Part II. Certification of Pesticide Applicators
2VAC5-685-20. General requirements for certification.
A. The following persons must be certified as pesticide applicators:
1. Commercial applicators;
2. Registered technicians; and
3. Private applicators.
B. Commercial applicators not for hire must be certified only when using any pesticide in the following areas except as noted in subsection C of this section:
1. Areas open to the general public at daycare facilities, educational institutions, health care facilities, and convalescent facilities;
2. Areas where open food is stored, processed, or sold; and
3. Recreational lands over five acres in size.
C. Employees of local, state, and federal governmental agencies who use or supervise the use of any pesticide on any area in the performance of their official duties must be certified as either commercial applicators not for hire or registered technicians, but they are exempt from any certification fees.
D. All persons desiring certification as pesticide applicators must:
1. Complete board-approved training appropriate for the desired classification;
2. Submit a completed application to the commissioner; and
3. Pass required examination or examinations. Applicants who do not pass the examination and who request reexamination must resubmit a completed application to the commissioner or his duly authorized agent and pay the nonrefundable applicator certification fee as determined by 2VAC5-675, Regulations Governing Pesticide Fees Charged by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
E. Persons with a history of repeat violations of federal or state pesticide laws or whose certification or pesticide business license has been revoked within the two-year period immediately prior to application are not eligible for certification. Such persons may appear before the board to show why they should be granted certification as outlined under provisions of § 3.2-3940 E of the Code of Virginia.
F. Applicants for certification cannot engage in the activity for which they are requesting certification, unless participating in supervised direct on-site training, until certification has been issued by the commissioner. Commercial applicators may not apply pesticides in any category or subcategory activity until they have passed the category-specific examination and obtained the appropriate certification.
G. A commercial or private applicator or registered technician may request a duplicate of the certification card if the applicator's or technician's card has been lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed.
Statutory Authority
§ 3.2-3906 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 2VAC20-51-20, derived from Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 11, eff. March 17, 1999; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 3, eff. December 1, 2008; amended and renumbered as 2VAC5-685-20, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012; Volume 32, Issue 26, eff. September 22, 2016.
2VAC5-685-30. Specific certification requirements for commercial applicators.
A. In addition to the general requirements listed in 2VAC5-685-20, applicants for commercial applicator certification shall meet the following requirements:
1. Certification as a registered technician, as well as employment as a registered technician for at least a year; or
2. One year of education, training, or experience in a pesticide related field which provides the equivalent practical knowledge of proper pesticide use required of a registered technician.
B. The application process for commercial applicators is as follows:
1. The application must be in writing to the commissioner; and
2. The application must contain:
a. Name;
b. Principal business address in the Commonwealth and elsewhere;
c. Qualifications and proposed operations; and
d. Classification or classifications desired.
Individuals seeking certification as commercial applicators must pay a fee as determined by 2VAC5-675, Regulations Governing Pesticide Fees Charged by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
C. Applicants shall, within 90 days after submitting the application and paying the fee, report to an authorized testing location and take the required examinations.
D. Applicants who do not complete the certification process within two years of the date of passing the examinations must be reexamined.
E. Aerial pesticide application applicants must meet the requirements of the Federal Aviation Agency, the Virginia Department of Aviation, and any other applicable federal or state laws or regulations to operate aerial equipment.
Statutory Authority
§ 3.2-3906 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 2VAC20-51-30, derived from Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 11, eff. March 17, 1999; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 3, eff. December 1, 2008; amended and renumbered as 2VAC5-685-30, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012; Volume 32, Issue 26, eff. September 22, 2016.
2VAC5-685-40. Specific certification requirements for private applicators.
A. Each applicant for a private applicator's certificate shall apply to the commissioner and then report to an authorized testing location within 90 days and take an examination for each certification category, specified in 2VAC5-685-80, applicable to his operation. The application shall contain the applicant's name, address and classification desired for certification.
B. Persons who cannot read or understand labels shall not be certified as private applicators unless they demonstrate competence to apply restricted use pesticides on their own properties. Persons seeking a waiver of the literacy requirements shall petition the board. Persons certified under this waiver shall obtain certification in the categories of limited certificate or single product certification as described in 2VAC5-685-80.
