Pennsylvania Pesticide Applicator Certification

Pennsylvania Pesticide Applicator Certification

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

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:

Certification as a commercial or public applicator is required if:

Certification as a private applicator is required if:

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 commercial or public applicator. This includes individual operators that meet the definition 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 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 Extension. Arrangements for testing are 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 five 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:

Pesticide Certification Categories and Recertification Credit Requirements

To maintain pesticide certification, applicators must obtain updated 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 Category Credits
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 pesticides@pa.gov

Regional Offices can help:

(Please call before visiting Regional Offices.)

Pennsylvania Map showing PA Department of Agriculture Regions

Please call the Regional Office for business hours before visiting.

Region Address Phone #
Region I 13410 Dunham Rd
Meadville, PA 16335
814-332-6890
Region II 542 County Farm Rd, Suite 102
Montoursville, PA 17754
570-433-2640
Region III 113 SR 92 South, PO Box C
Tunkhannock, PA 18657
717-257-6533
Region IV 214 Donohoe Rd
Greensburg, PA 15601
724-832-1073
Region V DEP District Office
3001 Fairway Dr
Altoona, PA 16602
717-705-5500
Region VI 2301 North Cameron St, Suite G-5
Harrisburg, PA 17110
717-346-3223
Region VII 1015 Bridge Rd
Collegeville, PA 19426
717-772-5231

Order Certification Exam Study Materials

Study materials are available for a fee from Penn State Extension. Ordering can be done via:

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

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

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 call 717-772-5210.

Other Pesticide Information