Pesticide Applicator Certification

Online Private Applicator Certification Now Available

In response to limited face-to-face training caused by the COVID-19 situation, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Plant Industry has approved an online private applicator certification program developed by the MSU Extension Service. Persons needing to obtain or renew their private applicator certification can complete the online training (two video training modules and a competency exam) by following this link . The fee for training and testing is $20, payable online by credit card, debit card, or eCheck. Successful completion of the training will certify the private applicator to purchase and use restricted use pesticides (RUPs) in the State of Mississippi for a period of 5 years. See Online Private Applicator Certification for more details.   

What Can Pesticide Applicators Do if They Can’t Find PPE during the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Some restricted use herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides used by agricultural producers and other certified applicators have labels that require the use of respirators to prevent unacceptable levels of exposure. Structural pest control operators often wear PPE to protect themselves in confined spaces, in addition to label requirements. However, according to the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators (AAPSE), personal protective equipment (PPE) may be in short supply regionally or nationally in 2020. See What Can Pesticide Applicators Do if They Can’t Find PPE during the COVID-19 Pandemic? for tools to find alternative products and practices. 

MDAC Releases New Guidance Regarding Pesticide Applicator Certification and Licenses in Light of COVID-19

On March 20, 2020, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced that the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) is releasing new guidance regarding the testing, certification and licensure of all pesticide operators and applicators regulated in Mississippi in light of the COVID-19 emergency. In order to comply with mandates to not hold gatherings of no more than 10 people and to practice social distancing, this guidance was put into place to protect the public’s health and safety. Read more here.

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.

Mandatory Paraquat Safety Training

Paraquat-specific training is required by new paraquat labels and must be completed prior to using products with the new labeling. All paraquat labels are expected to include a link to the training by Fall 2019. Paraquat products bearing the new labeling can be handled by certified applicators only (i.e., paraquat can no longer be handled by those working under the supervision of a certified applicator).

The online training must be retaken every three years in order to mix, load, apply, or handle paraquat. There is no recall of product, so current inventory can be used up.

Mandatory Auxin Herbicide Training and Recordkeeping for the 2020 Growing Season

MSU Extension offers free online training that is mandatory for purchasers and applicators of auxin-specific (dicamba/2,4-D) herbicides. See Mandatory Dicamba Training and Recordkeeping for detailed information for the 2020 growing season and links to the free online training and Mississippi’s required recordkeeping form.

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Pesticide Applicator Certification

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. 

Mississippi State University Extension and Mississippi Pesticide Safety Education Program (MSPSEP) personnel train private and commercial applicators in the safe and proper use of pesticides. Mississippi Pesticide Safety Education Program does not advocate the use of pesticides over other means of pest management, but rather focuses on the safe and proper use of pesticides by individuals who have already determined that pesticides are necessary for a given situation.

 

Private Applicators

Mississippi State University Extension conducts training courses for individuals wishing to obtain private applicator certification. A private applicator is a certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of restricted-use pesticides to produce an agricultural commodity on his or her own land, leased land, or rented land or on the lands of his or her employer. Private applicators must be at least 18 years old. County Extension agents provide training for private pesticide applicators and assure the completion of the application process for their certification. The agents schedule the private applicator training (PAT) sessions and conduct them in their counties according to the policies handed down by the Bureau of Plant Industry. 

Private applicator certification expires after 5 years. To renew their certification, private applicators must attend a PAT session and pass the written examination during the year prior to their expiration date. Individuals seeking private applicator certification or renewal should check with their county Extension office for dates of upcoming private applicator training sessions (or see Upcoming Events in the sidebar to the right).

 

Commercial Applicators

A commercial applicator is a certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of pesticides for purposes other than those covered under a private applicator certification (see above). Certified commercial pesticide applicator certification is not a license and does not allow an individual to advertise, solicit business, or perform work for a fee as a pesticide applicator. The appropriate Mississippi license is required to conduct pest and/or weed control work in Mississippi. 

Certification. In Mississippi, individuals can seek certification in the following commercial applicator categories.

Commercial Applicator Categories

Category	Description
I (A)	Agricultural Pest Control (Plant)
I (B)	Agricultural Pest Control (Animal)
II	Forest Pest Control
III	Ornamental & Turf Pest Control
IV	Seed Treatment
V	Aquatic Pest Control
VI	Right-of-Way Pest Control
VII (A)	Industrial, Institutional, Structural & Health-related Pest Control
VII (B)	Fumigation
VII (3)	Industrial Weed Control
VIII	Public Health Pest Control
IX	Regulatory Pest Control (Dealer)
X	Demonstration & Research Pest Control
XI	Aerial Application
XII	Wood Preservation & Wood Products Treatment
XIII	Antifoulant Paint
XIV	Metam Sodium

Mississippi State University Extension publishes self-study materials (see Study Materials Order Form) for those individuals who are seeking first-time commercial certification. To prepare to take the commercial certification exam, applicants should purchase the general standards (core) manual and the category manual(s) pertaining to the type of pesticide application they will be doing. Applicants should study the manuals and plan to take written exams at either the Bureau of Plant Industry office on the main MSU campus (on any week day so long as the applicant notifies the Bureau 24 hours in advance at 662-325-3390), 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. There is no need to preregister and no cost to test. The Bureau of Plant Industry, which is the regulatory agency in the State of Mississippi, 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.

