Certification Questions
- Do I need to be a certified pesticide applicator?
- How do I become certified?
- What commercial/public category do I need?
- How do I become a Certified Home Inspector?
- Are study materials available for exams?
- Are the exams open or closed book?
- How long are the exams?
- Where and when are the exams given?
- When will I know if I passed or failed the exam?
- How do I get a reciprocal license for Pennsylvania?
- With what states does Pennsylvania have reciprocity agreements?
- Can I take the exams on-line?
- How do I keep my certification?
- How do I convert my commercial/public license to a private license?
- What is a Registered Technician?
Do I need to be a certified pesticide applicator?
Certification as a commercial or public applicator is required if:
- A pesticide application is being made to a property not owned or rented by the applicator or their employer.
- Restricted use pesticides or fumigants are being applied on property rented or owned by the applicator but are not applied for the production of an agricultural crop.
- Pesticides are being applied to apartments of four or more units, golf courses, parks, play grounds/athletic fields, swimming pools for other than single-family residences, education/research institutions, and schools, including public and private day care centers with seven or more children.
Certification as a private applicator is required if an applicator intends to purchase and/or apply restricted use pesticides for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity on land that is owned or rented by that person or their employer.
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How do I become certified?
To become certified as a commercial or public applicator, you must pass two written examinations (Core and Category) and be employed by a pesticide application business. Once you pass the exams, you have 12 months to apply for certification with the PA Department of Agriculture.
To become certified as a private applicator, you need to pass the written private certification exam. Additional testing is required if the applicator intends to use a restricted use fumigant.
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What commercial/public category do I need?
If you are unsure as to which category you will need, please call your local Regional PA Department of Agriculture Office.
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How do I become a Certified Home Inspector?
Unfortunately, the Pesticide Education Program does not deal with Home Inspectors or their certification. However, some home inspectors choose to obtain and maintain a pesticide applicator certification in Category #12, Wood Destroying Pests. To get this certification you must take and pass a closed book CORE exam on basic pesticide safety and an open-book Category 12 Exam on more detailed information on wood destroying pests. To keep this certification--regardless of whether or not you actually apply pesticides--you must have a business license with the appropriate insurance coverage and pay the appropriate fees. In addition, you will need to attend approved meetings to earn a specific number of recertification credits every three years to maintain your certification.
You might want to contact the PA Pest Management Association (http://www.papma.org) as they have a course--that's usually only offered once a year--called "Accredited Wood Destroying Insect Inspector." Linda Snyder is the contact at 717-234-8122 or 1-800-842-9090. Another helpful link is the American Society of Home Inspectors (http://www.ashi.com/).
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Are study materials available for exams?
Study materials for examinations are available for a fee from The Pennsylvania State University. For pricing and ordering information, check our study material price list or contact:
Publications Distribution Center at 1-877-345-0691112 Agricultural Administration Building
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802-2602
If mailing an order, please include a check or money order in U.S. currency, drawn on a U.S. bank, made payable to The Pennsylvania State University. Visa and MasterCard orders are also accepted by calling toll-free 1-877-345-0691 (or 865-6713 if in the State College area). Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm EST.
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Are the exams open or closed book?
The core exam for public/commercial applicators is closed book. This exam's objective is to establish competency in general pesticide safety topics. The category exams are open book as the questions are specific and detailed relating to the category topic. The exams are multiple choice and contain 50 questions. A 70 percent is needed to pass.
In most cases, private applicators only need to take one exam, which is similar to the core exam for public/commercial applicators. However, this exam is open book and contains 75 multiple choice questions. Additional testing is required for private applicators if they intend to use a restricted use fumigant. Be sure to mention this when pre-registering for the exam.
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How long are the exams?
You will have three hours to take the core and/or as many category exams as you can finish. However, if you start an exam and time runs out, the exam must be turned in and the questions that you did not answer are considered wrong.
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Where and when are the exams given?
When you are ready to take the exam(s), check the exam schedule on our web site for dates and locations. The exams are given in each PDA Region at least once a month (you can go to any region to take an exam, not just the one you live or work in.)
You need to pre-register in advance for most exam dates. On the day of the exam, make sure you bring the following:
- Driver's License or other government issued Photo Id or 2 non photo ids (one of which is government issued that bears your name and one with your name and address)
- #2 pencil and paper
- Approved Study Materials (Exam proctors have the right to review all materials and disapprove of materials brought to the exam.)
- Check or money order made payable to the "Commonwealth of PA". Core exam is $50, and each category exam is $10. There is no charge for the private applicator exam.
- Business license numbers if business is currently licensed. After you take the exam, you will receive your results or an application by mail with your ID number on it to complete and return.
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When will I know if I passed or failed the exam?
The Pesticide Education Program does not have access to exam results. The exams are given by and scored by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The results are sent to you via mail. If after four weeks you have not received your results, call the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (717-772-5231) to resolve the problem. (PDA does not release examination results over the phone.)
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How do I get a reciprocal license for Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania accepts initial reciprocity with all borderline states, in addition to many other states (see next question). If reciprocity exists, applicators do not need to take the Pennsylvania certification core and category exam. However, the business is required to pay any fees (applicator and business fees) and applicators are required to attend recertification courses to maintain their certification in Pennsylvania. (Pennsylvania does accept recertification credits from other states, but these must be approved.)
Applicators need to make a request for a reciprocal certification with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA). To start the process, fax or mail a photocopy of your certification and your drivers license to the PDA (fax 717-783-3275) along with the reciprocity request and the business name and address where the applicator works. If you need more information, please contact the PDA at 717-772-5231.
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With what states does Pennsylvania have reciprocity agreements?
Pennsylvania has reciprocity with the following states Delaware, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
These states have limitations: Indiana (Not for Category 12); Massachusetts (Yes for Category 16 only); Mississippi (Yes for Category 25 only); and Montana (Categories only, Not for Core). The Department of Defense has reciprocity while on military property.
If you need more information, please contact the PDA at 717-772-5231.
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Can I take the exams on-line?
Currently, Pennsylvania does not have the capabilities to provide this service. However, with the numerous locations around the state that give the exams, you should be able to find a testing place near your home. To find a location to take the exam, please check out the exam schedule.
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How do I keep my certification?
To maintain pesticide certification, applicators must accumulate update training at three year intervals for which recertification credits have been approved. Regardless of the category of certification, each applicator must accumulate six core credits. The number of category specific credits required for recertification varies from category to category. Specific requirements are listed in the Pennsylvania Pesticide Applicator Certification Brochure. Private applicators need six category credits from any of the following categories: 1-9, and 22. In addition, for private applicators with fumigation certification, two of the six category credits must be specific to fumigation.
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How do I convert my commercial/public license to a private license?
Individuals with valid commercial or public pesticide certifications are eligible for obtaining a private certification without additional testing. Send a written request, along with a check payable to the "Commonwealth of PA" in the amount of $10.00, to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, Pesticides, 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408 .
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What is a Registered Technician?
Registered Technicians are applicators who have received training as required under Subsection 128.51 of the Pennsylvania Pesticide Rules and Regulations. Simply stated, these applicators have completed minimum training requirements under the direction of an applicator with at least one year's certification in the category for which the technician is being trained. They must also be under the supervision of a certified applicator who can be on site within 5 hours if necessary. Registered technicians must be re-registered and must receive update training on an annual basis.