Answers to frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania's pesticide certification, and state approved continuing education.
We Are Here To Help! Monday-Friday 8am-8pm ESTRenewal Deadline:
Commercial Applicators - annually by 9/30
Public Certified Applicators - every 3 yrs by 9/30
Registered Technicians - annually by 2/28
Private Applicators - every 3 yrs by 3/31
CE Requirements:
All applicators must complete 6 credits of core training each certification cycle in addition to category specific credit requirements.
Private Pesticide Applicator Certification: required 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.
Commercial/Public Pesticide Technician Certification: required when
1—Agronomic crops
2—Fruits and nuts
3—Vegetable crops
4—Agricultural animals
5—Forest pest control
6—Ornamental and shade trees
7—Lawn and turf
8---Seed treatment
9—Aquatic pest control
10—Right-of-way and weeds
11—Household and health related
12—Wood destroying pests
13—Structural fumigation
15—Public health vertebrate pest control
16—Public health invertebrate pest control
17—Regulatory pest control
18—Demonstration and research pest control
19—Wood preservation
20—Commodity and space fumigation
21—Soil fumigation
22—Interior plantscape
23—Park or school pest control
24—Swimming pools
25—Aerial applicator
26—Sewer root control
Yes, Pennsylvania has reciprocal licensing agreements with the following states:
-Arkansas
-Delaware
-District of Columbia
-Florida
-Idaho
-Indiana (except WDO)
-Iowa
-Louisiana
-Maine
-Maryland
-Mississippi (only aerial)
-Montana (only categories)
-Nebraska
-New Jersey
-New York
-North Dakota
-Ohio
-Rhode Island
-South Carolina
-Tennessee
-Utah
-Vermont
-Virginia
-West Virginia
-Wisconsin
-Wyoming
Commercial or Public Applicators:
Private Applicators:
Examinations are administered by PDA regional offices
Register online at the PaPlants Certification Exam Search page or call your local PDA regional office.
References materials can be found on the Certification and Study Materials web page, or call 1-877-345-0691 Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm EST.
All exams for public/commercial applicators (core and category specific) are closed book exams. The private applicators exam is open book.
-Private Applicator Exam: Free
-Private Applicator Renewal: $10
-Core Exam (Commercial/Public): $50
-Category Exam (Each): $10
-Commercial/Public Business License: $35
-Commercial Applicator Renewal: $40
-Commercial Registered Technician: $30
-Public Applicator Renewal: $10
-Public Registered Technician: $20
-Pesticide Dealer Manager Exam: $50
-Pesticide Dealer License Renewal: $10
-Pesticide Dealer Manager Renewal: $15
We do! Our in house submission specialist will submit your course certificates upon completion of your course.
You can renew applicator and business licenses online at PaPlants. Log in to your account with your username and password. Licenses up for renewal will be listed on the front page and they will be in your shopping cart as well.
Yes, our courses Pennsylvania Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education courses are all approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: individual course approval numbers can be found in the course titles.
Commercial Applicators: 1 year
Public Certified Applicators: 3 years
Registered Technicians: 1 year
Private Applicators: 3 years
Pesticide certification is the demonstration (through testing) that an individual has the knowledge to apply pesticides without undue risk to themselves, the public, or the environment.
Pesticide licensing is the legal standing with the state to offer your application services to the public for monetary compensation.
An agricultural worker is anyone who works in a field that has been sprayed with pesticides within the last 30 days or does high-contact agricultural tasks such as weeding, moving irrigation equipment, pruning, and harvesting. Workers DO NOT handle pesticides.
A handler is anyone who assists with applications, mixes, loads, or transfers pesticides into application equipment, cleans repairs, or maintains application equipment, works on equipment that has been used to mix, load, or apply, disposes of pesticides or materials with pesticides on them, acts as a flagger, performs tasks as a crop adviser, or applies pesticides.
The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) applies to all establishments involved in growing, producing, or maintaining for sale agricultural plants (including ornamental plants). This may include, but is not limited to:
Most establishments covered by the WPS are crop producing such as farms, forest operations or nurseries. WPS also covers family owned agricultural operations even if only family members handle and work around pesticides. Essentially, WPS applies to any entity that grows, maintains or produces agricultural plants.