In 2019, the Bureau of Plant Industry added the option of taking computer-based commercial applicator certification examinations at testing centers around the state. Persons interested in this option should visit the Metro Institute website for information and special instructions regarding computer-based testing for commercial applicator certification. The cost for computer-based testing is $55/exam.

Recertification. Commercial certification expires after three years. During the year before their expiration date, certified commercial pesticide applicators should recertify by one of the following three methods.

• Attend an in-class recertification session. Commercial applicators can preregister for a class by filling out the online registration form and paying the $75.00 registration fee (see Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Registration Form), which guarantees a seat in the session and a resource packet.  See the schedule of recertification trainings for the current calendar year.
• Recertify online. Mississippi commercial pesticide applicators, license holders, and permit holders in some categories can now complete recertification training online. See Online Commercial Applicator Recertification for full details.
• Attend a preapproved recertification event. View the Bureau of Plant Industry’s calendar of approved commercial recertification workshops (including field days, short courses, and industry-sponsored events) and the categories that can recertify at each event.

 

Professional Services Licenses

The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) regulates and administers all aspects of the professional services 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, solicits business or collects a fee for the application. 

Obtaining a License. In Mississippi, qualified individuals can obtain professional services licenses in the following categories.

Professional Services Licenses Categories and Description.

Category	Description
WDI	Wood destroying insect control
UPL	Control of pests of utility poles
GRC	General pest and rodent control
MBF	Mosquito and biting fly control
HCP	Horticultural pest control
ORP	Orchard pest control
DAP	Domestic animal pest control
FUM	Fumigation pest control
AGP	Agricultural pest control
AGW	Agricultural weed control
AQW	Aquatic weed control
ROW	Right-of-way weed control
HCW	Horticultural weed control

Persons who wish to become licensed in Mississippi must submit a License Exam Application for Pest and Weed Control Categories, Landscape Horticulturist and Tree Surgery to the Bureau of Plant Industry for review, processing, and approval. Obtain the license exam application form from the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce website.

Prospective licensees should follow all instructions on the application before submitting it to the Bureau of Plant Industry. Incomplete applications will be denied. Those whose applications have been approved will be notified in writing of the location and date of their examination. They will also receive a list of reference material that may be helpful in preparing for their exam(s). The Bureau of Plant Industry does not provide copies of these reference materials. The Pesticide Safety Education Program sells self-study materials for the General Standards (core pesticide safety) exam and each category exam. These manuals can be ordered using the Study Materials Order Form.

Please note that paper exams are given the second Tuesday of January, April, July, and October at Mississippi State University’s main campus in Starkville. The testing location, details, and time will be stated in the approval letter. There is no fee to take paper exams or for the issuance of a license.   

In 2019, the Bureau of Plant Industry added the option of taking computer-based license examinations at testing centers around the state. Persons interested in this option should refer to the license exam application form and computer-based testing information sheet for details regarding computer-based testing. The cost for computer-based testing is $55/exam. The Landscape Horticulturist license exam cannot be taken on a computer due to its testing format.

Recertification. Professional services licenses in most categories expire after three years. During the year before their expiration date, licensees should recertify by one of the following three methods.

1. Attend an in-class recertification session. Licensees can preregister for a class by filling out the online registration form and paying the $75.00 registration fee, which guarantees a seat in the session and a resource packet. See the schedule of recertification trainings for the current calendar year.
2. Recertify online. Mississippi commercial pesticide applicators, licensees, and permit holders in some categories can now complete recertification training online. See Online Commercial Applicator Recertification for full details.
3. Attend a preapproved recertification event. View the Bureau of Plant Industry’s calendar of approved commercial recertification workshops (including field days, short courses, and industry-sponsored events) and the categories that can recertify at each event.

Questions? For more information about professional services licenses and permits, refer to these Frequently Asked Questions or contact the Bureau of Plant Industry at 662-325-3390.

Contact Us

For additional information about pesticide applicator certification or help with online order forms, please contact Mississippi Pesticide Safety Education Program (MSPSEP). 

Phone: 662-325-5829 or 662-325-0795

Email: mspsep@ext.msstate.edu

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Mailing address:

Mississippi Pesticide Safety Education Program
Dept. of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology
P.O. Box 9775 
Mississippi State, MS 39762-9775