Oregon Pesticide Applicator Requirements & FAQs

Phone: 503-986-4635
Web: Oregon Department of Agriculture

• Buying, applying, or supervising the use of RUPs
• Advising others on the use of RUPs
• Applying pesticides to someone else’s property (private or public land)
• Applying pesticides as a public employee using machine-powered equipment and/or applying RUPs
• Applying pesticides on school properties

1. Be at least 18 years of age
2. Pass the appropriate exams – Study with exam prep for the Core, Turfgrass, and Mosquito exams.
3. Fill out an application form
4. Pay the licensing fee
   • Commercial Pesticide Applicator* - $50/year
   • Commercial Pesticide Operator* - $90/year
   • Immediately Supervised pesticide Trainee - $50/year
   • Pesticide Apprentice - $50/year
   • Pesticide Consultant - $40/year
   • Pesticide Dealer - $75/year
   • Private Pesticide Applicator - $25/5 years
   • Public Pesticide Applicator - $50/year
     *Fee depends on the number of major categories
5. Submit your form and fee to ODA

Yes.

• Private applicators with valid Washington or Idaho Private licenses.
• Other categories are determined on a case-by-case basis. ODA must have the same category.

$58 per exam

• Commercial Pesticide Applicator* - $50/year
• Commercial Pesticide Operator* - $90/year
• Immediately Supervised pesticide Trainee - $50/year
• Pesticide Apprentice - $50/year
• Pesticide Consultant - $40/year
• Pesticide Dealer - $75/year
• Private Pesticide Applicator - $25/5 years
• Public Pesticide Applicator - $50/year
  *Fee depends on the number of major categories

Call 877-533-2900 or visit the Metro Institute website. You must have your legal name and Social Security Number available.

• Albany – Linn-Benton Community College
• Astoria – Clatsop Community College
• Bend – Central Oregon Community College
• Burns – Treasure Valey CC: Harney Co Outreach
• Coos Bay – Southwestern Oregon Community College
• Eugene – University of Oregon
• Gresham – Mt. Hood Community College
• Hermiston – Blue Mountain
• Klamath Falls – Oregon Institute of Technology
• McMinnville – Chemketa
• Ontario – Treasure Valley Community College
• Oregon City – Clackamas Community College
• Pendleton – Blue Mountain Community College
• Portland – Portland CC: Rock Creek Campus
• Roseburg – Umpqua Community College
• Salem – Chemeketa Community College
• The Dalles – Columbia Gorge Community College
• White City – Rogue
• Wilsonville - Clackamas

Many study materials are available through the ODA: www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/Pesticides/Licensing/Pages/ExamsStudyMaterials.aspx

