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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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Division of Agriculture
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Last Date Modified 04/24/2008
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University of Arkansas • Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
2301 South University Avenue
Little Rock, Arkansas 72204 • USA
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