PF - Pesticide Applicator

• Commercial Pesticide Applicator

  Commercial Applicator Information
  

  Initial certification must be accomplished by examination. Applicants must pass the general exam and a category or subcategory exam to become commercially certified.

  See the handout, Commercial Applicator Certification Categories, for additional information pertaining to categories or subcategories of certification.

  Fees are $45 per exam, including the general exam and any exam retake. 
  
  For the current pesticide commercial applicator examination schedule, head to the Pesticide Certification Exam Schedule. Pre-registration is required and is available online.

  Study Manuals for the exams can be found on the K-State Research and Extension webpage, or at your local Extension office.

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  Recertification for Kansas residents or nonresidents who do not qualify for reciprocity may be accomplished by examination or training.

  Applicators electing to recertify by training must earn:

  • 3, 5 or 7 category or subcategory credits, and
  • 1 core hour

  See the handout, Commercial Applicator Recertification Information, for additional information pertaining to recertification requirements.

  Commercial applicators may attend training at any point during the current certification period and are encouraged to attend training events as they are made available.

  Commercial applicators have until December 31 of the year of expiration to earn recertification training credits. While training makes you eligible for renewal, it will not automatically renew your certification. To renew, submit the appropriate fees and application(s) to KDA, or login to your KDA portal account to complete the renewal process online.

  Failure to renew on or before 30 days following expiration of the certification period will result in an automatic forfeiture of all earned credits, and you must renew your certification by examination. Recertification by examination is the same as above.

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  Reciprocal agreements between states allow Kansas residents to reciprocate to selected other states and non-residents to reciprocate to Kansas. If you are out of state with a current certification in your home state, and we have a reciprocal agreement with your state, then you will not need to take the examination for the associated category(s) or subcategory(s), but you will have to pay the certification fee for each category or subcategory. 

  Submit the Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification Application with payment and we will request the verification directly from the state.  Once we have received verification, we will issue the certification and email it to you.

  Check the information sheets listed below to see if you qualify for reciprocation of your certification. 

  • Pesticide Reciprocity - Indiana
  • Pesticide Reciprocity - Minnesota
  • Pesticide Reciprocity - Missouri
  • Pesticide Reciprocity - Nebraska
  • Pesticide Reciprocity - Oklahoma
  • Pesticide Reciprocity - Texas

  The reciprocity requirements sheets are not substitutes for the Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification Application.

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  Important Notice: Do not confuse your Commercial Applicator Certification with a Pesticide Business License. In some states, commercial certification is all that is needed to make commercial applications, but that is not the case in Kansas. For you to use your commercial certification to provide pesticide application work for compensation, you need to do one of the following:

  • Work as an employee of a business that is properly licensed to perform pesticide application work in the categories of your certification; or
  • Obtain your own Pesticide Business License to perform pesticide application work.

  The following link is provided to search the current list of commercially certified pesticide applicators to facilitate identification of authorized purchasers of restricted use pesticide products:

  • Commercial Pesticide Applicators

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• Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification Categories

  Click here for a list of Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification Categories.

• Private Pesticide Applicator

  A private pesticide applicator certification may only be used to apply or supervise the application of a restricted use pesticide product according to label directions for the purpose of:

  • Producing an agricultural commodity
    • On property owned or rented by the private certified applicator or such person's employer; or
    • If applied without compensation other than trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities, on property owned or rented by another producer of an agricultural commodity.

  Private certification may be obtained by passing an open book examination at a county extension office. The complete list of locations can be found at K-State Research and Extension Statewide Locations. Contact the county extension office in advance to ensure the office will be open, and allow 2-3 hours to complete the examination.

  The county extension office will collect the $25 fee and mail the completed examination to KDA for grading and issuance of the certification card. Private applicator certification expires on the individual’s birthday in the 5^th calendar year after it is issued.
  

  The private applicator study manual (MF-531) is available through K-State Research and Extension. Order a physical copy by calling (785) 532-5830, or by completing the following form: Pesticide Applicator Training Manual Order Form.  Some county extension offices may have physical copies available. The electronic version is available here: Private Pesticide Applicator Manual.

  Recertification notices may be mailed to the applicator’s home address, or to the applicator's email address on file. Please inform KDA of any changes to your address or contact information to make sure you receive your renewal materials.

  Please check EPA's Endangered Species web site often.

  The following list of private certified applicators is provided to facilitate identification of authorized purchasers of RUPs:

  • Private Certified Pesticide Applicators

• Registered Technician

  Every pesticide business that applies pesticides for the control of ornamental (3A), turf (3B), interior landscape (3C), wood-destroying (7A) or structural (7E)  pests and also employs uncertified applicators is required by the Kansas Pesticide Law to have a registered pest control technician training program.

  Important notes:

  • Businesses in the above categories who hire only certified applicators and do not plan to hire uncertified applicators must state this on the Training Program Checklist or in a letter to KDA.
  • Every uncertified applicator you hire must go through your initial training program even if they have been previously trained as a registered technician at another pesticide business. When a registered technician leaves your employ, their registration becomes void and they are considered an uncertified applicator.

  All uncertified applicators must be trained within the first 90 days of employment. All training programs must consist of a minimum of 10 hours of classroom training and 30 hours of on-the-job training. If you hire someone to be trained as a registered technician, you must notify the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) within 30 days of their employment using the report of change form. Uncertified applicators may only apply pesticides when a certified applicator or registered technician is physically present.

  New Businesses must submit a training program with their Kansas pesticide business license application. Businesses will have 90 days to ensure that their uncertified applicators become certified or are trained as registered technicians.

  Renewing businesses must indicate any changes in their training programs for uncertified applicators on their business license renewal form.