• Law and Safety Exam (Available in English and Spanish)
  • Oregon Core Manual Addendum
  • National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual – Try our online Core Exam Prep Program!
  • Oregon Reviced Statutes Chapter 634
  • Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 634
  • Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 603 Division 57
  • Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 340 Division 109
  • Spanish: Manual para Aplicadores Privados de Pesticidas (EM020S) WSU Bulletin Office, 1-800-723-1763, http:// pubs.wsu.edu
• Private Pesticide Applicator License Exam (Available in English and Spanish)
  • Oregon Pesticide Safety Education Manual (EM 8850), OSU Extension Service, 1-800-561-6719, http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
  • Oregon Pesticide Licensing Guide
  • Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 634
  • Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 603 Division 57
  • Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 340 Division 109*
  • Spanish: Manual para Aplicadores Privados de Pesticidas (EM020S) WSU Bulletin Office, 1-800- 723-1763, http:// pubs.wsu.edu • How to Reduce Bee Poisoning from Pesticides (PNW 591), OSU Extension Service, http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
  • Worker Protection Standard, OR-OSHA – Online EPA Approved Worker Protection Standard!
• Pesticide Consultant License Exam
  • Agriculture Herbicide Study Manual
  • Oregon Pesticide Safety Education Manual (EM8850), OSU Extension Service, 541-737-2513 or 1-800-561-6719, http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
  • Oregon Pesticide Licensing Guide
  • Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 634
  • Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 603 Division 57
  • Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 340 Division 109
  • Introduction to Insect & Disease Management, (EM051), WSU Bulletin Office, 1-800-723-1763, http://pubs.wsu.edu
  • Pacific Northwest Disease Control Handbook
  • Pacific Northwest Insect Control Handbook
  • Pacific Northwest Weed Control Handbook
  • How to Reduce Bee Poisoning from Pesticides (PNW 591), OSU Extension Service, http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
• Demonstration and Research Category Exam
  • Demonstration and Research Pest Control
• Agriculture Category Exams
  • Agriculture - Herbicide
    • Weeds of the West
      Chemeketa Community College Bookstore, 503-399-5131, http://bookstore.chemeketa.edu/home.aspx
    • Agriculture Herbicide Study Manual
      Chemeketa Community College Bookstore
  • Agriculture - Insecticide/Fungicide
    • Introduction to Insect and Disease Management (EM051), WSU Bulletin Office, http:// pubs.wsu.edu, 1-800-723-1763
    • How to Reduce Bee Poisoning from Pesticides (PNW 591), OSU Extension Service, http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
  • Agriculture - Livestock Pests
    • Pest Management Principles for the Pesticide Applicator, 1b Agriculture Animal, Cornell University, 607-255-4111, http://store.cornell. edu/c-876-pmep-manuals.aspx
  • Agriculture - Soil Fumigation
    • National Soil Fumigation Manual (19283333)* Chemeketa Community College Bookstore, 503-399-5131, http://bookstore.chemeketa.edu/home.aspx
  • Agriculture - Vertebrate Pests
    • Animal Damage Control in Washington (EB1147) Part 1-9
    • Controlling Moles (EC0987)
    • Controlling Ground Squirrel Damage to Forage & Field Crops (EC1429)
    • Controling Pocket Gopher Damage to Agricultural Crops (EC 1117)
    • Meadow Voles and Pocket Gophers: Management in Lawns, Gardens, and Croplands (PNW 627)
  • Ornamental and Turf Category Exams
    • Ornamental and Turf - Herbicide
      • Turf and Ornamental Weed Management Principles (EM035), WSU Bulletin Office, 1-800- 723-1763, http://pubs.wsu.edu
      • Turfgrass Pests, University of California, available online at http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/ r785700999.html
    • Ornamental and Turf – Insecticide and Fungicide
      • Introduction to Insect and Disease Management (EM051), WSU Bulletin Office, 1-800-723-1763, http//pubs.wsu.edu
      • Turfgrass Pests, University of California, available online at http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/ selectnewpest.turfgrass.html
      • How to Reduce Bee Poisoning from Pesticides (PNW 591), OSU Extension Service, http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
    • Public Health Category Exam
      • Public Health Pest Control (EM034), WSU Bulletin Office, 1-800-723-1763 or order online at http://pubs.wsu.edu
      • Pesticides and Public Health: Integrated Methods of Mosquito Management
      • EXTOXNET Collection
      • Public Health Pesticide Control, Pesticide Applicator Training Manual (SP318), University of Florida, 352-392-1764, or ODA website
      • West Nile Virus brochure
    • Regulatory Weed Control Exam (Public Applicator Only)
      • Noxious Weed Policy & Classification System
      • Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 569 or Oregon Department of Agriculture, 503-986-4621
      • Rights-of-Way Vegetation Management (Oregon Edition) (EM 8863)
      • Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon
      • Administrative Rules Chapter 603, Division 052, section 1200
      • Weed Identification System CD, XID Services 800-872-2943, http://xidservices.com
    • Seed Treatment Category Exam
      • Oregon Seed Treatment Training Manual

• Agriculture
  • Herbicide
  • Insecticide/fungicide
  • Vertebrate pest
  • Livestock pest
  • Soil fumigation
• Aquatic
• Consultant
• Demonstration and Research
• Forest
• Industrial, Institution, Health, and Structural
  • General pest
  • Structural
  • Moss Control
  • Space Fumigation
  • Wood Treatment
• Marine Fouling
• Ornamental and Turf
  • Herbicide
  • Insecticide/Fungicide
• Private
• Public Health
• Regulatory Predator
• Regulatory Weed
• Right-of-Way
• School Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – covers the use of pesticides on school campuses
• Seed Treatment – the use of pesticides on seeds

1. COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATOR LICENSE is a license for a person to:
   • Apply or supervise the application of ANY pesticide (general use, restricted use, organic, and 25b products) on the land or property of others while employed by a Commercial Pesticide Operator.
   • Apply restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) to non-agricultural land or property that belongs to you or to your employer (e.g., golf courses, resorts, feed mills, etc.).
   • Apply general use pesticides (including organic and 25b products) on the property of any Oregon pre-kindergarten, public and private K-12 schools, community colleges, federal Head Start programs, Oregon School for the Deaf, Oregon Youth Authority residential academy, or education service districts (IPM in Schools law, Oregon Revised Statutes 634.700-750).
   • Supervise an Immediately Supervised Trainee or Pesticide Apprentice.
   • Provide others with technical information about restricted-use pesticides. You are only allowed to provide information in the specific application category(ies) listed on your license.
   • Solicit to apply pesticides to someone else’s property, even if you don’t charge them.
   • Required exam(s): Laws & Safety and at least one category exam 2.
2. COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE OPERATOR LICENSE is a license for ANY business that makes pesticide applications (general use, restricted use, organic, and 25b products) to the property of others.
   • If the business is some type of a corporation, at least one employee must be licensed as a Commercial Pesticide Applicator.
   • If the business is a sole proprietor or partnership, the owner, or at least one partner, must be licensed as a Commercial Pesticide Applicator.
   • License categories of the Commercial Pesticide Operator license must match the type of pesticide work that will be done and must also be on the Commercial Pesticide Applicator license of the qualifying person(s) for the business.
   • A Commercial Pesticide Operator may only use licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicators, Pesticide Apprentices, or Pesticide Trainees to make pesticide applications with matching license categories for the work being conducted.
   • The business must provide proof of insurance to maintain their Operator's license.
   • The Operator license cannot be issued to a public agency.
   • Required exam: None
3. IMMEDIATELY SUPERVISED PESTICIDE TRAINEE LICENSE is for individuals who work under the supervision of a Commercial or Public Pesticide Applicator. Trainees may only make applications within their supervisor's categories.
   • The supervising applicator is responsible for training the Immediately Supervised Trainee AND,
   • Must always be on-site with the trainee when making pesticide applications, and
   • Be able to reach the trainee’s location within five (5) minutes.
   • Required exam: None
4. PESTICIDE APPRENTICE LICENSE is available for individuals who work under the supervision of a Commercial or Public Pesticide Applicator. Apprentices may only make applications within their supervisor's categories.
   • The supervising applicator is responsible for training the apprentice.
   • The supervising applicator does not need to be onsite when the apprentice is making pesticide applications, BUT the apprentice must always be able to reach the supervising applicator .
   • The Pesticide Apprentice is not a certified applicator. In order to renew this license, beyond the first year, the apprentice will need to attend eight (8) hours of approved continuing education classes. The eight hours must consist of at least four (4) hours of CORE credits. If the apprentice does not accrue the required credit hours, they will need to retake the Laws & Safety exam to re-license.
   • Required exam: Laws & Safety
5. PESTICIDE CONSULTANT LICENSE is required for a person who provides technical information on restricted-use pesticides. This is not an applicator license.
   • Required exam: Pesticide Consultant The Demonstration and Research category may be added to the Consultant License which allows a person to conduct demonstration plots and/or research trials of pesticides.
   • Required exam: Demonstration and Research
6. PESTICIDE DEALER LICENSE is required for each pesticide sales facility that sells, offers for sale, handles, displays, or distributes restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) to pesticide users.
   • Dealer licenses expire on December 31st of each year and are renewable annually
   • Dealers must prepare and maintain sales and distribution records for all restricted-use pesticides for a period of three (3) years. (Oregon Administrative Rule 603-057-0140).
   • Required exam: None
7. PRIVATE PESTICIDE APPLICATOR LICENSE is needed to purchase, apply, or supervise the use of restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) on land in agricultural production that a person, or their employer owns, leases, or rents. This includes farmland, rangeland, forests, greenhouses, nurseries, orchards, etc. No pesticide license is needed to apply "general use" pesticides.
   • The license AND certification are valid for a period up to five (5) years.
   • Required exam: Private Pesticide Applicator
8. PUBLIC PESTICIDE APPLICATOR LICENSE is required of employees of federal and state agencies, counties, cities, municipalities, irrigation districts, drainage districts, soil and water conservation districts or other special districts, public utilities, and telecommunication utilities who in the course of their work:
   • Use or supervise the use of restricted-use pesticides, (RUPs) and/or;
   • Use machine-powered equipment to apply any pesticides (general or restricted)
   • Apply pesticides (including organic and 25b products) on the property of any Oregon pre-kindergarten, public and private K-12 schools, community colleges, federal Head Start programs, Oregon School for the Deaf, Oregon Youth Authority residential academy, or education service districts
   • Required exam: Laws & Safety and at least one category exam. 3 Step # 2 Suggest
9. WOOD DESTROYING ORGANISM (WDO) INSPECTIONS WDO inspectors who provide pest reports to lending institutions (e.g. FHA, VA), for property transactions may need a license number to complete these federal forms. A Commercial Pesticide Applicator license with the IIHS - Structural Pests category may be used for pest inspections but is NOT required by the state. This license does not confer any special authorization to conduct these inspections. Contact the Construction Contractor’s Board for home inspector requirements at 503-378-4621 Ext. 4900

