PESTICIDE APPLICATOR

LICENSING IN TEXAS

Four state agencies share responsibility for pesticide applicator certification and licensing. Refer to the appropriate laws and regulations for additional details.

" The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) licenses applicators using restricted-use and state-limited-use pesticides and regulated herbicides in a number of agricultural and rural-use categories. General-use pesticides, except for state-limited-use, may be applied without a license.

" The Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB) tests and licenses persons and businesses engaged in structural pest control. SPCB requires licensing for commercial and certain government and institutional noncommercial uses regardless of the pesticide's classification.

" Effective Sept. 1, 1997, applicators that work for schools, cemeteries, or city, county or state governments and apply pesticides on lawns, trees or shrubs outdoors can license with either TDA or SPCB.

" The Texas Department of Health (TDH) certifies applicators for vector control (healthrelated pests) and only licenses government employees.

" The Texas Agricultural Extension Service (Extension) provides training and training materials. Continuing education credits in approved course work are required for recertification of applicators by both TDA and SPCB.

Licenses

TDA issues three types of licenses:

(1) commercial license for applicators hired to

apply pesticides on the land of another; (2) noncommercial license for applicators

employed by government agencies and

persons applying pesticides on their employer's property but who do not qualify as a private or commercial applicator; and

(3) private license for persons producing an agricultural commodity.

License fees are: " $150 for an annual commercial license, " $100 for an annual noncommercial license/

$10 for employees of a political subdivision

of the State of Texas or of a federal agency operating in Texas, and

" $50 for a five-year private applicator license.

Commercial applicators must meet financial responsibility requirements.

The SPCB issues business, commercial applicator, noncommercial applicator and technician licenses.

Certification

The Texas Department of Agriculture is the lead

state agency for regulating pesticide use and

application. An applicator may make applications in only the category or categories for which he or

she is certified through training and/or testing.

TDA Categories 1. Agricultural Pest Control

A. Field Crop Pest Control B. Fruit, Nut and Vegetable Pest

Control C. Weed & Brush Control in pasture

and rangeland D. Predatory Animal Control

E. Farm Storage Pest Control and Fumigation

F. Animal Pest Control G. Citrus Pest Control H. Livestock Protection Collar application

2. Forest Pest Control 3. Ornamental Plant and Turf Control

A. Plant Pest & Weed Control* B. Greenhouse Pest Control

4. Seed Treatments 5. Right-of-way Pest Control 6. Aquatic Pest Control

A. Aquatic Plant and Animal Pest Control

B. Anti-fouling Paint 7. Demonstration and Research 8. Regulatory Pest Control 9. Aerial Application 10. Chemigation 11. M-44

*Applicators who license in this category and are hired to apply pesticides to plants, trees, shrubs, grass or other horticultural plants must also have a TDA nursery floral certificate. Contact TDA for more details.

SPCB Categories A. Termite Control B. Pest Control C. Lawn and Ornamental D. Structural Fumigation E. Commodity Fumigation F. Weed Control G. Wood Preservation

TDH Certifies government employees involved in health-related pest control.

Training and Testing

The Texas Agricultural Extension Service provides training materials for all TDA licenses and categories. Private entities may now offer private applicator training provided the course is approved by TDA. LPC applicator and M-44 sodium cyanide categories require TDA training. Individuals must attend an approved training program to obtain a private applicator license.

TDA Austin and regional offices offer regular monthly test days.

For commercial and noncommercial licenses, a person must pass a general exam, laws and regulations exam, and the test(s) for the appropriate category(ies). Each category test has a $20 fee.

Private applicators are administered a single exam. No test fee is charged. Private applicators wanting to make aerial applications or apply LPCs must also pass the same category exams as commercial and noncommercial applicators.

The SPCB requires passing a general exam and one or more category exams to license as a commercial or noncommercial applicator. Additional experience or educational requirements must be met. SPCB charges $30 for each exam. Technician license applicants must complete a

SPCB-approved training program before testing.

Recertification

The Texas Pesticide Regulations contain recertification requirements for maintaining applicator skills and competency for safety and proper pesticide use through continuing education.

Commercial and noncommercial applicators must earn a minimum of 5 credits per year, including a

minimum of 1 CEU each in a choice of two of the

following categories: laws and regulations,

integrated pest management (IPM), or drift minimization.

Private applicators (licensed and certified) must obtain 15 CEUs including a minimum of 2 credits each of integrated pest management and laws and regulations.

Applicators who fail to follow the requirements will be denied license renewal until the required credits are earned.

Private applicators may earn the required credits by passing the recertification exam that includes questions on information covered in continuing education courses. If an applicator passes the exam, a certificate of completion for 15 CEUs will

be issued.

Private applicators certified before January 10, 1989, may satisfy recertification requirements on a one-time basis by training, testing and licensing.

Recertification credits may be obtained by: (1)

attending a TDA accredited course; or (2) applying for credit for an out-of-state course

sponsored by an institution of higher learning, national association, federal government or course given for college credit toward a degree. Course sponsors are required to provide attendants with a certificate of completion. Applicators must maintain these and self-certify CEU completion to

renew.

The SPCB requires annual recertification of

certified applicators. Applicators must obtain one

credit in each area of certification and two general credits, one of which must be in laws and

regulations, safety, IPM or environmental protection. Credits must be from SPCB approved

courses. Applicators must maintain records of

course attendance for two years.

Financial Responsibility

State law requires commercial applicators licensed by TDA to maintain a minimum coverage of $100,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $100,000 per occurrence for property damage or general aggregate of $200,000. The SPCB requires a certificate of insurance showing proof

of at least $200,000 coverage per occurrence with an aggregate of at least $300,000 for all occurrences.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Texas Department of Agriculture Susan Combs, Commissioner P.O. Box 12847; Austin, Texas 78711 (512) 463-7476 or 1-800-TELL-TDA For the hearing impaired: Relay Texas 1-800-735-2988 (voice) or 1-800-735-2989 (TDD) http://www.agr.state.tx.us

Texas Agricultural Extension Service P.O. Drawer FS; College Station, Texas 77841 Phone: (409)845-1099/Fax: (409)845-6251 http://www-aes.tamu.edu/index.htm

Structural Pest Control Board 1106 Clayton Lane, Suite 100LW Austin, Texas 78723-1066 (512) 451-7200 http://www.spcb.state.tx.us/

Texas Department of Health 1100 West 49th Street Austin, Texas 78756 (512) 458-7111 http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/

TDA Q893 revised 9/2000

PESTICIDE APPLICATOR

LICENSING IN TEXAS

Four state agencies share responsibility for pesticide applicator certification and licensing. Refer to the appropriate laws and regulations for additional details.

" The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) licenses applicators using restricted-use and state-limited-use pesticides and regulated herbicides in a number of agricultural and rural-use categories. General-use pesticides, except for state-limited-use, may be applied without a license.

" The Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB) tests and licenses persons and businesses engaged in structural pest control. SPCB requires licensing for commercial and certain government and institutional noncommercial uses regardless of the pesticide's classification.

" Effective Sept. 1, 1997, applicators that work for schools, cemeteries, or city, county or state governments and apply pesticides on lawns, trees or shrubs outdoors can license with either TDA or SPCB.

" The Texas Department of Health (TDH) certifies applicators for vector control (healthrelated pests) and only licenses government employees.

" The Texas Agricultural Extension Service (Extension) provides training and training materials. Continuing education credits in approved course work are required for recertification of applicators by both TDA and SPCB.