Kentucky Commercial Pesticide Applicator Training Program

Certified commercial applicators may use or supervise the use of any pesticide which is classified Restricted Use for any purpose or on any property other than as provided under the definition of private applicator.

Kentucky currently has 21 categories of commercial applicators:

1. Agricultural Pest Control: This category includes:
   • (a) Plant and Animal: This category includes persons using or supervising the use of pesticides in production of agricultural crops including but not limited to tobacco, peanuts, cotton, feed grains, soybeans and forage, vegetables, small fruits, tree fruits and nuts, as well as on grasslands and noncrop agricultural lands; the use of pesticides on animals, including but not limited to beef cattle, swine, sheep, horses, goats, poultry, and livestock; and to places on or in which animals are confined.

   • (b) Agricultural Fumigation: This category includes the use of restricted and general use fumigants in the treatment of wood and wood products, including any stored food product in warehouses, processing plants, or in storage. Storage facilities shall include but not be limited to: Barges, grain bins, warehouses, railroad cars, and trucks.

2. Forest Pest Control: This caregory includes persons using or supervising the use of pesticides in forests, forest nurseries, and forest seed-producing areas.

3. Ornamental and Turf Lawn Care: This category includes persons using pesticides or fertilizer for insect, weed, and/or disease control in residential and commercial plantscapes and lawns. Includes the control of pests that do not normally invade structures, such as bagworms, grubs, and moles.

4. Seed Treatment: This category includes persons using or supervising the use of pesticides on seeds.

5. Aquatic Pest Control: This category includes persons using or supervising the use of any pesticide purposefully applied to standing or running water, excluding applicators engaged in public health-related activities included in category 8

6. Right-Of-Way Pest Control: This category includes persons using or supervising the use of pesticides in the maintenance of public roads, electric powerlines, pipelines, railway rights-of-way or other similar areas.

7. Industrial, Institutional, Structural, and Health-Related Pest Control: This category covers all applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides in, on, or around food handling establishments, human dwellings, institutions such as schools and hospitals, industrial establishments including warehouses and grain elevators, and any other structures and adjacent areas, public or private; and for the protection of stored, processed, or manufactured products. Industrial institutional, structural and health-related pest control is divided into the following subcategories:

   • (a) Structural pest control certification covers the use of pesticides in the control of general pests and wood-destroying organisms by all means other than fumigation, and covers all elements of "wood-destroying organism certification" in paragraph (c) of these subsections.

   • (b) Structural fumigation certification covers the use of pesticides in the form of poisonous gases.

   • (c) Wood-destroying organism certification covers the use of pesticides to control wood-destroying organisms only.

   • (d) General pest certification covers the use of pesticides to control general pests only.

8. Public Health Pest Control: This category includes state, federal or other governmental employees using or supervising the use of pesticides in public health programs for the management and control of pests having medical and public health importance.

9. Regulatory Pest Control: This category includes state, federal or other governmental employees who use or supervise the use of pesticides in the control of regulated pests.

10. Demonstration and Research Pest Control: This category includes individuals who demonstrate the proper use and techniques of application of pesticides or supervise such demonstration. Included in this group are such persons as extension specialists and county agents, commercial representatives demonstrating pesticide products, and those individuals demonstrating methods used in public programs; and persons conducting field research with pesticides, who in so doing use or supervise the use of pesticides. This group includes state, federal, commercial, and other persons conducting field research on or utilizing restricted-use pesticides.

11. Aerial: This category includes persons applying pesticides to the land of another using any aircraft.

12. Pesticide Sales Agent: This category includes persons who sell or distribute restricted use pesticides; or persons who make recommendations for the use and application of pesticides to the final user. Retail sales agents are included in this category.

13. Anti-Fouling Marine Paint: This category includes persons who apply a pesticide to prevent the growth of pests, including plants and animals, to a product to be used in the water.

14. Pest Control Consultant:This category includes persons who for a fee, offer or supply technical advice, or aid, or recommend the use of specific pesticides, for the purpose of controlling insect pests, plant diseases, weeds, and other pests.

15. Anti-Microbial Pest Control:This category includes persons who apply pesticides to control bacteria, mold, or fungi, to or through any media.

16. Sewer Root Control:This category includes persons who apply pesticides into the sewer or sewer system to control the ingress of roots or any other blockage of the system.

17. Wood Preservatives:This category includes persons who apply pesticides to wood and wood products to protect from wood destroying organisms, excluding persons engaged in related activities included in paragraph (7) of this section.

18. Golf Course:This category includes persons who apply pesticides or fertilizer to land on which turf and ornamental care is done for the purpose of preparing the land for use in the game of golf.

19. Interior Plantscapes:This category includes persons using pesticides to control insects, weeds, and/or disease in or on interior plantscapes, not regarding who owns the plants.

20. Greenhouses:This category includes persons using or supervising the use of pesticides in commercial greenhouse operations.

21. Internet Pesticide Sales:This category includes persons who sell, offer to sell or broker or distribute pesticides, via internet, telephonic or any form of electronic commerce.

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    How To Become Certified

    1. Read the list above and determine the category that fits your duties.

       If you are not sure if you need commercial certification, or if you are are not sure what category is most appropriate, call the Pesticide Regulation toll free (866) 289-0001. Explain your situation and they will answer your questions.

    2. Get your study materials.

       Training packets for all categories are available free of charge by calling or writing:
       

       Department of Entomology
       S-225 Ag Science Building, North
       University of Kentucky
       Lexington, KY 40546-0091
       (859) 257-5955

       Be sure to specify the category that you need.

       Training sessions conducted by Extension Specialists are typically held during winter and early spring for several categories.

    3. Schedule and take the test.

       Commercial applicators must take and pass a written examination covering their specific category(s) to become certified and licensed. Tests, given regularly at locations thoroughout the state , are administered by personnel of the Division of Pesticides, Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Commercial applicator certification currently requires an application fee and is valid for three (3) years. There is a small fee for the annual license.

    
    

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    Continuing Education

    Recertification can be obtained by attending two training sessions that have been approved by the Division of Pesticides for your category during the three-year certification period. Those commercial applicators receiving adequate recertification credit will be certified for another three years without taking a test.

    If you have any questions concerning certification, contact:

    Pesticide Regulation
    Division of Environmental Services
    107 Corporate Drive
    Frankfort, KY 40601
    (502) 564-7274
    Toll Free (866) 289-0001

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