General Questions
- I live in what PDA Region?
- How much does it cost to become certified and stay certified?
- Do I have to keep records of my pesticide applications?
- Where can I get a copy of a label and Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)?
- What is the Hypersensitivity Registry?
I live in what PDA Region?
To find the PDA Regional Office nearest to you, refer to the Regional Offices Map.
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How much does it cost to become certified and stay certified?
The current fees are as follows:
| Fee | When Money is Due | |
| Private Exam | Free | |
| Core Exam (Commercial/Public) | $50.00 | When Taken |
| Category Exam | $10.00 | When Taken |
| Commercial/Public Business License | $35.00 | Due 12/31 |
| Commercial Applicator Renewal | $40.00 | Due 9/30 |
| Public Applicator Renewal | $10.00 | Triennial Fee Due 9/30 |
| Private Applicator Renewal | $10.00 | Triennial Fee Due 3/31 |
| Public Registered Technician | $20.00 | Due 2/28 |
| Commercial Registered Technician | $30.00 | Due 2/28 |
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Do I have to keep records of my pesticide applications?
Commercial/Public applicators must maintain records for each application. Private applicators are required to maintain records only for applications of restricted use pesticides (the Federal Worker Protection Standard WPS requires records to be kept on all pesticides for growers that employ workers or handlers). All pesticide application records must be maintained for three years and must contain the following information:
- the date of application, and for those pesticides specifying a reentry period, the hour of completion
- the name and address of the application site (commercial applicators must also record the name and address of the customer if it differs from the application site)
- the brand name, EPA registration number, formulation, amount, and rate or dosage of each pesticide used
- size and identification of the area treated
- the names and certification numbers of all persons involved with the application
- in addition to the information listed above, application records must also include restricted reentry interval and crop treated
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Where can I get a copy of a label and a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)?
Several websites provide access to pesticide labels and MSDS. Many of these are listed on our web site at http://www.pested.psu.edu/resources/web/labels.shtml. In addition, these should also be available from the dealer where the product was purchased or from the manufacturer of the product. You can check manufacturer's web sites for labels and MSDS.
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What is the Hypersensitivity Registry?
The Pennsylvania Pesticide Hypersensitivity Registry, which is maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, is a list of people who have been verified by a physician to be excessively or abnormally sensitive to pesticides. Commercial and public pesticide applicators must contact anyone on the registry whose listed location is within 500 feet of a pesticide application site.
Notification is mandatory and must be made not less than 12 hours and not more than 72 hours prior to the pesticide application. Notification requirements are met if the information is placed on a telephone answering device, or information is given to an adult contacted by dialing any of the listed telephone numbers. Information that must be provided includes: date, location of application, brand name of the pesticide(s) used, and a copy of the label if requested.
For more information about the Hypersensitivity Registry, see our Pennsylvania Pesticide Hypersensitivity Registry Fact Sheet and Application.