COMMERCIAL APPLICATORS
HOW DO I GET CERTIFIED?
Commercial applicator certification is generally a two-step process. Applicators seeking certification must take a Pesticide CORE exam and at least one category exam that relates to their field of professional interest. Once the required exams are passed, certification is good for five (5) years.
Pesticide Applicator Categories
- Category 1: Agricultural Pest Management
- Category 2: Forest Pest Management
- Category 3a: Ornamental Pest Management
- Category 3b: Turf Management (including fertilizer application onto customer’s lawns)
- Category 4: Seed Treatment
- Category 5: Aquatic Pest Management
- Category 6: Industrial Weed Management
- Category 7a: Industrial, Institutional, Structural and Health-Related Pest Management
- Category 7b: Termite Control
- Category 7d: Fumigation
- Category 8: Community-Wide Mosquito Management
- Category 11: Aerial Application
- Category 12: Wood-Destroying Pest Inspection
- Category 13: Limited Certification (e.g., animal repellents, mold control, sanitizers and disinfectants, water treatment biocides)
- Category 13WP: Wood Preservation
- Category 13SLRC: Sewer Line Root Control
- Category 14: Agricultural Fertilizer Application
There is an exception to the two-step (Core and category) certification process for certain commercial applicators. Certification in Categories 12 and 14 requires the applicant to pass the specific category exam, the Core examination is not required. (Certification in Category 13 requires a Core examination only.)
Certification as a commercial, for-hire termite control operator (Category 7b) requires passing Pesticide Core and category 7b exams, plus attendance of a mandatory workshop hosted by Purdue Pesticide Programs. These workshops are held in March and September. Call 765-494-4566 or email sdesimin@purdue.edu for more information about 7b-Termite workshops.
Not all pesticide applicators in commercial settings need to be certified. Non-certified applicators may become registered technicians. Registered technicians can perform applications of General Use Pesticides (GUP) for which their supervisor is certified, and the supervisor need not be physically present.
For more information on how to become a Registered Technician go to: Registered Technician Training
Exam Preparation and Exams
Depending on the pesticide category, applicants requiring Indiana certification have three exam preparation options.
- Option 1: Applicant self-studies with the respective training manual.
- Option 2: eLearning (online) courses that provide online instruction from speakers with practical experience augmented by photographs, videos and activities.
- Option 3: In-Person classroom training sessions conducted by experienced instructors going over the materials in the training manuals.
Certification exams must be taken through Metro Institute.
You've passed your exams. Now what?
Submit a Pesticide License Application Form to the Office of the Indiana State Chemist.
Commercial pesticide applicators may also review their certification records, including earned CCHs, at this same website under "Applicator Login".
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