What Training or License Do I Need?
The Arizona Department of Agriculture administers several types of tests related to pesticide use and has developed a key to help people to determine what training / exam is most appropriate. This is available on their website at: http://www.azda.gov/ESD/key_to_licenses.htm.
How Do I Get Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification?
To become a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator, an exam is required and must include two components: The Core Exam (required) and one other Category Exam. Tests are administered by the ADA by appointment in Phoenix (602) 542-3578, Tucson (520) 628-6317 and Yuma (928) 782-6175. There is no cost associated with taking the exam. There is a $50 cost for obtaining the certification or license.
How Do I Become a Certified Private Pesticide Applicator?
To become a certified Private Pesticide Applicator, only the Core Exam is required. Tests are administered by the ADA by appointment in Phoenix (602) 542-3578, Tucson (520) 628-6317 and Yuma (928) 782-6175. There is no cost associated with taking the exam. There is a $50 cost for obtaining the certification or license.
What Training Materials Are Required / Available?
The various manuals, online courses and study materials for Pesticide Applicator Training are optional, but should be very helpful in preparing you for the certification exam. For Private Certification, we recommend #1 below. For Commercial Certification, we recommend #1 and #2 below.
- Arizona now uses a national training resource: The Pesticide Applicator Core Manual. This is available for free online at http://www.nasda.org/workersafety/ and will help you prepare for the Core exam.
- For the Agricultural-Plant category exam, ADA recommends study materials available from Cornell University at: Cornell University Pesticide Manuals Resource Center, 7-8 Business and Technology Park Ithaca, NY 14850. Phone 607-255-7282. The Cornell University study guide can be ordered using the form available at http://psep.cce.cornell.edu/certification/pdf/LatestOrderForm.pdf.
Materials for other category exams are listed on the ADA website here: http://www.azda.gov/ESD/table_of_sources_for_study_mater.htm. - Optional. A number of Train-the Trainer and Continuing Education Unit (CEU) courses are sponsored by the Arizona Department of Agriculture and by independent educational services. Many of these are listed on the ADA website training calendar at http://www.azda.gov/ESD/ceucourse.html or may be searched from the following website: http://www.kellysolutions.com/az/Courses/courseindex.asp.
Additional training events, for continuing education credits (CEUs) are often posted on the Arizona Crop Information Site events page at http://cals.arizona.edu/crops/counties/all/events.html. - Occasionally, initial pesticide certification courses are offered by Cooperative Extension in conjunction with ADA. We post information about upcoming training opportunities for pesticide applicators on the Arizona Pest Management Center website Pesticide Safety Education Program page at: http://cals.arizona.edu/apmc/psep.html.