Pa Licensed in Your State to Apply Feed andor Weed Control Products

The Pennsylvania Pesticide Control Act covers all aspects of the regulation of pesticides in the Commonwealth including:

• Labeling, distribution, storage, and registration
• Classification of restricted use pesticides
• Certification of pesticide applicators
• Licensing of pesticide dealers, pesticide application businesses, and pest management consultants
• Registration of pesticide application technicians
• Notification procedures for pesticide applications

Pesticides are substances that control, kill, or mitigate pest organisms. They include, but are not limited to, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and rodenticides. This brochure briefly explains why certification is necessary and the process of becoming a certified pesticide applicator. Applicator certification can be divided into two groups:

• Commercial and Public Applicators
• Private Applicators

Certification as a commercial or public applicator is required if:

• A pesticide application is being made to a property not owned or rented by the applicator or their employer.
• Restricted use pesticides or fumigants are being applied on a property rented or owned by the applicator, but are not applied for the production of an agricultural crop.
• Pesticides are being applied to apartments of four or more units, golf courses, parks, playgrounds/athletic fields, swimming pools for other than single-family residences, education/research institutions, and schools, including public and private day care centers with seven or more children.

Certification as a private applicator is required if:

• An applicator intends to purchase and/or apply restricted use pesticides for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity on land which is owned or rented by that person or their employer.

Pesticide Application Business License

Required for Employers of Commercial and Public Applicators

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) defines a pesticide application business as a government entity or commercial establishment engaged in the application of pesticides and meeting the definition of a public or commercial applicator. This includes individual operators that meet the definition a of a commercial or public applicator.

Businesses must be licensed to apply general or restricted use pesticides. A license must be obtained indicating the certification category in which the business makes applications. The business must, at all times, employ an applicator certified for each category in which it intends to make a pesticide application.

Businesses must meet the requirements for comprehensive general liability insurance coverage for pesticide applications. A minimum of $200,000 coverage is required. This must include $100,000 coverage for bodily injury and $100,000 coverage for property damage per occurrence. Coverage must include a statement that pesticide applications are included, or endorsement #CG26160194 or #CG26160798.

Businesses operating at multiple locations or under more than one name must maintain separate business licenses, liability insurances, and records for each location or name. Vehicles involved in the application phase of a business are required to display the business license number in three-inch letters and numerals.

Private Applicators

To become a certified private applicator, testing is required; however, normally only a private examination is necessary. Additional testing is required if the applicator intends to use a restricted use fumigant. In this case, the applicator must obtain a special permit by passing a written examination specifically related to the type of fumigation that will be made. Private applicators are also required to obtain update training (six core and six private category) credits at three-year intervals.

Commercial and Public Applicators

Currently there are 25 categories of commercial and public applicators (see "Pesticide Certification Categories and Recertification Credit Requirements"). To be eligible for certification, a person must pass two written examinations (core and category) and be employed by a pesticide application business. Once exams have been successfully passed, that person has 12 months to apply for certification with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

In anticipation of employment by a pesticide application business, an individual may take and pass the examinations and receive certification upon employment, provided the employment begins within 12 months of initial certification eligibility.

Study materials to prepare for testing may be obtained through Penn State's Publications Distribution Center. Arrangements for testing may be made locally through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture regional offices listed in this brochure. Test dates and locations can be accessed through the PaPlants website.

To maintain certification, applicators must attend update training programs in core and appropriate category-specific topics. Six core credits and up to ten category credits for each category in which the applicator is certified are required (see "Pesticide Certification Categories and Recertification Credit Requirements").

Recertification credits are accumulated based on attendance at approved meetings and other appropriate training. An annual statement of credits, which outline the credit requirements and recertification renewal date, is mailed to each certified applicator.

If the recertification credit requirements are not met by the specified date, the applicator's license will expire and that applicator will no longer be permitted to make pesticide applications until the license is reinstated (see "Reinstating an Expired Certification".)

