Current Situation Frequently Asked Questions Publications Other Information Private Applicator Training Calendar Commercial Recertification Meetings Schedule MSUcares Home Page	Pesticide Applicator Training Current Situation Pesticide applicator certification is a legal requirement for persons using restricted-use pesticides in any situation, as well as for those individuals who apply general-use products in a commercial situation and are required to be licensed by both state and federal regulations. Private Applicators: The Mississippi State University Extension Service conducts courses of training for private pesticide applicators to become certified. A private applicator is defined as an individual who is 18 years of age and who is producing an agricultural commodity of his/her land or on rented land. The county extension agent has the leadership role in providing training for private pesticide applicators and assures the completion of the application process for the certification of private applicators. The training and certifications sessions are conducted within the counties of the state. The sessions are scheduled by the county extension agents and must be scheduled according to the policies handed down by the Bureau of Plant Industry and the Mississippi State University Extension Service. An individual seeking Private Certification should check with his/her local county office for dates of scheduled sessions. Commercial Applicators: The Mississippi State University Extension Service provides self-study material for those individuals who are seeking first time commercial certification. A commercial applicator is defined as anyone else who does not meet the description of a private applicator, and wishes to apply a restricted use pesticide. To take the commercial certification exams an individual should call the Mississippi State University Extension Service at 601-857-2284 to purchase the self-study examination material. The applicant should receive the general standards core manual and the particular category manual or manuals. The commercial applicator program has 14 categories that an applicant can seek certification. The applicant should study the material and plan to take the exams at either the office of the Bureau of Plant Industry or at one of five locations within the state. An individual can take the certification exams at the office of the Bureau of Plant Industry on any weekday as long as the applicant notifies the Bureau 24 hours in advance. The locations within the state that the exams are administered are each quarter of the year, at the recertification sites (see recertification schedule for dates, times, and locations). The recertification sessions are not a review for those individuals seeking first time certification. The recertification sessions are for only those individuals who are already certified and must receive training ever three years to be recertified. The Bureau of Plant Industry, the regulatory agency in the state of Mississippi, administers all certification exams. Licensing: The Bureau of Plant Industry administers all aspects of the licensing process in the state of Mississippi. A Licensee is defined as anyone who applies a pesticide; either restricted use or general use, and advertises or collects a fee for the application. The individual should call the Bureau of Plant Industry at 662-325-3390 and ask for an application to be licensed. The applicant should fill out the application completely and return it to the Bureau of Plant Industry. If the application is approved the Bureau will notify the applicant and send him a list of study material for them to obtain. After obtaining the study material and preparing for the exams the individual should notify the Bureau 10 days in advance of the date that they wish to take the license exams. The license exams are given the second Tuesday of each quarter and only given at the offices of the Bureau of Plant Industry on the campus of Mississippi State University. In 2007, Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Pesticide Safety Education Program conducted 270 meetings providing 1,080 hours of specific training to pesticide applicators. More than 3,976 pesticide applicators (3,081 private and 895 commercial applicators) were trained in the safe and proper use of pesticides. The Pesticide Safety Education Program DOES NOT advocate the use of pesticides over other means of pest management. Rather, it focuses on the safe and proper use of pesticides by individuals who have already determined that pesticides are necessary in a given situation. Return to top of page Frequently Asked Questions How do I become a private certified pesticide applicator? How do I become a commercial certified pesticide applicator? How many years does a private certification last? How many years does a commercial certification last? What category of commercial applicator training do I need? When are commercial recertification meetings held? Return to top of page Publications Chemical Substance Factsheets, EPA Endangered, Threatened, and Candidate Species from the USFWS Federal Register Federal Registered Pesticide Labels (All) Federal Safety and Health Law Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act (FDA) Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996 Material Safety Data Sheets Mississippi's Environment Newsletter National Antimicrobial Information Network (NAIN) National Pesticide Telecommunication Network (NPTN) OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration Pesticide Poisoning Handbook Restricted Use Pesticides Return to top of page Other Applicator Training Information Private Applicator Training Calendar Commercial Recertification Meetings Schedule Manuals: Call the Mississippi State University Extension Service at 601-857-2284 to purchase the following self-study examination material. General Standards- Applying Pesticides Correctly - $5.00 Category 1A- (Plant) Agricultural Pest Control - $15.00 Category 1B- (Animal) Agricultural Pest Control - $15.00 Category 2- Forest Pest Control - $15.00 Category 3- Ornamental and Turf Pest Control - $15.00 Category 4- Seed Treatment - $15.00 Category 5- Aquatic Pest Control - $15.00 Category 6- Right-of-Way Pest Control - $15.00 Category 7A- Industrial, Institutional, Structional & Health Related Pest Control - $23.00 Category 7B- Fumigation Pest Control - $15.00 Category 7-3 Industrial Weed Control - $15.00 Category 8- Public Health Pest Control -$15.00 Category 9- Regulatory (Dealer) - $15.00 Category 10- Demonstration and Research Pest Control - $15.00 Category 11- Aerial Application - $15.00 Category 12- Wood Preservation and Wood Treatment - $15.00 Category 13- Anti-Fouling Paint - $15.00 Category 14- Metam-Sodium - $15.00 Return to top of page
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