• Apprentice – Annual
• Private – 5 years
• Public/Commercial/Consultant – 5 years

• Apprentice – December 31st
• Private – December 31st
• Public/Commercial/Consultant - December 31st

Yes:

• Apprentice – 8 Credit Hours including 4 hours of core.
• Private – 16 Credit Hours including 4 credits of core. (Maximum of 8 per year)
• Public – 40 credit hours (Maximum of 15 per year)

1. Complete the state required continuing education
   • Apprentice – 8 Credit Hours including 4 hours of core.
   • Private – 16 Credit Hours including 4 credits of core. (Maximum of 8 per year)
   • Public – 40 credit hours (Maximum of 15 per year)
2. Log in to the state site to renew: https://mylicense.oda.state.or.us/plsapex/
3. Pay the appropriate renewal fees
   • Commercial Pesticide Applicator* - $50/year
   • Commercial Pesticide Operator* - $90/year
   • Immediately Supervised pesticide Trainee - $50/year
   • Pesticide Apprentice - $50/year
   • Pesticide Consultant - $40/year
   • Pesticide Dealer - $75/year
   • Private Pesticide Applicator - $25/5 years
   • Public Pesticide Applicator - $50/year

   *Fee depends on the number of major categories

Yes, they are approved by the ODA

Who submits my continuing education to Oregon?
We will submit your continuing education to the DBA at the end of one business week.

Pesticide certification is the demonstration (through testing) that an individual has the knowledge to apply pesticides without undue risk to themselves, the public, or the environment.

Pesticide licensing is the legal standing with the state to offer your application services to the public for monetary compensation.

• $159 will train your whole staff for a year (up to 25 employees)
• Training can be completed as often as needed for up to 25 employees.
• Employees can watch the video course individually or all at once
• Certificates will be available for each worker at the end of the course

An agricultural worker is anyone who works in a field that has been sprayed with pesticides within the last 30 days or does high-contact agricultural tasks such as weeding, moving irrigation equipment, pruning, and harvesting. Workers DO NOT handle pesticides.

A handler is anyone who assists with applications, mixes, loads, or transfers pesticides into application equipment, cleans repairs, or maintains application equipment, works on equipment that has been used to mix, load, or apply, disposes of pesticides or materials with pesticides on them, acts as a flagger, performs tasks as a crop adviser, or applies pesticides.

