Pesticide Safety Education Program Information
Pesticide Applicator Certification
The training, testing and licensing of pesticide applicators comprise a
process called certification that is mandated by federal and state law.
In Texas, the administration of license exams and licenses is conducted
by three agencies:
-
Texas Department of Agriculture
(TDA),
lead agency
-
Texas Structural Pest Control
Board (SPCB)
-
Texas Department of State Health Services
(TDSHS)
Once certified, pesticide applicators in many states must participate in
a process called recertification. In Texas, this involves continuing
education and other requirements set forth as a condition for license renewal.
In the Cooperative Extension Service, we use the term Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) to refer collectively to the education components of certification
and recertification.
The Extension Service Role
As a leader in education about agriculture, natural resources and pest
management, the Texas Cooperative
Extension has become a major source for the certification training
and continuing education needed by pesticide applicators in our state.
In addition, several commercial trainers are in business to serve pesticide
applicators.
Some Extension programs are intended only for pesticide applicators.
More often, programs are open to a broader audience and cover wide-ranging
subjects, based on local needs assessments. However, under state guidelines,
only certain subjects may be credited as continuing education for pesticide
applicators. When those subjects are included in an Extension program,
then Extension faculty often provide a continuing education certificate
as a customer service to pesticide applicators. Certificates may be given
for completion of eligible sessions only, regardless of the length of the
full program.
Extension information regarding pesticide law pertains mostly
to basic compliance requirements. As an education agency and part of the
Texas A&M University System, the Extension has no regulatory
or legislative function; that is, no function in making, interpreting or
enforcing the law. Because regulations change frequently and may be interpreted
differently from case to case, it's best to confirm regulatory information
by referring directly to the statutes or conferring with the appropriate
authority, such as the Texas Department of Agriculture.
History of PSEP
In 1972, a classification system for registered pesticide products was
developed by the Environmental Protection Agency. The system created two
levels of pesticides: general use pesticides and restricted use pesticides
(RUPs). The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA),
as amended in 1972, authorized EPA to require certification in order to
use RUPs.
EPA subsequently published standards for certification of pesticide
applicators (40 CFR 171). While federal law does not actually require training,
it does require "that to be certified an individual must be determined
to be competent with respect to the use and handling of pesticides, or
to the use and handling of the pesticide or class of pesticides, covered
by such individual's certification." Consequently, in 1975, the formal
Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) program was conceived and EPA provided
funds to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, via an Interagency Agreement, to
support training of applicators and the development of educational materials
through the Cooperative Extension system.
FIFRA also gave states the opportunity to administer their own
certification program, with the approval of EPA. As a result, certification
requirements vary between states, but all must meet the minimum federal
requirements.
Since PSEP was established, EPA has classified more pesticides
as restricted use, thus affecting more pesticide applicators. Also, new
federal laws -- such as those pertaining to endangered species, worker
protection, record-keeping, water quality and food quality -- have added
new program components to PSEP. With basically flat federal funding, PSEP
is supported now more by state funds and user fees, and is generally underfunded
nationwide relative to program needs and responsibilities.
Nevertheless, PSEP has had "a substantial positive impact on growers'
awareness about the personal and environmental safety issues related to
the use and handling of pesticides," as reported in an EPA-funded evaluation.
The greatest impact in the future will occur where trainers and applicators
alike embrace PSEP in the interest of stewardship and professionalism, rather
than compliance. Applicator training offers a means to assure the public
and regulatory authorities that restricted pesticides are placed in the
hands of competent, conscientious people.
For More PSEP Information
Cooperative Extension: Your Extension county office or the Agricultural
and Environmental Safety unit, 979-845-1099: Don Renchie -- Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator; Brenda Marsh, senior secretary
-- publication sales.(http://www-aes.tamu.edu/index.htm)
Texas
Department of Agriculture : Worker Protection and Certification
and Training Division, 800-835-5832 or 512-463-7622. Randy Rivera, director;
Burgess Cook and Jon Mac Schmidt, C&T specialists. (http://www.agr.state.tx.us/pesticide/index.htm)
Texas Structural Pest Control
Board : 512-305-8250. (http://www.spcb.state.tx.us)
Other TDA-approved Training: To identify other organizations
and companies that offer TDA-approved continuing education, check the TDA
website or telephone the TDA toll-free number.