Statutory Authority
§ 3.2-3906 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 2VAC20-51-40, derived from Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 11, eff. March 17, 1999; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 3, eff. December 1, 2008; amended and renumbered as 2VAC5-685-40, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012; Volume 32, Issue 26, eff. September 22, 2016.
2VAC5-685-50. Certification procedures for registered technicians.
A. In addition to the general requirements listed in 2VAC5-685-20, individuals seeking certification as registered technicians must:
1. Receive on-the-job training in the proper application of pesticides under the direct on-site supervision of a certified commercial applicator for at least 20 hours;
2. Complete at least 20 hours of board-approved training;
3. Submit an application form with the fee established by regulations of the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services; and
4. Take the examination within 90 days after an individual is hired or transferred into a position where duties and functions involve the commercial use of pesticides. Individuals not passing the examination on the first attempt must reapply, following the procedures outlined in 2VAC5-685-20. Individuals failing to take and pass the exam within 90 days of the initial examination may not apply pesticides commercially, even under direct on-site supervision, until they pass the examination.
Individuals who have previously submitted an application form and either did not take the examination within 90 days after being hired or transferred into a position where duties and functions involve the commercial use of pesticides or did not pass a subsequent examination within 90 days of the initial examination may not apply pesticides commercially, even under direct on-site supervision, until they reapply, following the procedures outlined in 2VAC5-685-20 and pass the examination.
Applicants who do not complete the certification process within two years of the date of passing the examination must be reexamined.
B. Before registered technicians begin working in any application category or subcategory that is different from the category in which they received their original training, they shall receive additional training from a commercial applicator in the following aspects of pesticide application as it relates to the proposed category or subcategory of work:
1. Pesticides to be used, including reading and understanding the label;
2. Application equipment and techniques;
3. Pests to be controlled;
4. Personal protective equipment and clothing; and
5. Environmental concerns, including storage and disposal of pesticides applied.
The commercial applicator providing training to a registered technician shall be certified in the category or subcategory for which he is providing the training and shall provide proof to the department of such training on forms provided by the department. Such forms must be received by the department within 10 calendar days of the completion of such training.
Statutory Authority
§ 3.2-3906 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 2VAC20-51-50, derived from Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 11, eff. March 17, 1999; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 3, eff. December 1, 2008; amended and renumbered as 2VAC5-685-50, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012; Volume 32, Issue 26, eff. September 22, 2016.
2VAC5-685-60. Persons exempt from certification.
The following persons are exempt from certification:
1. Persons conducting laboratory research involving restricted use pesticides;
2. Doctors of medicine or doctors of veterinary medicine applying pesticides as drugs or medication during the course of their practice, or to control pests in corpses;
3. Persons who use or supervise the use of nonrestricted use pesticides as part of their duties only on properties owned or leased by their employers, except those persons identified in 2VAC5-685-20 B;
4. Persons who provide janitorial or cleaning services using nonrestricted use sanitizers, disinfectants, and germicides;
5. Painters who apply restricted use marine antifoulant paint under the direct supervision of a certified commercial applicator. One certified commercial applicator shall be present for every eight painters;
6. Forestry applicators standing on the ground who apply general use herbicides for forest vegetation control and tree thinning under the direct on-site supervision of a certified commercial applicator. One certified commercial applicator shall be present for every eight forestry applicators and be within voice contact of and no more than 200 feet from such applicators;
7. Individuals engaged in the training required for certification while under the direct on-site supervision of a certified commercial applicator;
8. Employees of local, state, or federal governmental agencies who from time to time make incidental use of ready-to-use pesticides that are properly registered in Virginia. For purposes of this section, "incidental use" means the use of a pesticide on an occasional, isolated, site-specific basis in order to avoid immediate personal harm from stinging or biting insects. This exemption does not include regular, routine, or maintenance applications of pesticides or any use of restricted-use pesticides;
9. Individuals who apply pesticides for the survey for gypsy moth under the authority of the department; and
10. Individuals who apply pesticides for the survey for cotton boll weevil under the authority of the department.
Statutory Authority
§ 3.2-3906 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 2VAC20-51-60, derived from Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 11, eff. March 17, 1999; amended, Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 21, eff. July 21, 2010; Volume 28, Issue 12, eff. February 17, 2012; amended and renumbered as 2VAC5-685-60, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012; Volume 32, Issue 26, eff. September 22, 2016.