The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) applies to all establishments involved in growing, producing, or maintaining for sale agricultural plants (including ornamental plants). This may include, but is not limited to:

• Nurseries, garden centers, or other similar operations where plants are maintained for sale (retail or wholesale).
• All Crop producing farms.
• Dairy farms that produce hay for cattle.
• Forestry Operations
• Golf courses that produce their own sod
• Public park operations that produce their own plants
• Prisons that have "Prison Farms" where agricultural plants are produced and the prisoners are employed as workers or handlers.
• The WPS also applies to any establishment operating as a commercial pesticide handling establishment that applies WPS-labeled pesticide products on agricultural establishments or provides crop advising services for an agricultural establishment.

Most establishments covered by the WPS are crop producing such as farms, forest operations or nurseries. WPS also covers family owned agricultural operations even if only family members handle and work around pesticides. Essentially, WPS applies to any entity that grows, maintains or produces agricultural plants.

The following facilities or operations that are not generally recognized as traditional agricultural production establishments are covered by the rule if they use WPS-labeled pesticide products:

• Nurseries, garden centers or other similar operations
• Dairy farms if they produce hay for cattle feed.
• Golf courses that produce sod or ornamentals for their course
• Public parks or privately-held ornamental garden operations that produce ornamental plants
• Theme parks, hotels, or other entertainment operations that produce ornamentals for their locations
• Prisons that have "prison farms" where plants are produced by employed prisoners
• University extension agricultural research facilities that conduct research on agricultural plants
• Educational classes or vocational agriculture programs where plant production is completed by students and students receive compensation or reduced tuition
• Pine straw harvesting/production operations.
• Government-owned or managed agricultural operations.

The WPS also applies to any entity operating as a commercial pesticide handling establishment applying or advising the application of WPS-labeled pesticide products on agricultural commodities

Inform

All employers must provide EPA approved pesticide training for workers and handlers. Employers must also provide access to specific information including: applications on the establishment, safety data sheets for pesticides applied on establishment, and display a poster with pesticide safety and emergency information.

Protect

Employers must keep workers and others out of areas where pesticides are being applied and away from equipment during applications. Handlers must stop application if workers or others are near equipment during applications. Workers must stay out of areas that are under a restricted-entry interval (REI). All early-entry workers on the job in in pesticide-treated areas during REI must be trained in the correct usage of personal protective equipment. Any handlers using highly toxic pesticides must be monitored. Personal protective equipment must be provided and monitored by employers.

Mitigate

The Worker Protection Standard course will train handlers and workers on supply decontamination and emergency assistance including transportation in the case of a pesticide-related accident.

More information on the requirements and how to comply can be found here. https://goo.gl/bjfk8K 

As of January 2nd, 2017 employers are required to train workers and handlers annually before pesticide application.

• Full Training for Workers and Handlers is now required annually (Every year).
• No grace period for training. Workers must be trained before they work in an area where pesticide has been used or an REI has been in effect in the past 30 days.
• Handlers are no longer able to be the qualified person available during the training.
• Expanded training content requirements.
• Establishments must keep records of training for 2 years and provide records to Workers and Handlers if requested.
• Handlers and early entry workers must be at least 18 years old.

A pesticide product is covered by the WPS if the following statement is in the Directions for Use section on the product labeling:

AGRICULTURAL USE REQUIREMENTS

Use this product only in accordance with its labeling and with the Worker Protection Standard, 40 CFR 170.

More information may be found at the EPA Agricultural Worker Protection Standard website, or you may reach the EPA at one of the regional offices listed below.

EPA Region 1 (New England) - 888-372-7341 in the New England States, or 617-918-1111
EPA Region 2 - 887-251-4575
EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic) - 800-428-2474 in Region 3, or 215-814-5122
EPA Region 4 (Southeast) - 800-241-1754 in Region 4, or 404-562-9900
EPA Region 5 - 800-621-8431 in Region 5, or 312-353-2000
EPA Region 6 (South Central) - 800-887-6063
EPA Region 7 (Midwest) - 800-223-0425 in Region 7, or 913-551-7003
EPA Region 8 (Mountains and Plains) - 800-227-8917 in Region 8, or 303-312-6312
EPA Region 9 (Pacific Southwest) - 866-372-9378 in Region 9, or 415-947-8000
EPA Region 10 (Pacific Northwest) - 800-424-4372 in Region 10, or 206-553-1200

Not sure what region you're in? Click here.

