How to remove popcorn ceilings?

In the United States, millions of homes have textured popcorn ceilings and walls, some of which contain asbestos. It is impossible to tell if the texturing contains asbestos simply by looking at it. A sample would need to be sent to a lab to determine if there is asbestos present. Many buyers opt to keep the popcorn ceilings in their original state, while others opt to remove the texturing. There are some guidelines and rules that should be followed if a buyer wants to remove the material The EPA guidelines must be followed.
Test First: Although many homes built in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s have asbestos-containing popcorn ceilings, not all of them do. The only way to know is to have a sample of the ceiling material tested. A homeowner can either take a sample and send it to a lab for testing or hire an asbestos abatement company to come out and take a sample and test it for them.

Hiring a Contractor To Do The Work
Homeowners who do not wish to do the work will often hire a contractor to do the work. If so, it is important to check:
Licenses: Is the contractor licensed and does their license cover removal and disposal of asbestos materials.
Experience: Is the contractor experienced in doing this type of work and do they have any references that you could check?
Permits: Are they going to pull the necessary and proper permits and pay for them or is it your responsibility?