Agricultural Pesticide
Applicator Training
Licenses issued by the Texas Department
of Agriculture:
-
Private applicator license
Expires every five years -- required in order to use or supervise the
use of restricted or state-limited pesticides or regulated herbicides in
the production of agricultural commodities on property that you own or
lease.
-
Commercial / noncommercial license
Issued for specific categories of pesticide use, e.g. field crops pest
control, aquatic pest control, etc. Expires annually -- required in order
to:
a) use or supervise the use of restricted or state-limited pesticides
or regulated herbicides, for hire or compensation, on the land of another
person (commercial).
b) use or supervise the use of restricted or state-limited pesticides
or regulated herbicides as part of employment by a government agency or
on an employer's property (noncommercial).
Certification Steps
-
For private applicators
1. Prerequisite to exam: Participate in a classroom or monitored
in-office program conducted by a TDA-approved trainer.
2. Take a single license exam administered by TDA and achieve
score of 70 or better. Contact TDA for a schedule of regular test days
at its regional offices.
3. Apply for license and pay fee ($60).
-
For commercial / noncommercial applicators
1. Prepare for license exams. No training required before testing.
Optional Extension study manuals are sold via mail order by the Extension
Agricultural and Environmental Safety unit. Ask for an order form (D-1405)
from your Extension county office or by calling 979-845-1099.
2. Take license exams administered by TDA and achieve score
of 70 or better on each. You must pass a general exam, a laws and regulations
exam and then a category exam related to the type of application to be
made. There is one exam for each license category (field crops pest control,
etc.) Additional category exams may be taken at later dates without retaking
the general or laws/regs exams. Contact TDA for a schedule of regular test
days at its regional offices.
3. Apply for license and pay fee ($180 - commercial; $110 -
noncommercial). Commercial applicators must show proof of financial responsibility.
Recertification Steps
-
For private applicators:
1. Obtain 15 continuing education units (CEUs) every five years,
including a minimum of two CEUs in laws and regulations and two in integrated
pest management (IPM). Retain certificates of completion from course sponsors.
2. Upon receipt of a TDA license renewal form, provide requested
information and return to TDA, along with $60 license fee by February 28.
(See no. 4 in next section).
3. Alternative option: Take and pass a recertification exam
administered by TDA. (Exam fee of $50 required in addition to license fee.)
-
For commercial / noncommercial applicators:
1. Obtain five CEUs annually, including at least one CEU each
in two out of three required topics: laws and regulations, IPM and drift
minimization. Retain certificates of completion from course sponsors.
2. Upon receipt of a TDA license renewal form, provide requested
information and return to TDA, along with license fee.
-
The Texas Dept. of Agriculture publishes a list of upcoming recertification
courses. It includes all commercial and nonprofit training programs,
except those of 3 CEUs or less conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension
Service. Contact the Extension Service office in your own and neighboring
counties to learn about the shorter sessions that may be scheduled in your
area. Look under county government in your phone book.
NOTE: Regarding late renewal, late fees apply after February
28 for one year following expiration of the license. Pending completion
of deficient CEUs and submission of fees, the applicator may not legally
apply pesticides. After one late year elapses, the applicator may retake
any required training and certification exams, and then apply for a new
license.
Additional Information for TDA Licensees
Here are some other basics about Pesticide Safety Education Program, based on
common questions and misunderstandings. Most of the information pertains
to recertification (continuing education) rather than certification.
-
What is appropriate PSEP subject matter?
Basically, anything related to proper pesticide use or the reduction
of pesticide use is CEU-eligible subject matter. That includes all topics
pertaining to the legal, safe and effective use of pesticides before, during
and after application, as well as aspects of IPM that reduce the need for
pesticides and affect pesticide use decisions.
Examples of appropriate topics:
-
laws and regulations: label compliance, pesticide record-keeping,
public notice / posting
-
IPM: identification of pests and pest damage, economic thresholds,
nonchemical controls
-
drift minimization: weather factors, equipment calibration, nozzle
selection, adjuvants
-
general: pesticide mode of action; transport, storage and disposal;
mixing; personal safety
Examples of inappropriate topics:
animal nutrition, internal parasite control, pecan grafting, irrigation,
soil fertility (unless a specific exception is granted by TDA).
-
What is an appropriate CEU activity?
