EPA Method 9 Certification in Colorado
VR Smoke School allows observers in Colorado to earn EPA Method 9 certification through an EPA-approved virtual smoke school program. This certification may be used where visible emissions observations are required under federal regulations and state air quality programs administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment.
Students who successfully complete the required visual opacity test receive the same EPA Method 9 certification issued through traditional in-person smoke school programs. That means Colorado observers can earn Method 9 certification through a remote training and testing process without attending in-person smoke school.
Our program uses approved virtual reality technology and follows the same EPA performance requirements used by conventional smoke school events, while giving students a more flexible way to train and certify.
Watch: Colorado EPA Method 9 Certification
Video: Colorado EPA Method 9 Certification (Now Virtual)
Is Virtual Smoke School Accepted for Colorado Opacity Observers?
Yes. Observers working in Colorado may obtain EPA Method 9 certification through VR Smoke School and use that certification when conducting visible emissions observations on CDPHE-regulated air emission sources.
After passing the official visual evaluation, observers receive a certification that remains valid for six months. The testing criteria, scoring standards, and certification procedures are the same as those used at traditional smoke school field events.
EPA-Approved ALT-152 Virtual Smoke School
VR Smoke School operates under EPA approval as an ALT-152 virtual smoke school provider. ALT-152 is an alternative method approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that allows qualified observers to earn EPA Method 9 opacity certification through an approved virtual training and testing environment.
Before any ALT-152 provider can offer certification, the provider must satisfy detailed EPA requirements for smoke generation, video quality, equipment, testing protocols, and recordkeeping. The provider must also demonstrate that its training results are equivalent to or better than results achieved through conventional in-person smoke school instruction.
You can learn more about the method in our Guide to ALT-152 and review our EPA approval documentation here .
How to Obtain EPA Method 9 Certification in Colorado
The VR Smoke School platform allows Colorado observers to complete training and certification online rather than traveling to a scheduled smoke school event. Students can review the lecture course, practice evaluating smoke plumes, and complete the official visual opacity test through our remote platform.
This allows students to prepare at their own pace before taking the certification test on an approved VR headset.
More details are available on our virtual smoke school certification process page.
Benefits of Virtual Smoke School for Colorado Students
- Flexible Scheduling – Train and prepare on your own timeline
- No Travel Required – Complete training and testing remotely
- Consistent Testing Conditions – Avoid weather-related plume visibility issues
- EPA-Validated Performance - Supported by EPA-reviewed research (view study)
- Reduced Total Cost - Eliminate most travel and event-related expenses
EPA Method 9 Certification Cost for Colorado Observers
The certification fee is $250.