Employers at agricultural establishments and commercial pesticide handling establishments such as farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses.

Yes! Worker Protection Standards apply to pesticides if the following statement is in the Directions for Use section on the product labeling:

AGRICULTURAL USE REQUIREMENTS

Use this product only in accordance with its labeling and with the Worker Protection Standard, 40 CFR 170.

Pesticide certification is the demonstration (through testing) that an individual has the knowledge to apply pesticides without undue risk to themselves, the public, or the environment.

Pesticide licensing is the legal standing with the state to offer your application services to the public for monetary compensation.

• Up-to-date pest management information and your responsibilities as an applicator
• Six general pest management methods and their application
• "Integrated Pest Management (IPM)" solutions defined
• Simplified federal pesticide laws and regulations that you will understand
• "Restricted use" vs. "general use" pesticides
• Learn to build an organized record keeping system
• Pesticide label explanations for proper identification and use
• Understand pesticide formulation and its effects
• Common abbreviations for pesticide formulations (e.g. WP or RUP)
• Typical symptoms of pesticide exposure in humans and harmful effects
• Hazard level classification including corresponding signal words
• Complete guide to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Clear understanding of environmental effects of pesticides
• Proper transportation, storage and security of pesticides
• Emergency response and how to react
• Choosing the proper pesticide and correct application procedures
• Practice exam to test your knowledge

Anyone who is preparing to become a commercial or private pesticide applicator and plans on taking the National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Exam. This course will give you everything you need to know to pass the exam on your first try. It is also an awesome tool for pesticide applicators who would like to refresh their knowledge or need to complete CEUs*.

*Please check with your state for current continuing education requirements.

Pesticide certification is the demonstration (through testing) that an individual has the knowledge to apply pesticides without undue risk to themselves, the public, or the environment.

Pesticide licensing is the legal standing with the state to offer your application services to the public for monetary compensation.

The CCA certification was established by the American Society of Agronomy in 1992 to provide a benchmark for practicing agronomy professionals in the United States and Canada.

Any adviser/consultant that spends the majority of their time advising growers or farm managers/operators on agronomic practices and can meet the standards of the program. Being certified adds credibility and shows that you are serious about what you do.

1. Pass two exams (International and Local Board)
2. Meet the experience requirements
3. Apply for the CCA Credential

• Have at least two years of experience with at least a Bachelor of Science Degree in an agronomy related field
  (Please keep in mind that University degrees and transcripts must be in English and based on the United States educational standard. If you need assistance in the translation process, you may use Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. or World Education Services)
  *The number of CCAs with at least a Bachelor of Science Degree is greater than 70%
• Have at least three years of experience with an Associates Degree in an agronomy related field
• Have at least four years of experience with no degree

1. Document education and crop advising experience (Including transcripts and supporting references)
2. Sign and agree to uphold the CCA Code of Ethics (Included in application)

1. Earn 40 hours of continuing education units every 2 years
2. Pay an annual renewal fee

2 years: your certification will expire December 31st two years after your initial certification date.

For example: if you became a CCA on any day between January 1st, 2018-December 31st, 2018--your expiration date would be December 31st, 2020.

Yes, many of our courses are approved by the American Society of Agronomy Board. On the state pages, the course description will say "Approved for Certified Crop Adviser Credit".

Yes, the continuing education units you complete must fall within certain topic guidelines. The topic breakdown is as follows:

In each two year cycle, a CCA must complete a minimum of 5 CEUs in each of the 4 categories.

The categories are Nutrient Management, Soil and Water Management, Integrated Pest Management, and Crop Management.

At least 20 of the 40 total CEUs must be board approved.

Yes, absolutely! Any course that is approved for Certified Crop Adviser Credit can also be used for state pesticide applicator continuing education credits.