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  REGISTERED TECHNICIAN PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

  STEP 1: Select one of the four options listed below for classroom training of your registered pest control technicians:

  Option 1: Purchase a program from the following sources:

  Categories 3A and 3B (For Sale) Midwest Landscape Professionals Association P.O. Box 419264 Kansas City, MO 64141 (816) 561-5323

  Categories 3A, 3B, 7A and 7E CTN Educational Services P.O. Box 1246 Dripping Springs, TX 78620 (512) 829-5114

  Categories 7A & 7E (Member Benefit) Kansas Pest Control Association 212 SW 8th Ave, Ste 202 Topeka, KS 66603 (785) 271-9220

  Option 2: Send employees to an approved training session

  Only for 3A and 3B: contact Midwest Landscape Professionals Association at (816) 561-5323.

  Option 3: Develop your own training program

  Develop a detailed outline of your training program, indicating the time spent on each topic and the references you will be using for each topic. The references may be books, publications, slides, videos or computer based programs that you wish to use in training. The required topics are listed below.

  Option 4: K-State Research and Extension Certification Manuals

  You may develop a program based on the certification manuals if you completely cover the appropriate manuals (General and Category) and review labels & equipment that you will be using for a minimum total of 10 hours of classroom training and 30 hours of on-the-job training. All programs must include the current Statement of Service Requirements handout.

  Registered Technician Category 3 Law Requirements
  Registered Technician Category 7 Law Requirements
  

  Programs in 7A must also state that they will include termite definitions in K.A.R. 4-13-1 and termite control applications procedures in K.A.R. 4-13-7 & 4-13-26.

  STEP 2: Complete the Training Program Checklist or send a letter to KDA stating which program you will be using. If developing your own program, include your training outline. KDA will review your program and inform you if any changes are needed in your program.

  STEP 3: Train your registered pest control technicians and keep detailed records of all their training using the Registered Technician Training Record as a guide. Records must be kept for three years and contain the following: 

  • Typed or printed name of trainee
  • Subject matter covered and type of training, classroom or on-the-job
  • Date and duration of each training session in hours
  • Signature of the trainee and signature of authorized officer or representative of the pesticide business licensee who administered the training.

  STEP 4: Send a completed Registered Pest Control Technician Application and fees to KDA. Fees are $25 per technician if you have previously paid the $15 uncertified applicator fee for the calendar year. Otherwise, the fee is $40.

  STEP 5:  Identification cards will be provided to the business through the online Portal System, which must be in the possession of the registered technician during all applications. All pesticides, both general use and restricted use, may only be applied under the supervision of a certified applicator. The certified applicator must provide instructions on the handling and application of pesticide being used and be available by telephone, radio or comparable means when the pesticide is being applied. The registered technician must work from the same business address as the supervising certified applicator.

  STEP 6: Renew your technician registrations online every year as they expire annual on December 31. The business is responsible for ensuring that each technician receives six hours of training every year before renewal.
  

• Home Inspections For Wood Destroying Organisms

  If your termite inspections are associated with real estate transactions or loans secured by interests in real estate, Kansas requires that you have a current commercial pesticide applicator certification in subcategory 7A, wood destroying pest control.  The requirement is not a part of our Kansas Pesticide Law even though we administer the certification exams and issue the certifications. 

  The requirement is part of the Kansas Attorney General's Kansas consumer protection act and states as follows:

  50-6,113. Pest inspections relating to real estate transactions; certification required; deceptive act.

  (a) Any person performing inspections for evidence of wood destroying insects, at the request of a buyer, seller, real estate broker, real estate salesperson, relocation company or financial institution, in connection with a real estate transaction or a loan secured by an interest in real estate shall hold, at the time of inspection, a valid certification, issued pursuant to the Kansas pesticide law, which authorizes the person to use or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides in the control of wood destroying insects.

  (b) Any person who performs an inspection specified in subsection (a) and who fails to comply with the requirements of subsection (a), shall be guilty of a deceptive act or practice in violation of K.S.A. 50-626, and amendments thereto.

  (c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any employee of the Kansas department of agriculture who performs an inspection for evidence of wood destroying insects as a part of such employee's duties pursuant to the Kansas pesticide law.

  (d) This section shall be a part of and supplemental to the Kansas consumer protection act.

  History: L. 2007, ch. 64, § 1; July 1.

   

  For more information about Kansas commercial applicator certification, go to https://agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/pesticide-fertilizer/pesticide-applicator.  If you have any questions, please call (785) 564-6688. 

  
  

• Worker Protection Standards (WPS)

  Worker Protection Standards (WPS) Proposed Regulations:  

  The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a regulation issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  It covers pesticides that are used in the production of agricultural plants on farms, forests, nurseries and greenhouses.  The WPS requires you to take steps to reduce the risk of pesticide-related illness and injury if you (1) use such pesticides or (2) employ workers or pesticide handlers who are exposed to such pesticides. The Kansas Department of Agriculture inspects pesticide businesses, nurseries, greenhouses and farms to ensure compliance with WPS.
  
  EPA has proposed to revise the WPS regulations (40 CFR part 170).  Information on the proposed revisions can be found at: EPA Worker Protection.

  The WPS requirements are detailed in the EPA “How to Comply Manual” and include:

  Pesticide safety training

  Pesticide safety poster

  Access to labeling information

  Access to specific information on applications

  Decontamination supplies

  Emergency assistance

  Washington State University Extension has developed a helpful comparison of the existing rule and the proposed revisions.  WPS Rule Revision Matrix
  
  Communication between the commercial applicator business and the producer is also required.

  This information exchange is detailed in the WPS Commercial Applicator Responsibilities
   
  Please check EPA's Endangered Species web site often.