CDPH Lead Inspector/Assessor
California State Exam 2026 Questions
and Answers
Atomic Symbol for Lead and origin Latin word? - Correct answer-Pb; plumbum
meaning "liquid silver"
What form of lead is mostly used in the United States? - Correct answer-#1 Form:
Lead Acid Batteries, #2 Form: Ammunition, #3 Form: Paints & Coatings
Why is/was lead added to paint? - Correct answer-Durability. Other qualities
include: prevents mold growth & corrosion, soundproofing, quick drying.
What is white lead? - Correct answer-Major form of lead used in paint before
1950, it was the only white paint used in European paintings until 19th century,
heavy consistency, fastest drying white paint.
What does Presumed Lead-Based Paint refer to? - Correct answer-Residential
structures built prior to January 1, 1978/ also called Target Housing.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Supplied Air Respirators (SARs) must use what grade air and what hose length? -
Correct answer-Grade D Air (oxygen level greater than or equal to 19.5% and less
than or equal to 23.5%), hose must not exceed 300 feet in length.
When do you replace coveralls daily? When do you replace them weekly? -
Correct answer-Weekly replacement if exposed to 50 - 200 μg/m3. Daily
Replacement if exposed to more than 200 μg/m3.
When are you required to wear a respirator? - Correct answer-When an employee's
exposure to lead exceeds the PEL, work operations for which engineering controls
and work practices are not sufficient enough to reduce levels to below PEL, when
an employee requests a respirator, and when respirators are used for interim
practices during trigger tasks.
EPA/HUD definition of Lead-Based Paint? - Correct answer-≥ 0.5% by weight or
≥ 1.0 mg/cm2 or ≥ 5000 ppm
What year was the amount of lead that could be in certain coatings restricted to a
lead concentration of less than ≤ 0.06% lead by weight (≤ 600 ppm) if the coating
was applied to surfaces that could be accessible to children/the public and who by?
- Correct answer-1978; Consumer Product Safety Commission.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,What year was the allowable amount of lead further reduced if applied to surfaces
that could be accessible to children/the public and what was it lowered to? -
Correct answer-2009; ≤0.009% lead by weight (≤ 90ppm)
Who began phase out of lead gasoline for consumer use? What year and what act
officially banned it? - Correct answer-EPA; 1996 Clean Air Act.
In October (what year), the U.S. Congress passed a LAW called the Residential
Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act also known as ____. - Correct answer-
1992, Tile X or Title 10.
Title X lists 6 situations where lead is a hazard, what are they? - Correct answer-
Lead dust from lead-based paint (1) which is damaged or deteriorated, (2) on any
friction surface, (3) on any impact surface. (4) Lead-painted surfaces that a child
could chew. Lead-contaminated (5) dust anywhere in the home or (6) soil that is
above the acceptable standards set by the EPA.
When does the EPA/HUD Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP) under the
authority of the Toxic Substances Control Act apply, and what year was it
introduced/enforced? - Correct answer-Addresses hazards caused by renovation,
repair and painting work activities in any residential housing or child-occupied
facility constructed before 1978 (target housing). It does this by establishing
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, requirements for training/certifying workers, accrediting training providers etc.
2008/2010.
Proposition 65 requires what? - Correct answer-Requires California to publish a
list of chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects or reproductive harm
(lead).
When is a clearance required? - Correct answer-All permanent abatement activities
and temporary abatement when a child with elevated blood levels. Outdoor is
usually visual unless it's soil (must pass clearance).
Abatement for public and residential buildings which is designed to reduce lead
paint or lead hazards for a minimum of twenty years must be conducted by? -
Correct answer-Certified Lead Supervisor or Certified Lead Worker.
Abatement for public and residential buildings which is designed to reduce lead
paint or lead hazards for less than twenty years must be conducted by? - Correct
answer-According to procedures specified in HUD Chapter 11: Interim Controls,
"Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in
Housing".
