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Certification
and Training Programs
The pesticide applicator certification
and training program provides pesticide applicators with the knowledge and
ability to use pesticides safely and effectively. Understanding pesticide
product labels and the proper methods of pesticide application is essential
in applying pesticides safely and reducing risks to human health and the
environment. Pesticide applicators are trained by state Cooperative Extension
Service pesticide applicator training programs and are certified by pesticide
State Lead Agencies.
EPA regulations require that applicators be certified as competent to
apply restricted use pesticides in accordance with national standards.
Certification programs are conducted by states, territories, and tribes
in accordance with these national standards. Training of certified applicators
covers safe pesticide use as well as environmental issues such as endangered
species and water quality protection.
Certified applicators are classified as either private
or commercial. There are separate standards for each. All states require
commercial applicators to be recertified, generally every three to five
years. Some states also require recertification or other training for
private applicators.
- Over one million applicators are currently certified nationwide, including
over 900,000 private applicators and about 350,000 commercial applicators.
- Approximately 80,000 private and 65,000 commercial applicators are
certified annually.
- Approximately 130,000 private and 120,000 commercial applicators are
recertified annually.
EPA funds cooperative agreements to assist state, territory and tribal
governments in conducting certification and training programs. EPA supports
"train-the-trainer" workshops, pesticide applicator training
workshops, training materials for improving pesticide drift management
and application technology, and methods for assessing behavioral and attitudinal
changes in applicators as a result of certification and training programs.
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