Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education
Each course includes an official certificate of completion that you can save for your records. Looking for state reporting information? Learn more here.
Commercial applicators with last names beginning with letters A-L need to renew by December 31 in EVEN years. Applicators with last names beginning with M-Z need to renew by December 31 in ODD years.
Private applicators must complete six hours of DPR-approved continuing education and renew their certification every three years.
Courses must be completed by December 31 of the certification year.
The DPR prohibits course approval numbers to be provided prior to the completion of the course. For course approval verification please click here. See chart for details.
» View California Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education Requirements
All applicators are required to renew their certification with the DPR every two years. Names beginning with A-L renew in even number years, M-Z in odd number years. Continuing education must be completed no later than midnight on 12/31 in order to count toward recertification credits. Individuals who do not complete their CE prior to midnight on 12/31 will need to re-test with the DPR. Certificates of completion or a list of CE courses completed must be sent in with renewal paperwork.
Certified 12- 20 Months
PCA - 20 hours - including 2 hours of law
QAL - 10 hours - including 2 hours of law
QAC - 10 hours - including 2 hours of law
Certified 21- 24 Months
PCA - 40 hours - including 4 hours of law
QAL - 20 hours - including 4 hours of law
QAC - 20 hours - including 4 hours of law
QAL and QAC applicators that ONLY hold category H, M, N, or Q need to complete the following continuing education rather than the amount listed above:
Certified 12- 20 Months
H - 2 hours including 1 hour of law
M - 4 hours including 1 hour of law
N - 4 hours including 1 hour of law
P - 4 hours including 1 hour of law
Q - 4 hours including 1 hour of law (QAC only)
Certified 21- 24 Months
H - 4 hours - including 2 hours of law
M - 8 hours - including 2 hours of law
N - 8 hours - including 2 hours of law
P - 8 hours - including 2 hours of law
Q - 8 hours - including 2 hours of law (QAC only)
Private applicators must complete six hours of DPR approved continuing education including two hours of laws and regulations.
Certified less than 12 months
Exempt from the continuing education requirement
Certified 21- 24 months
4 hours - including 2 hours of laws and regulations
Certified 25- 36 months
6 hours - including two hours of laws and regulations
Courses must be completed by 11:59pm EST 12/31, annually.
PCA 20-Hour Bundle
This 20-hour bundle contains two hours of law and 18 hours of general training to meet the CE requirements for PCAs certified 12-20 months.
» View Package Content » Course Details
PCA 40-Hour Bundle
This 40-hour bundle contains six hours of laws and 34 hours of general training to meet all CE requirements for CA Pesticide Control Advisors (PCAs) certified 21-24 months.
» View Package Content » Course Details
Private Applicator 6-Hour Bundle
This 6-Hour bundle contains two hours of law and four hours of other credit to meet full CE requirements for Private Applicators certified 25-36 months.
» View Package Content » Course Details
QAL/QAC 10-Hour Bundle
This 10-hour bundle is designed for QAL/QAC holders certified for 12-20 months. It includes two hours of laws and eight hours of general training.
» View Package Content » Course Details
QAL/QAC 20-Hour Bundle
This 20-hour bundle contains four hours of laws and 16 hours of general training to meet full CE requirements for:
- Qualified Applicator License (QAL) certified 21–24 months
- Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) certified 21–24 months
» View Package Content » Course Details
Common Landscape Pests of the West Coast
Learn to identify pests to manage them effectively. Proper identification prevents incorrect management methods or timing and can protect plants from damage. This course reviews how to identify and treat common landscape pests in California including invertebrates, weeds, vertebrates and disease agents.
Field Crop Pest Management
Pesticides protect plants and animals from insects, weeds, and diseases; improve the efficiency of food, feed, and fiber productions; and provide for greater crop yields. This course outlines various invasive pests of field crops and how an applicator can effectively treat pest invasions while protecting themselves and the environment from the adverse effects of pesticides.
Forest Pest Management
This course examines integrated pest management strategies for forest environments. Lesson material focuses on how to protect non-target organisms, minimize pesticide’s impact on water sources, and manage pesticide resistance. Topics include forest pest management regulation, damage control methods, weed control, and more.
Fruit Crop Pest Management
Pesticides protect plants and animals from insects, nematodes, weeds, and diseases; improve the efficiency of food productions, and provide for greater crop yields. This course outlines various invasive pests of fruit crops and how an applicator can effectively treat pest infestations while protecting themselves and maintaining productive fruit crop yields intended for human consumption.
General Pesticide Use Safety
This course covers Respiratory Protection, Personal Protective Equipment & Emergency Response, Pesticide Application Procedures, Pesticide Formulations, Pesticide Hazards & First Aid, Pesticides in the Environment, Planning the Pesticide Application, and Transportation, Storage, Security, & Professional Conduct.
Intro to Mosquito Control and Management
Mosquito management is a daunting task for many applicators. When mosquito management is done incorrectly or isn’t done at all, mosquitoes can make public spaces unusable. This course will discuss common methods of mosquito controls, everything from physical controls to pesticides, to record-keeping, all as part of a solid integrated pest management approach to mosquito control.
IPM for Landscape, Ornamental Plants, Turf, and Calibration
This course discusses benefits and of developing an integrated pest management (IPM) program in California and covers pesticide use, augmentation, sanitation, and mechanical and cultural control. It also teaches the basics of pest and disease management for ornamental plants, the best practices for turf management, insect sampling techniques, and how to effectively calibrate your equipment.
Natural Areas and Turfgrass Weed Management
This course will provide knowledge of weed biology, weed identification, and how herbicides work to manage weeds in a turf stand. It also outlines various invasive weeds in natural areas and how an applicator should go about treating natural areas with respect to wildlife and the environment.
Pesticide Labeling
The pesticide label is the main method of communication between a pesticide manufacturer and pesticide users. By law, pesticide users are required to comply with all instructions and use directions found on the pesticide product label.
Pesticide Laws & Regulations
This combined course covers Pesticide Labeling, Reading the Pesticide Label: Beyond the Basics, and Federal Pesticide Laws and will help you gain an understanding of labels, usage, safety data sheets, interpreting labels and online resources, identifying chemicals and brands, how to integrate important requirements, and how to maintain records.
Respiratory and Environmental Protection with Emergency Management
California pest managers can use this course to learn the basics of safe and legal pesticide use. The course covers elements of safe handling and application, including management plans and alternative treatments, the types of respirators available, proper fit, and inspection/maintenance requirements. Learn best practices for public and environmental safety like notifying the public and posting warning signs.
Review of Pesticide Laws, Regulations, and Rodenticides
This course is specific to California and teaches the federal and state laws for pesticide applications, based on Chapter 4 of the Pesticide and Pest Control Laws and Regulations of Landscape Maintenance Pest Control publication 3493. It also discusses the common types of rodenticides, their appropriate application, the risks involved with the use of each type of rodenticide, and takes a look at specific label language.
Right-of-Way: Pest Management and Overview
This course covers the importance of pest identification in pest control, describe how pest population levels trigger control procedures and give several reasons why pesticide applications may fail. It also discusses pests common to rights-of-way, management solutions, equipment used to treat rights-of-way, and a review of calibration steps.