Basically, any learning experience for the trainee qualifies as continuing
education: lectures, audio-visual presentations, demonstrations, computerized
tutorials, case studies, problem solving, tours, etc.
The teaching objectives, instructional design and evaluation of
an Extension program may be subject to TDA approval under certain circumstances,
but otherwise are developed in keeping with Extension standards that are
beyond minimum regulatory requirements.
-
How are CEUs calculated?
There should be a 1:1 ratio of actual instruction time per CEU, excluding
time allowed for breaks, room changes, speaker changes, welcomes, etc.
CEUs may be awarded only upon completion of the continuing education activity.
-
What is self-certification?
This is a confusing state term that could be explained as an automatic
license renewal process. The process is the same for both private and commercial
/ noncommercial applicators.
Before a license expires, the licensee receives a renewal form
from TDA. On the form, the licensee must list acquired CEUs, thereby "certifying"
that he or she has met continuing education requirements. Upon receipt
of the completed renewal form, TDA automatically issues a new pesticide
applicator license. At a later date, however, TDA randomly checks renewal
forms against course rosters to verify actual attendance. Fraudulent CEU
records are cause for a fine from $10,000 to $25,000 per violation.
After this system began January 1, 1996, TDA discontinued tracking
of CEU records for individual applicators. Therefore, it is imperative
that applicators obtain and keep a certificate of completion from each
continuing education activity they attend. Certificates of completion serve
as "CEU receipts" to help applicators report their continuing education
record on the license renewal form. Certificates should NOT be attached
to the license renewal form, nor sent to TDA in lieu of the form.
-
What is a certified private applicator versus a licensed private
applicator?
Private applicator certificates were issued prior to 1989. A certificate
enables the applicator to purchase and apply restricted and state-limited
pesticides, but not to supervise the use of such products. Certified private
applicators often are referred to as "grandfathered" applicators because
a certificate is not subject to expiration and renewal fees, as a license
is. However, certificate holders must meet the same continuing education
requirements as license holders. If not met, the certificate becomes inactive,
and pesticides may not be applied, until the required CEUs are obtained.
No late fee applies. Certificate holders may elect at any time to undergo
training and testing for a private applicator license, regardless of their
certificate's status.
Have you updated your emergency phone numbers lately?
Texas State Poison Control Center: 800-764-7661
CHEMTREK (for chemical emergencies): 800-424-9300
Internet Information Sources
Texas Agricultural Extension Service & Texas A&M University
(http://entowww.tamu.edu): Department
of Entomology
(http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu):
Department of Horticulture
(http://agrinet.tamu.edu): The TAMUS
Agriculture Program and links to those in other states.
(http://CYGNUS.tamu.edu): Texas Plant
Disease Handbook
Other Websites
http://www.ntrcc.state.tx.us/
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.
To find information on pesticide container and waste recycling, add
this to the address: exec/oppr/agwaste/agwaste.html
To find information about protecting groundwater from agricultural
chemicals, add this to the address: water...subcommittees/ag_chem_subcomm.html
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides:
Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs
http://es.epa.gov/oeca/ag
The "Ag Center" for agricultural regulatory compliance assistance.
A gateway to compliance information and up-to-date news about related EPA
programs and proposals.
http://www.epa.gov/clariton/index.html
National Environmental Publications Information (NEPI). Searchable
database of more than 6,000 EPA publications.
http://www.vtpp.ext.vt.edu:1080/aapse.html
American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators (AAPSE): This group
of Cooperative Extension educators has compiled a comprehensive list of
links to states and Internet-accessible resources, including fact sheets,
newsletters, audio-visuals and tutorials. California, Indiana (Purdue),
Nebraska and Virginia offer some of the best connections.
http://ace.orst.edu/info/nptn
National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (NPTN): a cooperative
service of Oregon State University and the EPA. If you need to navigate
the EPA, dock first at NPTN's Guide to the EPA's Web Site. Consumer type
questions can be referred to 800-858-7378.
http://ace.ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet
EXTOXNET Pesticide Toxicology Database (Oregon State University): Includes
numerous Pesticide Information Profiles and Toxicology Information Briefs.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/opmp
The USDA Office of Pest Management Policy and the link to crop profiles
that describe common production practices and pest problems, by state and
by crop.
http://www.gemplers.com
GEMPLER'S: get a catalog, make an order, or even ask for help. Includes
a directory of IPM and WPS resources.
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