Additional Options for Pesticide Applicators with Supervision

Registered Technicians

Registered technicians are those applicators who have received training as required under subsection 128.51 of the Pennsylvania Pesticide Rules and Regulations. Simply stated, these applicators have completed minimum training requirements under the direction of an applicator with at least one year's certification in the category for which the technician is being trained. They must also be under the supervision of a certified applicator who can be on site within 5 hours if necessary. Registered technicians must be re-registered and receive update training on an annual basis.

Noncertified Applicators

Applications may be made by an individual who is neither certified nor a registered technician if and only if that individual is under the direct supervision of a certified applicator who is physically present and within sight of the application being made.

Hypersensitivity Registry

The Pennsylvania Pesticide Hypersensitivity Registry, which is maintained by the PDA, is a list of people who have been verified by a physician to be excessively or abnormally sensitive to pesticides. Commercial and public pesticide applicators must contact anyone on the registry whose listed location is within 500 feet of a pesticide application site.

Notification is mandatory and must be made not less than 12 hours and not more than 72 hours prior to the pesticide application. Notification requirements are met if the information is sent via email, placed on a telephone answering device, or information is given to an adult contacted by dialing any of the listed telephone numbers. Information that must be provided includes date, time, location of application, EPA registration number, brand name, common name of active ingredients of the pesticide(s) that may be used, business name, BU number, business phone number, and a copy of the label if requested.

Requirements for all Applicators

Reinstating an Expired Certification

If an applicator's certification expires, further use of pesticides that would otherwise be permitted is prohibited. However, the applicator has up to one year to reinstate the certification by obtaining the necessary recertification credits and paying the appropriate fees. If the certification is expired for more than one year, reexamination is required for recertification.

Pesticide Control Act Recordkeeping

Commercial and public applicators must maintain records for each application. Private applicators are required to maintain records for all applications of restricted use pesticides. Operations that employ agricultural workers or handlers covered by the Worker Protection Standard must keep records for all pesticide applications. All pesticide application records must be maintained for three years, completed within 24 hours of the pesticide application, and contain the following:

• The date of application and, for those pesticides specifying a reentry period, the hour of completion
• The name and address of the application site (Commercial applicators must also record the name and address of the customer if it differs from the application site.)
• The brand name, EPA registration number, amount, and rate or dosage of each pesticide used
• Size and identification of the area treated for agronomic crop applications
• The names and certification numbers of all persons involved with the application
• In addition to the information listed above, agronomic crop application records must also include restricted reentry interval and crop treated.

Pesticide Certification Categories and Recertification Credit Requirements

To maintain pesticide certification, applicators must obtain update training during three-year intervals by accumulating PDA-approved recertification credits. Regardless of the category of certification, each applicator must accumulate six core credits. The number of category-specific credits required for recertification varies from category to category. Specific requirements are listed below.

Category Certification	Credits
CORE Credits	6
Private Applicator Category*	6
01 Agronomic Crops	10
02 Fruit and Nuts	10
03 Vegetable Crops	10
04 Agricultural Animals	6
05 Forest Pest Control	8
06 Ornamental and Shade Trees	10
07 Lawn and Turf	10
08 Seed Treatment	4
09 Aquatic Pest Control	4
10 Right-of-way and Weeds	8
11 Household and Health Related	10
12 Wood Destroying Pests	10
13 Structural Fumigation	6
15 Public Health - Vertebrate Pests	8
16 Public Health - Invertebrate Pests	8
17 Regulatory Pest Control	10
18 Demonstration and Research	10
19 Wood Preservation	4
20 Commodity and Space Fumigation	6
21 Soil Fumigation	4
22 Interior Plantscape	6
23 Park or School Pest Control	10
24 Swimming Pools	4
25 Aerial Applicator	10
26 Sewer Root Control	4

* For private applicators with fumigation certification, two of the required six category credits must be specific to fumigation.

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Bureau of Plant Industry
Division of Health and Safety
2301 North Cameron Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408
717-772-5231 Fax 717-783-3275

Regional Offices can help:

• Answer general certification questions.
• Determine your certification category.