The following facilities or operations that are not generally recognized as traditional agricultural production establishments are covered by the rule if they use WPS-labeled pesticide products:
The WPS also applies to any entity operating as a commercial pesticide handling establishment applying or advising the application of WPS-labeled pesticide products on agricultural commodities
All employers must provide EPA approved pesticide training for workers and handlers. Employers must also provide access to specific information including: applications on the establishment, safety data sheets for pesticides applied on establishment, and display a poster with pesticide safety and emergency information.
Employers must keep workers and others out of areas where pesticides are being applied and away from equipment during applications. Handlers must stop application if workers or others are near equipment during applications. Workers must stay out of areas that are under a restricted-entry interval (REI). All early-entry workers on the job in in pesticide-treated areas during REI must be trained in the correct usage of personal protective equipment. Any handlers using highly toxic pesticides must be monitored. Personal protective equipment must be provided and monitored by employers.
The Worker Protection Standard course will train handlers and workers on supply decontamination and emergency assistance including transportation in the case of a pesticide-related accident.
More information on the requirements and how to comply can be found here. https://goo.gl/bjfk8K
As of January 2nd, 2017 employers are required to train workers and handlers annually before pesticide application.
A pesticide product is covered by the WPS if the following statement is in the Directions for Use section on the product labeling:
AGRICULTURAL USE REQUIREMENTS
Use this product only in accordance with its labeling and with the Worker Protection Standard, 40 CFR 170.
More information may be found at the EPA Agricultural Worker Protection Standard website, or you may reach the EPA at one of the regional offices listed below.
EPA Region 1 (New England) - 888-372-7341 in the New England States, or 617-918-1111
EPA Region 2 - 887-251-4575
EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic) - 800-428-2474 in Region 3, or 215-814-5122
EPA Region 4 (Southeast) - 800-241-1754 in Region 4, or 404-562-9900
EPA Region 5 - 800-621-8431 in Region 5, or 312-353-2000
EPA Region 6 (South Central) - 800-887-6063
EPA Region 7 (Midwest) - 800-223-0425 in Region 7, or 913-551-7003
EPA Region 8 (Mountains and Plains) - 800-227-8917 in Region 8, or 303-312-6312
EPA Region 9 (Pacific Southwest) - 866-372-9378 in Region 9, or 415-947-8000
EPA Region 10 (Pacific Northwest) - 800-424-4372 in Region 10, or 206-553-1200
Not sure what region you're in? Click here.
Employers at agricultural establishments and commercial pesticide handling establishments such as farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses.
Yes! Worker Protection Standards apply to pesticides if the following statement is in the Directions for Use section on the product labeling:
AGRICULTURAL USE REQUIREMENTS
Use this product only in accordance with its labeling and with the Worker Protection Standard, 40 CFR 170.
Pesticide certification is the demonstration (through testing) that an individual has the knowledge to apply pesticides without undue risk to themselves, the public, or the environment.
Pesticide licensing is the legal standing with the state to offer your application services to the public for monetary compensation.
Anyone who is preparing to become a commercial or private pesticide applicator and plans on taking the National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Exam. This course will give you everything you need to know to pass the exam on your first try. It is also an awesome tool for pesticide applicators who would like to refresh their knowledge or need to complete CEUs*.
*Please check with your state for current continuing education requirements.
Pesticide certification is the demonstration (through testing) that an individual has the knowledge to apply pesticides without undue risk to themselves, the public, or the environment.
Pesticide licensing is the legal standing with the state to offer your application services to the public for monetary compensation.
The CCA certification was established by the American Society of Agronomy in 1992 to provide a benchmark for practicing agronomy professionals in the United States and Canada.
Any adviser/consultant that spends the majority of their time advising growers or farm managers/operators on agronomic practices and can meet the standards of the program. Being certified adds credibility and shows that you are serious about what you do.
2 years: your certification will expire December 31st two years after your initial certification date.
For example: if you became a CCA on any day between January 1st, 2018-December 31st, 2018--your expiration date would be December 31st, 2020.
Yes, many of our courses are approved by the American Society of Agronomy Board. On the state pages, the course description will say "Approved for Certified Crop Adviser Credit".
Yes, the continuing education units you complete must fall within certain topic guidelines. The topic breakdown is as follows:
In each two year cycle, a CCA must complete a minimum of 5 CEUs in each of the 4 categories.
The categories are Nutrient Management, Soil and Water Management, Integrated Pest Management, and Crop Management.
At least 20 of the 40 total CEUs must be board approved.
Yes, absolutely! Any course that is approved for Certified Crop Adviser Credit can also be used for state pesticide applicator continuing education credits.