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Licensed Mold Remediator in Gainesville, FL
In Florida, mold work is split between two state licenses, and the state licenses individual people, not companies. Here is how to check who you are hiring before they touch your house.
Licensing
Who does the work, and how to check their license
In Florida, mold work is split between two state licenses, and the state licenses individual people, not companies. A mold assessor (MRSA) tests and writes the plan. A mold remediator (MRSR) removes the mold. PureGuard Restoration is the remediator.
How this site is paid: This site is owned and run by PureGuard Restoration, and we are paid when customers hire us for remediation. You can check the license yourself before you call.
| License | Who holds it | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| MRSA, mold assessor | An individual licensed by the state | Inspects, samples if needed, writes the remediation plan, and checks the work afterward |
| MRSR, mold remediator | An individual licensed by the state | Contains the area, removes the mold and damaged material, cleans and dries |
Check a license in three steps
- Ask for the name of the licensed person and the license number.
- Search the number or name on the state license lookup.
- Confirm the license is active and the type matches the job. An MRSA license can’t remediate, and an MRSR license doesn’t make someone your independent tester.
The 12-month rule
Under Florida Statutes section 468.8419, an assessor can’t remediate a structure it assessed within the last 12 months, and a remediator can’t assess a structure it remediated in the last 12 months. The law also bars assessors and remediators from paying each other for referrals.
In plain terms, the person who finds the problem and the person who fixes it shouldn’t be the same business on the same job. That’s why we explain how to hire an independent assessor on our testing page and don’t sell tests or take referral money from assessors.
If something goes wrong
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation takes complaints about licensed assessors and remediators at 850-487-1395 or through its website. For someone working without a license, its unlicensed activity line is 1-866-532-1440.
Check it yourself
How to verify a Florida mold license in five minutes
- Ask the company for its license number and the name on the license, in writing.
- Open the state license lookup and search by name or number.
- Confirm the license type. Remediators carry an MRSR license. Assessors carry an MRSA license.
- Check that the status is active and that the name matches the company on your quote and contract.
- Save a screenshot or print the page for your records.
If the company will not give a number, or the number does not match the name, treat that as your answer. See how to check a Florida mold license.
Red flags
What should make you pause
- No license number on the quote, the website or the truck.
- A company that offers to test for mold and remove it on the same job. Florida separates the two roles.
- A quote with one line and a total, and no scope.
- Pressure to sign today, or a price that changes after you say yes.
- Claims that a spray or fog will make mold disappear without removing it.
- A refusal to put the plan in writing.
See scams and red flags for more detail.
Who is on the job
Questions about the people behind the license
A license number is only the start. Ask who the licensed individual is, who will supervise your job on site and whether the workers are employees or subcontractors. Ask who you call if something goes wrong on day three. A company that is proud of its work will answer these in writing.
Also ask for the written scope, the schedule, proof of insurance and how the company handles a problem found after the work. Keep all of it with your contract. See how to read a quote.
More questions
More questions, answered
What is the difference between an MRSR and an MRSA license
MRSR is the license for a mold remediator, the company that removes mold. MRSA is the license for a mold assessor, the person who tests and writes the plan. Florida keeps the two roles apart.
Does the license cover insurance
No. A license number shows the person is licensed. It does not prove insurance. Ask for proof of insurance separately, and keep a copy.
What if I only have a small patch
EPA guidance treats areas of about 10 square feet or less as something many homeowners can handle themselves if the moisture problem is fixed. See can I clean mold myself.
FAQ
Mold remediation in Gainesville: your questions
Does a mold remediator need a license in Florida?
Florida licenses mold remediators (MRSR) and assessors (MRSA) through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and it licenses individuals, not companies. Ask for the license number and check it on the state’s lookup. Some other licensed trades are exempt when working within their own license, but they can’t call themselves mold remediators.
Can the same company test for mold and remove it?
Not on the same structure within 12 months. Florida Statutes section 468.8419 bars an assessor from remediating a property it assessed in the last 12 months, and a remediator from assessing one it remediated. The law also bars them from paying each other for referrals.
Do I need mold testing before remediation?
Not always. The EPA says that when you can see mold, sampling is usually unnecessary. An independent assessor makes sense if you smell mold but can’t find it, if the job is large, or if you want a written plan and a re-check afterward.
Sources: U.S. EPA mold guidance, Florida Statutes sections 468.8419, 83.51 and 83.56, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the Florida Department of Health, and National Weather Service records.
Get a quote
Get a written quote for your Gainesville mold problem
Send a few photos and a short description, and PureGuard Restoration will come back with a written scope of work and price. We will get back to you as soon as we can.
- Call(352) 668-9909
- Text photos(352) 668-9909
- Or use the formName, phone, ZIP code, and what happened.
Ask for the license number when someone calls you back. You can check it on the state lookup.
About us: PureGuard Restoration is a mold remediation company serving Gainesville and Alachua County. We do not test for mold.
Request your written quote
What helps most in the first message
- Where the mold is and roughly how big it looks. A coin, a hand or a sheet of paper next to it helps.
- Where you think the water came from, and whether it’s fixed.
- When you first noticed it, and whether there was a leak, storm or AC problem before that.
- Whether you own, rent or manage the property, and whether you plan to involve insurance.