Mandatory Auxin Herbicide Training and Recordkeeping for the 2019 Growing Season

The requirements have changed for purchasing and applying auxin-specific (dicamba/2,4-D) herbicides. See Mandatory Dicamba Training and Recordkeeping for details about the changes for the 2019 growing season.

Online Recertification Training Available for Some Commercial Applicators and License Holders

Mississippi commercial pesticide applicators, license holders, and permit holders have a new recertification option. In addition to attending in-class recertification training sessions or other preapproved events, applicators in some categories can now complete recertification training online. See Online Commercial Applicator Recertification for full details.

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. 

In 2016, Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Pesticide Safety Education Program conducted 248 meetings, providing 4,175 hours of specific training to pesticide applicators. More than 2,365 pesticide applicators (2,003 private applicators and 362 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.

Private Applicators

The Mississippi State University Extension Service conducts courses of training for private pesticide applicators wishing to obtain certification.  A private applicator is defined as an individual who is at least 18 years of age and who is producing an agricultural commodity on 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 certification sessions are conducted within the counties of the state.  The sessions are scheduled by the county extension agents and are conducted according to the policies handed down by the Bureau of Plant Industry and the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Individuals seeking Private Applicator Certification should check with their local county office for dates of scheduled sessions.   

Commercial Applicators

A commercial applicator is defined as anyone who does not meet the description of a private applicator and who wishes to apply a restricted-use pesticide. The Mississippi State University Extension Service publishes self-study materials (see Study Materials Order Form) for those individuals who are seeking first time commercial certification. To prepare for taking the commercial certification exam, applicants should purchase the general standards core manual along with the particular category manual(s) pertaining to the type of pesticide application they will be doing. The commercial applicator program has 14 categories for which an applicant can seek certification. The applicant should study the manuals and plan to take the exams at either the office of the Bureau of Plant Industry (on any week day so long as the applicant notifies the Bureau 24 hours in advance at 662-325-3390) or at any of the six locations within the state where recertification sessions are conducted throughout the year (see Commercial Applicator Recertification Schedules for dates, times, and locations). First-time testing is offered at the same location(s) and at the same time(s) as the recertification sessions in a separate room. The Bureau of Plant Industry, which is the regulatory agency in the State of Mississippi, conducts and administers all certification exams. 

Please note: The recertification sessions are not a review for those individuals seeking first-time certification. The recertification sessions are only for those individuals who are already certified and must participate in continuing education training every three years in order to be recertified.

Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicators can preregister for recertification sessions by filling out the online registration form and paying the $75.00 registration fee by credit card or by mailing a check (see Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Registration Form), which guarantees a seat in the session and reserves a recertification manual. We cannot guarantee those who register at the door a recertification manual to use during the session. 

For additional information, including Study Materials Order Form questions and Registration Form questions, please contact: 

M. Eugene Merkl, Jr.
Program Manager, Pesticide Safety Education Program

Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology
Mississippi State University
Box 9775 
Mississippi State, MS 39762-9775

Phone: 662.325.5829
Fax: 662.325.8837
Email: gm53@msstate.edu

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. If you wish to become licensed in Mississippi, you must submit an application form to the Bureau of Plant Industry, P.O. Box 5207, Mississippi State, MS  39762. The form can be obtained from the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce web site at:
http://www.mdac.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/bpi_regpro_license.pdf

Follow all instructions, print the form, and submit it to the Bureau of Plant Industry. Incomplete applications will be denied. Applicants will be notified by letter indicating whether their application has been approved or denied.  

If approved, applicants will receive information on the location and time for the exam(s). A reference sheet will be included listing reference material that may be helpful in preparing for the exam(s). The Bureau of Plant Industry does not provide copies of the reference material. Please note that exams are given the second Tuesday of January, April, July and October at Mississippi State University’s Main Campus in Starkville. The testing location will be stated in the approval letter. The starting time for the exam(s) is 9:00 a.m. All exams must be completed by 4:00 p.m.   

For more information on licensing, please contact the Bureau of Plant Industry at 662-325-3390.