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West Virginia has the following Pesticide Applicator Categories:

Certifications granted by West Virginia Department of Agriculture

Contractor's license is not required.
Subcontractor's company license is not required.

Grant Bishop, Assistant Director
304-558-2209
gbishop@ag.state.wv.us

Directory of Pesticide Control Officials

4.1. Commercial pesticide applicators who are required to be certified applicators are classified in the categories and subcategories set forth in this section. Public employees required to be certified applicators in the categories and subcategories listed in this section are categorized as commercial applicators with respect to the application of restricted use pesticides.

4.2. Commercial Applicator Categories

4.2.a. Agricultural Plant Pest Control. This category includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides in the production of agricultural crops, including but not limited to tobacco, peanuts, cotton, feed grains, soybeans and forage; vegetables; small fruits; and tree fruits and nuts; as well as on grasslands and non-crop agricultural lands.

4.2.b. Agricultural Animal Pest Control. This category includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides on animals, including but not limited to beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, horses, goats, poultry and livestock, and to places on or in which animals are confined.

4.2.c. Forest Pest Control. This category includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides in forests, forest nurseries and forest seed producing areas.

4.2.d. Ornamental and Turf. This category includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides to control pests in the maintenance and production of ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers and turf.

4.2.d.A. Ornamental and Turf Outdoors. This subcategory is for commercial applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides outdoors in the maintenance and production of ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers. When requested persons certified in this category may perform incidental treatment to indoor plants in small areas not to exceed 10 square feet.

4.2.d.B. Ornamental Pest Control Indoors. This subcategory is for commercial applicators who use or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides indoors in the maintenance and production of ornamental plants.

4.2.e. Seed Treatment. This category includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides on seeds.

4.2.f. Aquatic Pest Control. This category includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of any restricted use pesticide purposefully applied to standing or running water, and excludes public health applicators as defined in sub-division 4.2.i. of this rule.

4.2.g. Right-of-Way/Industrial Weed Control. This category includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides in the maintenance of public roads, electric power lines, pipelines, railway rights-of-way, fence lines, structural perimeters or other similar areas.

4.2.h. Industrial, Institutional, Structural and Health Related Pest Control. Commercial applicators in this category are subcategorized as follows:

4.2.h.A. General. This subcategory includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides in and around residential, commercial, institutional or industrial facilities, including food preparation areas such as kitchens, cafeterias or snack shops. When requested, persons certified in this subcategory may perform incidental treatment to indoor plants in small areas not to exceed 10 square feet.

4.2.h.B. Structural. This subcategory includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides to control wood destroying pests in structures.

4.2.h.C. Fumigation. This subcategory includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides, in gaseous form, within enclosed gas tight spaces such as, tents, structures, vehicles or vessels, for a wide range of commodities and conditions.

4.2.h.D. Wood Preservation and Wood Product Treatment. This subcategory includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides, at treating plants and saw mills, for preservative treatment of wood by pressure, dipping, soaking and diffusion processes to produce a commodity for sale and/or installation. This subcategory also includes the handling and topical application and injection of wood preservatives, for operations such as, groundline pole treatment, waterproofing, millwork cutoffs, or supplemental field treatment.

4.2.h.E. Urban Integrated Pest Management. This subcategory includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides in integrated pest management programs in and around commercial, institutional or industrial facilities, including food preparation areas such as kitchens, cafeterias or snack shops.

4.2.i. Public Health. This category includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides for Federal, State or other governmental units in public health programs for the management and control of pests having medical and public health importance.

4.2.j. Regulatory. This category includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides for Federal, State or other governmental units in the control of regulated pests.

4.2.k. Demonstration and Research. This category includes commercial applicators who demonstrate to the public the proper use and techniques of application of restricted use pesticides or supervise the demonstrations. Examples of such persons are extension specialists and county agents, commercial representatives demonstrating pesticide products, and those individuals demonstrating methods used in public programs. Also included in this category are commercial applicators conducting field research who use or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides. Examples of such persons are State, Federal and other persons conducting field research utilizing restricted use pesticides.

4.2.l. Pesticide Storage and Distribution (Excluding Application). This category includes those persons who store, display and distribute restricted use pesticides in the operation of a business selling or distributing pesticides. Certification in this category does not permit the application of pesticides for hire.

4.2.m. Miscellaneous Pest Control. This category includes commercial applicators who may be required to be certified applicators in an area other than those specified. The commissioner shall issue certification in this category on a case by case basis. The commissioner shall restrict the activities of the applicator certification, as he or she considers appropriate, to the applicators experience and demonstration of competency.

4.2.m.A. - When any pesticide is declared to be a restricted use pesticide and a category for the use of that pesticide does not exist, the commissioner may establish an appropriate subcategory under this category.