Pesticide Certification and the Green Industry Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office July, 2002

Certification... and the Green Industry Who needs certification ? n Private Applicators n Registered Technicians n Commercial Applicators For Hire Not For Hire

Certification... and the Green Industry Certification vs Certificate n By passing the exam, you earn 2 years of “certification” n To document that fact, you’ll be sent a “certificate”

Certification... and the Green Industry Private Applicators n Farm n Nursery n Greenhouse

Certification... and the Green Industry Registered Technician n Must have 40 hours training under a licensed applicator n Training should include classroom and on-the-job n Must pass the Registered Tech exam n $15.00 per year fee n Liability of the supervisor

Certification... and the Green Industry Registered Technicians may… n Use general use pesticides without supervision n Use RUP with supervision

Certification... and the Green Industry Commercial Applicators n Categories 3aOrnamental - Outside 3bOrnamentals - Inside 3cTurf

Certification... and the Green Industry How to become a commercial applicator…. n After 12 months as a registered technician you are eligible to take the commercial exams n If you can document previous training and/or experience equivilent to 12 months as a registered technician

Certification... and the Green Industry Commercial - For Hire n Any applicator who uses any pesticide on any property in exchange for compensation n Except as exempt for: Not for Hire

Certification... and the Green Industry Commercial - Not for Hire n No Certification required …...If the applicator uses general use pesticides only…on property owned or leased by his empoyer

Certification... and the Green Industry Not for Hire - Exceptions n Must be certified, if: n Use any RUP. or n Use any pesticides, around: educational institutions health care facilities day care facilities where food is stored, or sold on recreational land > 5 acres

Certification... and the Green Industry Renewal n Your certificate must be renewed each year. n Your certification must be renewed every 2 years. You can earn additional credit up to 5 years. n But the certificate must be renewed every year

Certification... and the Green Industry How to renew your certificate n Each year VDACS will send you a renewal application. It will list the status of your certification and instruct you to sign it and return it with you certificate of insurance and your annual fee. n Ignoring this form could cause you to need re-testing.

Certification... and the Green Industry How to re-certify n At least every two years, you’ll need to attend a state approved recertification workshop. There is no testing required. Your attendance will be certified by the workshop coordinator, and submitted to VDACS for you.

Certification... and the Green Industry When ? n Commercial certificates expire June 30 n Private certificates expire December 31

Certification... and the Green Industry For more information: n Chesterfield Extension Office n n Fax n