Pesticides
Obtaining a Commercial /Non-Commercial Pesticide Applicator License for
Applying Restricted Use Pesticides
Types of Pesticide Applicatorspplicators •
Commercial and Non-Commercial Pesticide Applicators
The following information applies to the Commercial and
Non-Commercial agricultural pesticide applicator categories of Agricultural
Plants, Agricultural Animals, Demonstration and Research, Forestry, Wood
Treatment, Right of Way, Public Health, Aquatic, Seed Treatment, and Regulatory.
For licensing information regarding other categories, contact the State Plant
Board.
Federal law requires that a person who purchases or applies a
restricted use pesticide must have a current pesticide applicator
license and receive periodic pesticide safety training.
Restricted use pesticides are those that have higher risk potential
for humans, wildlife, and the environment. The Federal government has
determined that the benefits provided by these pesticides outweigh the risks
as long as they are properly handled, applied, and disposed of. Knowledge
and prevention are the keys to avoiding accidents and unwanted
exposures.
In Arkansas, the licensing of pesticide applicators and the enforcement
of pesticide laws and regulations is the responsibility primarily of the
Arkansas State Plant Board The Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and
Ecology is responsible for certain pesticide regulations concerning
transportation and disposal. The required safety training, also known as
Certification or Recertification, is provided by the Cooperative Extension
Service, University of Arkansas.
Types of Pesticide
Applicators
There are three basic types of pesticide applicators: private,
commercial, and non-commercial.
Private applicators are individuals who use restricted use
pesticides to produce agricultural commodities on property owned or rented
by them or their employer. Example: farmers/growers. Restricted use
pesticides are not labeled for home gardens. Therefore, a pesticide license
is not required, nor available, for home gardeners.
Commercial applicators are individuals who use restricted use
pesticides (normally for hire) for any purpose or on property other than
that specified for defining private applicators. Examples: aerial
applicators, custom applicators, etc.
Non-commercial applicators are individuals who use restricted use
pesticides but do not qualify as a private applicator nor require a
commercial applicators license. Examples: researchers, Extension agents,
chemical company representatives, etc.
Note: An individual is not eligible to purchase or apply restricted
use pesticides until a License is actually issued.
The following section explains the steps required to obtain and maintain
a Commercial or Non-Commercial Pesticide Applicator License.
Commercial and Non-Commercial Pesticide Applicators
Step One - You must take and pass the Basic Core Exam and
the category specific exams required for the type license you need. Training
is not required before taking the exams but is available and recommended.
The Extension Pesticide Assessment Specialist conducts approximately four
training sessions per year (in Fayetteville, Little Rock, Jonesboro, and
Monticello) for individuals needing to take the exams. The dates for these
meetings vary from year to year, but they normally are conducted in March.
The dates for any given year will be set in January. Call your county
Extension agent or the Pesticide Assessment Specialist (501-671-2234) for
more information on these meetings. Note: Extension agents do not
provide the training for commercial and non-commercial applicators, but they
can provide the dates for the training. If you cannot, or do not want to
attend a training session before taking the exams, you may arrange with the
Plant Board to be tested at their headquarters in Little Rock.
Step Two - Once you have passed the required exams you are
eligible to obtain your Pesticide Applicator License. The Plant Board will
send eligible individuals an Application for License form. Complete the form
and mail it back to the Plant Board with the appropriate license fees for
processing. The license, once issued, will expire December 31 of the current
year.
Step Three - Once you have obtained your license you must attend
a pesticide safety training session (conducted by the Cooperative Extension
Service in most cases) at least once every three years in order to maintain
your certification. These sessions are known as Recertification sessions.
Your pesticide license has the "Certification Expires:" date printed
on the front. You must attend a recertification session by this date to
receive your license for the next year and the following two years. At least
one (usually more) recertification session is conducted each year in Little
Rock by the Extension Pesticide Assessment Specialist. Every third year,
beginning in 1991 (then 1994, 1997, 2000, etc.), there will be at least four
recertification sessions conducted around the state because of the large
number of individuals who are on this recertification cycle.
After attending the full 3-4 hour training session, you
must fill out the half-page triplicate form (proof of Certification),
provided by the trainers. Once the form is filled out and then signed by the
appropriate Extension personnel, you remove the back copy for your records
and the Extension Service will keep the other two copies. The Extension
Service will send one copy to the Plant Board for their records. The Plant
Board will send an application for a license in October or November of each
year to all currently licensed individuals. If your certification is
current, you just fill out the application form and send it, along with the
appropriate fees, to the Plant Board for processing. The license, once
issued, will expire on December 31 of the current year.
Step Four - Keep your license and recertification current.
Remember that recertification refers to the required training conducted by
the Cooperative Extension Service.
If you let your license lapse you do not have to retake the exams if you
maintain your recertification training requirements (i.e., you attend a
recertification session at least once every three years). If you let your
recertification expire, simply attend another recertification session and
begin the three year cycle again.
If for some reason you are unable to attend a recertification session by
the required date and you must have a license, you have only one option. You
must retake the exams at the State Plant Board in Little Rock. Therefore it
is very important that you attend the training sessions at least once every
three years to maintain your recertification.
For more information contact:
Ples Spradley
Extension Pesticide Assessment Specialist
Cooperative Extension Service, Univ. of Ark.
P.O. Box 391
Little Rock, AR 72203
Phone: 501-671-2234
FAX: 501-671-2303
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