To do asbestos abatement work in Michigan, you need a Michigan asbestos abatement contractor license issued by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA), and every individual worker, supervisor, inspector, project designer, or management planner on the job needs personal accreditation matching their role. The license belongs to the company. The accreditation belongs to the person. You need both, and you renew both every year.
Which Agency Issues the License
MIOSHA’s Construction Safety and Health Division, inside the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, handles contractor licensing and individual accreditation.1Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Asbestos Abatement Contractor Licensing That is the agency to contact for applications, renewals, and questions about accreditation status.
A separate agency, the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), regulates the environmental side of asbestos projects, including the pre-project notification required before disturbing asbestos. EGLE does not issue the license. Contractors routinely confuse the two, so keep them straight: MIOSHA for the credential, EGLE for the project notice.
Contractor License vs. Individual Accreditation
Michigan splits its asbestos credentials into two layers, and you need to understand which one applies to you.
The contractor license is held by the company. Any business performing asbestos demolition, renovation, or encapsulation work in Michigan must hold one. To qualify, the company has to submit an application to MIOSHA, pay the license fee, prove it carries Michigan workers’ disability compensation insurance, and indicate whether it holds liability insurance.2Michigan Legislature. Asbestos Abatement Contractors Licensing Act, Act 135 of 1986 Every employee or agent who will touch the project must already hold valid personal accreditation before the company can obtain or renew the license.
Individual accreditation is held by the person and comes in five categories, each tied to a specific state-approved training course meeting EPA and OSHA standards:3Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Asbestos Program Training Courses
- Contractor/Supervisor, for the person managing an abatement project on site. Initial training is 40 hours.
- Abatement Worker, for anyone physically handling or removing asbestos. Initial training is 32 hours.
- Project Designer, for professionals who plan projects and design containment systems. Initial training is 24 hours.
- Inspector, for anyone surveying buildings to identify asbestos-containing materials. Initial training is 24 hours.
- Management Planner, for professionals who develop long-term asbestos management plans for building owners. Initial training is 16 hours.
A one-person contractor still needs both credentials: the company license plus the individual accreditation for whatever role that person fills on site.
Fees
The contractor license fee depends on how many employees the company has doing abatement work:2Michigan Legislature. Asbestos Abatement Contractors Licensing Act, Act 135 of 1986
- Four or fewer abatement employees: $200 initial, $100 renewal.
- Five or more abatement employees: $400 initial, $300 renewal.
Individual accreditation is billed separately under the Asbestos Workers Accreditation Act. Each role (contractor/supervisor, worker, inspector, project designer, or management planner) costs $50 for initial accreditation and $25 for reaccreditation.4Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 338.3414 – Schedule of Fees
Annual Renewal and Refresher Training
Both credentials expire yearly.
For the contractor license, renewal means a new application to MIOSHA and the renewal fee ($100 or $300 depending on company size).2Michigan Legislature. Asbestos Abatement Contractors Licensing Act, Act 135 of 1986
For individually accredited workers, supervisors, inspectors, project designers, and management planners, annual renewal means completing a state-approved refresher course. Refreshers are offered online or in person and cover regulatory updates, safety protocol changes, and abatement method advances.3Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Asbestos Program Training Courses
Letting accreditation lapse means you cannot legally perform asbestos work until you complete the refresher and get reaccredited. Because the contractor license requires every employee to hold current accreditation, one lapsed worker can put the company’s license at risk too.
Project Notification Is a Separate Requirement
Holding a license does not exempt you from notifying EGLE before a project. Before any demolition or renovation that will disturb asbestos-containing material, the property owner or operator must file a notification with EGLE’s Air Quality Division and pay a $100 fee.5Michigan Legislature. Bill Analysis – HB 4188 Starting work without that notice is a violation on its own, regardless of your license status.
Penalties for Working Without a License or Out of Compliance
Michigan enforces asbestos licensing through several overlapping penalty tracks. The one that applies depends on what went wrong.
Civil Fines Under the Licensing Act
The Asbestos Abatement Contractors Licensing Act authorizes civil fines of up to $10,000 per violation per day. For working without a license specifically (a Section 207 violation), the ceiling rises to $25,000 per violation per day, aligned with EPA penalty guidelines.2Michigan Legislature. Asbestos Abatement Contractors Licensing Act, Act 135 of 1986 Fines accrue daily, so a short delay in fixing a problem can multiply the exposure quickly.
MIOSHA Workplace Safety Penalties
MIOSHA can also impose civil penalties under the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act for workplace safety violations at asbestos sites. The current maximums are $7,000 for a serious violation and $70,000 for a willful or repeated violation, with a $5,000 floor for each willful violation.6Michigan Legislature. Bill Analysis – SB 49 and 50, MIOSHA Penalties For asbestos-related penalties, the board cannot reduce a civil penalty by more than 95% total, even after weighing factors like company size and good-faith efforts.7Justia. Michigan Code 408.1036 – Civil Penalties
Criminal Charges
A contractor who performs asbestos abatement without a license, or any person who violates the act or its rules and fails to correct the problem after notice, faces misdemeanor charges. A first conviction carries a fine of up to $500. A subsequent conviction can bring a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both.2Michigan Legislature. Asbestos Abatement Contractors Licensing Act, Act 135 of 1986
License Denial, Suspension, or Revocation
The state can deny, suspend, or revoke a contractor license for exposing someone to asbestos through willful or negligent conduct, falsifying records, failing to maintain a license, misrepresenting facts on an application, or allowing unaccredited workers to handle asbestos. When a business entity’s license is suspended or revoked, the action applies to every partner, officer, director, and person exercising control over that entity.2Michigan Legislature. Asbestos Abatement Contractors Licensing Act, Act 135 of 1986 That personal reach is worth noting: revocation follows the people running the company, not just the corporate name.