Recertification Questions
- What are recertification credits?
- How many credits do I need?
- Will extra credits earned carry-over to the next three year interval?
- Where can I get credits?
- Where can I find out how many credits I have?
- When can I expect to see my recertification credit records updated on your web page?
- Can I earn recertification credits on-line?
- How do I change my address, employer information, etc.?
- What happens if I let my license expire?
What are recertification credits?
Recertification credits are assigned to update training programs about topics related to your certification category. The purpose is to keep you updated on current issues and to reinforce the safe and proper use of pesticides. Participation in a 30 minute program results in one credit. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) must approve all programs requesting recertification credits to be assigned.
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How many credits do I need?
Recertification credits are accumulated based on attendance at approved meetings and other appropriate training venues. To maintain pesticide certification, applicators must accumulate recertification credits at three year intervals. 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 can be found in the Pennsylvania Pesticide Applicator Certification Brochure. Private applicators need six category credits from any of the following categories: 1-9, and 22. For private applicators with fumigation certification, two of the required six category credits must be specific to fumigation.
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Will extra credits earned carry-over to the next three year interval?
Normally, if you earn more than the required credits needed for the three year interval, extra credits will not be carried over to the next three year interval. This is because when you renew your certification, all your credits are reset to zero. So, if you have all the required credits, submit your renewal application immediately, then any meetings you attend in the upcoming weeks will count toward the next three year interval.
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Where can I get credits?
To obtain recertification credits, you must attend update training programs in core and appropriate category-specific topics. You can do a search on our Recertification Meeting Finder web page to find the next meeting date, time, and location in your area. The web page is updated every Monday. Check back often especially in the winter months when most meetings are held.
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Where can I find out how many credits I have?
An annual statement of credits, which outlines the credit requirements and your recertification renewal date, is mailed to certified applicators with each new certification card and on the renewal in the year the credits are due. Private and public applicators receive a credit statement each fall.
You can also check your Recertification Credit Status on-line at http://www.pested.psu.edu/applicators/arci.shtml. Just enter your certification number and last name to see how many credits you need to obtain, how many you have, and when you need them. Unfortunately at this time, this web page can not show what meetings you have attended, just total credits earned.
If you did not receive the annual statement or have misplaced it, you can contact your PA Department of Agriculture Regional Office, and they can answer any questions that you may have about your recertification status.
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When can I expect to see my recertification credit records updated on your web page?
From the time you attend a recertification meeting until you see a change on the Recertification Credit Status web page may take 3 to 4 weeks. After the meeting, the course sponsor must send the information to the PDA regional office, where the information from the sign in sheets (name, certification number, date, etc.) has to be entered into a database. Information from this data is sent to Penn State every Monday. At that time, the new information is immediately uploaded to the web page.
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Can I earn recertification credits on-line?
Yes, you can earn recertification credits on-line; however, not many categories have on-line courses at this time. One source is through Washington State University at http://pep.wsu.edu/RecertOnline.html. Their courses are $10 per session.
You may also be able to earn credits through various correspondence courses offered for many categories. Be aware that actual college level courses can be very expensive. Both on-line and correspondence courses are listed under "Correspondence/Other" in the Recertification Meeting Finder on our web site.
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How do I change my address, employer information, etc.?
If you need to change any information on your applicator's license, it must be done in writing by sending a signed and dated letter to the PA Department of Agriculture, Bureau of plant Industry, Pesticides, 2310 N. Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408 or your local PA Department of Agriculture Regional Office. The Pesticide Education Program does not have the capability of doing this.
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What happens if I let my license expire?
If an applicator's certification expires, further use of pesticides that would otherwise be permitted is prohibited. The applicator has up to one year to reinstate the license by obtaining the necessary recertification credits and paying the appropriate fees. However, this year also marks the first year of your next three year interval. If the certification has expired longer than a one year period, reexamination is required for recertification.