How to Get Certified as a Pesticide Applicator

Federal law requires any person who applies or supervises the use of restricted use pesticides (RUPs) to be certified in accordance with EPA regulations and state, territorial and tribal laws. Pesticide applicators must know how to apply RUPs properly and effectively.

How do I get certified?

State, territorial, and tribal authorities certify applicators. You must be certified in each state, territory, and area of Indian country where you make RUP applications. Check to see if they have requirements that are stricter than the federal requirements. For example, many states require all commercial applicators, not only those using RUPs, to be certified.

If you are going to apply RUPs in

• A state or territory,contact the certifying agency for the requirements:
  • Most states have a Pesticide Safety Education Program. Contact the Pesticide Safety Education Program in your state or territory for information on training and study materials.

  What is EPA’s role?

  EPA regulations (40 CFR Part 171) establish minimum standards of competency for pesticide applicators that apply or supervise the use of RUPs. Information about federal certification standards for pesticide applicators.

  EPA has oversight of state, territory, tribal and federal agency certification programs to ensure they meet certain standards.

  EPA also helps mitigate the risks of pesticides, including RUPs, through pesticide registration efforts and ongoing registration review programs. Read more about the registration review program.

  Where can I get additional information and resources?

  • Federal certification standards
  • EPA Plan for the Federal Certification of Applicators of Restricted Use Pesticides within Indian Country
  • State and territory pesticide regulatory agencies
  • State and territory pesticide safety education programs
  • Certification Plan and Reporting Database (CPARD)
  • American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators (AAPSE)
  • Pesticide Worker Safety Home
  • How EPA Protects Workers from Pesticide Risk
  • Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings
  • In Case of Pesticide Poisoning
  • Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS)
  • How to Get Certified as a Pesticide Applicator
  • Pesticide Containers
  • Pesticide Containment Structures