What can a certified Worker do? How long is the course? State exam required yes
or no? - Correct answer-Perform Abatement, 3-day course, no state exam required
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
California State Exam 2026 Questions
and Answers
Atomic Symbol for Lead and origin Latin word? - Correct answer-Pb; plumbum
meaning "liquid silver"
What form of lead is mostly used in the United States? - Correct answer-#1 Form:
Lead Acid Batteries, #2 Form: Ammunition, #3 Form: Paints & Coatings
Why is/was lead added to paint? - Correct answer-Durability. Other qualities
include: prevents mold growth & corrosion, soundproofing, quick drying.
What is white lead? - Correct answer-Major form of lead used in paint before
1950, it was the only white paint used in European paintings until 19th century,
heavy consistency, fastest drying white paint.
What does Presumed Lead-Based Paint refer to? - Correct answer-Residential
structures built prior to January 1, 1978/ also called Target Housing.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Supplied Air Respirators (SARs) must use what grade air and what hose length? -
Correct answer-Grade D Air (oxygen level greater than or equal to 19.5% and less
than or equal to 23.5%), hose must not exceed 300 feet in length.
When do you replace coveralls daily? When do you replace them weekly? -
Correct answer-Weekly replacement if exposed to 50 - 200 μg/m3. Daily
Replacement if exposed to more than 200 μg/m3.
When are you required to wear a respirator? - Correct answer-When an employee's
exposure to lead exceeds the PEL, work operations for which engineering controls
and work practices are not sufficient enough to reduce levels to below PEL, when
an employee requests a respirator, and when respirators are used for interim
practices during trigger tasks.
EPA/HUD definition of Lead-Based Paint? - Correct answer-≥ 0.5% by weight or
≥ 1.0 mg/cm2 or ≥ 5000 ppm
What year was the amount of lead that could be in certain coatings restricted to a
lead concentration of less than ≤ 0.06% lead by weight (≤ 600 ppm) if the coating
was applied to surfaces that could be accessible to children/the public and who by?
- Correct answer-1978; Consumer Product Safety Commission.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,What year was the allowable amount of lead further reduced if applied to surfaces
that could be accessible to children/the public and what was it lowered to? -
Correct answer-2009; ≤0.009% lead by weight (≤ 90ppm)
Who began phase out of lead gasoline for consumer use? What year and what act
officially banned it? - Correct answer-EPA; 1996 Clean Air Act.
In October (what year), the U.S. Congress passed a LAW called the Residential
Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act also known as ____. - Correct answer-
1992, Tile X or Title 10.
Title X lists 6 situations where lead is a hazard, what are they? - Correct answer-
Lead dust from lead-based paint (1) which is damaged or deteriorated, (2) on any
friction surface, (3) on any impact surface. (4) Lead-painted surfaces that a child
could chew. Lead-contaminated (5) dust anywhere in the home or (6) soil that is
above the acceptable standards set by the EPA.
When does the EPA/HUD Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP) under the
authority of the Toxic Substances Control Act apply, and what year was it
introduced/enforced? - Correct answer-Addresses hazards caused by renovation,
repair and painting work activities in any residential housing or child-occupied
facility constructed before 1978 (target housing). It does this by establishing
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, requirements for training/certifying workers, accrediting training providers etc.
2008/2010.
Proposition 65 requires what? - Correct answer-Requires California to publish a
list of chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects or reproductive harm
(lead).
When is a clearance required? - Correct answer-All permanent abatement activities
and temporary abatement when a child with elevated blood levels. Outdoor is
usually visual unless it's soil (must pass clearance).
Abatement for public and residential buildings which is designed to reduce lead
paint or lead hazards for a minimum of twenty years must be conducted by? -
Correct answer-Certified Lead Supervisor or Certified Lead Worker.
Abatement for public and residential buildings which is designed to reduce lead
paint or lead hazards for less than twenty years must be conducted by? - Correct
answer-According to procedures specified in HUD Chapter 11: Interim Controls,
"Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in
Housing".
What can a certified Worker do? How long is the course? State exam required yes
or no? - Correct answer-Perform Abatement, 3-day course, no state exam required
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
