended for removal of mold by the EPA for greater than 100sf? ✔️Full
1. double layers of fire retardant 6 mil poly
2. a decon chamber or airlock constructed for entry into and exit from remediation area (airlock chamber)
3. slit entry with flap
4. should be large enough to hold waste container and allow person to put on/remove PPE, all contaminated PPE should be placed in sealed
bag in this chamber, excluding respirators
5. respirators should be worn until outside decon chamber.
PPEs must be worn when during full containment? ✔️Must be worn throughout the final stages of HEPA vacuuming and damp wiping of the
contained area. PPE must also be worn during HEPA vacuum filter changes or cleanup of the HEPA vacuum
What are acute reactions to mold? ✔️Acute is short term
Are severe, immediate reactions usually occurring after a single exposure
What are chronic effects of mold exposure? ✔️might take days to years to appear and usually from repeated small exposures
How does hazardous substance (mold) enter the body? ✔️1. inhalation (breathing)
2. skin absorption
3. ingesting (swallowing)
What do the effects of hazardous substances depend on? ✔️1. the chemical/material (what)
2. the concentration (how much)
3. the route of entry (how its taken into the body)
4. the duration of exposure
What are the potential health effects of mold? ✔️1. allergic reaction/disease
2. irritant effects
3. infections
4. toxic effects
Can mold be found anywhere? ✔️yes, they can grow on virtually any organic substance (food)
What is needed for mold to to grow? ✔️moisture and oxygen must be present
What is the key to mold control? ✔️Moisture control
According to the EPA, what is the ideal RH? ✔️30 - 50% (below 60%)
If water is detected how quickly should it be cleaned and dried to prevent mold growth? ✔️within 48 hours
What are the EPA regulations for mold? ✔️There are no EPA regulations for mold
What is PPE? ✔️personal protection equipment
What is the minimum PPE recommended? ✔️N-95 respirator, gloves and eye protection.
What should a remediation plan include? ✔️1. Steps to fix the water/moisture problem
2. The use of PPE
3. The steps to contain and remove moldy building materials to avoid spreading
What is the remediation manager's highest priority? ✔️The protection of the occupants and remediators health and safety.
Remediation involves what 3 steps according to the EPA book? ✔️1. Fix the water/humidity problem
2. Continue to communicate with building occupants
3. Completely clean up mold and dry water -damaged areas
What are possible locations for hidden mold according to the EPA book? ✔️pipe chases, utility tunnels, walls behind furniture, condensate drain
pans inside air handler, porous thermal/acoustic liners in duct, roof materials above ceiling tiles
What three water (clean) damaged materials are recommended to discard and replace? ✔️1. ceiling tiles
2. cellulose insulation
3. fiberglass insulation
What should you do if the building occupants are reporting serious health concerns? ✔️Advise them to consult a health professional
According to the EPA, what are the 4 clean-up methods? ✔️1. Wet Vacuum
2. Damp-wipe
3. HEPA Vacuum
4. Discard
What 2 clean-up methods are the same for concrete or cinder block regardless of the square footage? ✔️1 and 3 - Wet vac or HEPA vac
Which clean up method can be used on every piece of material or furnishing affected? ✔️3 - HEPA vacuum
For non-porous, hard surfaces such as plastics and metals, regardless of amount, which cleaning methods are recommended. ✔️1,2 and 3
Wet vacuum, damp wipe or HEPA vacuum
According to the EPA, why is it recommended to clean up mold? ✔️It gradually destroys the things it grows on.
How should materials that cannot be salvaged be disposed of? ✔️Double bagged using 6 mil poly. Bags must be sealed before disposal to
minimize mold dispersion. Large items with heavy mold should be covered with poly sheeting and sealed with duct tape.
Is there special disposal instructions once bagged? ✔️No, mold can be disposed of like regular garbage.
, What size surface area is limited containment? ✔️10 to 100 sq feet
What size surface area is full containment used? ✔️More than 100sf
What is a PAPR and when is it recommended? ✔️Power air purifying respirator used in full containment situations. It uses a blower to force air
through the HEPA filter that is supplied to a mask that covers the entire face.
The containment must be maintained by what type of pressure? ✔️Negative
Double layers of 6 mil poly should be used in what type of containment? ✔️Full - surface area greater than 100 square feet
What type of containment is recommended in the EPA guidance for 10 to 100sf? ✔️Minimum
1. one layer of fire retardant 6mil poly
2. hvac return/supply blocked
3. slit opening and flap on the outside of containment
4. objects being removed must be cleaned/remediated prior to removal
5. the containment is to be ventilated with HEPA ventilation unit exhausted outside the building
What containment is recommended for removal of mold by the EPA for greater than 100sf? ✔️Full
1. double layers of fire retardant 6 mil poly
2. a decon chamber or airlock constructed for entry into and exit from remediation area (airlock chamber)
3. slit entry with flap
4. should be large enough to hold waste container and allow person to put on/remove PPE, all contaminated PPE should be placed in sealed
bag in this chamber, excluding respirators
5. respirators should be worn until outside decon chamber.
PPEs must be worn when during full containment? ✔️Must be worn throughout the final stages of HEPA vacuuming and damp wiping of the
contained area. PPE must also be worn during HEPA vacuum filter changes or cleanup of the HEPA vacuum
What are acute reactions to mold? ✔️Acute is short term
Are severe, immediate reactions usually occurring after a single exposure
What are chronic effects of mold exposure? ✔️might take days to years to appear and usually from repeated small exposures
How does hazardous substance (mold) enter the body? ✔️1. inhalation (breathing)
2. skin absorption
3. ingesting (swallowing)
What do the effects of hazardous substances depend on? ✔️1. the chemical/material (what)
2. the concentration (how much)
3. the route of entry (how its taken into the body)
4. the duration of exposure
What are the potential health effects of mold? ✔️1. allergic reaction/disease
2. irritant effects
3. infections
4. toxic effects