Region	Address	Phone #	Fax #
Region I	13410 Dunham Rd Meadville, PA 16335	814-332-6890	814-333-1431
Region II	542 County Farm Rd, Suite 102 Montoursville, PA 17754	570-433-2640	570-433-4770
Region III	113 SR Route 92 South, PO Box C Tunkhannock, PA 18657	570-836-2181	570-836-6266
Region IV	214 Donohoe Rd Greensburg, PA 15601	724-832-1073	724-832-1013
Region V	Martinsburg Commons 403 East Christiana St Martinsburg, PA 16662	814-793-1849	814-793-1869
Region VI	2301 North Cameron St, Suite G-5 Harrisburg, PA 17110	717-346-3223	717-346-3229
Region VII	1015 Bridge Rd Collegeville, PA 19426	610-489-1003	610-489-6119

Penn State Publications Distribution Center

Study materials are available for a fee from Penn State Extension. Telephone orders are only accepted with a Visa or MasterCard. Penn State Extension cannot make category packet recommendations. Ordering can be done via:

• Online: Extension website
• Phone: toll-free 1-877-345-0691 (Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST)

All sales are final.

Order #	Category
PEP-00P	Private Applicator Packet
PEP-00C	Commercial/Public Applicator Packet
PEP-01	Agronomic Crops
PEP-02	Fruit and Nuts
PEP-03	Vegetable Crops
PEP-04	Agricultural Animals
PEP-05	Forest Pest Control
PEP-06	Ornamental and Shade Trees
PEP-07	Lawn and Turf
PEP-08	Seed Treatment
PEP-09	Aquatic Pest Control
PEP-10	Right-of-way and Weeds
PEP-11	Household and Health Related
PEP-12	Wood Destroying Pests
PEP-13	Structural Fumigation
PEP-15	Public Health - Vertebrate Pests
PEP-16	Public Health - Invertebrate Pests
PEP-18	Demonstration and Research
PEP-19	Wood Preservation
PEP-20	Commodity and Space Fumigation
PEP-21	Soil Fumigation
PEP-22	Interior Plantscape
PEP-23	Park or School Pest Control
PEP-24	Swimming Pools
PEP-25	Aerial Applicator
PEP-26	Sewer Root Control
PEP-27	Pesticide Dealer Manager
PEP-28	Registered Technician Training

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Fees

Description	Fee
Private Applicator Exam	Free
Core Exam	$50*
Category Exam (per exam)	$10*
Pesticide Dealer Manager Exam	$50
Business License (commercial and public) Annual fee due on December 31st	$35
Commercial Applicator Renewal Annual fee due on September 30th	$40
Commercial Registered Technician Annual fee due on February 28th	$30
Public Applicator Renewal Triennial fee due September 30th	$10
Public Registered Technician Annual fee due February 28th	$20
Private Applicator Renewal Triennial fee due March 31st	$10

*Computer-based testing exams cost $60 more per exam. These are only available for the closed-book exams and are offered in select locations.

Additional PDA Programs

CHEMSWEEP

The CHEMSWEEP waste pesticide collection program provides all Pennsylvania citizens a means to dispose of old, unusable, or unwanted pesticide products. Participants in this program can legally dispose of waste pesticides at no cost.

Container Recycling

To participate in the Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program, applicators must ensure that containers are free of all product, inside and outside. Pressure rinsing or triple rinsing each container is required. All label booklets and caps should be discarded. Only #2 HDPE plastic containers from EPA-registered agricultural, structural, turf, forestry, and specialty pest control products, as well as containers from adjuvants, crop oil, surfactants, and fertilizers, can be accepted.

For more information about these programs, visit the PaPlants website or contract your regional PDA office.

Other Pesticide Information

PA Department of Agriculture PaPlants

• Pesticide certification exam schedules
• Pesticide recertification meeting information
• Basic applicator information
• Recertification credit information
• PaPlants registered users can renew licenses online and update contact information

Penn State Extension Pesticide Education Program

• Fact sheets
• Links to pest management resources
• Links to pesticide labels and SDS
• Youth curriculum and educational materials

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Source: https://extension.psu.edu/pennsylvania-pesticide-applicator-certification