If you have a pesticide applicators license expiring April 2022 — either private or commercial, or you need to get a new license — classes begin soon. Make plans now to attend the training option that fits your needs.
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COMMERCIAL/NONCOMMERCIAL APPLICATORS
Commercial/noncommercial applicators are professionals who apply restricted-use pesticides for hire or compensation. Anyone who applies pesticides to the property of another person, either restricted- or general-use products, for control of pests in lawns, landscapes, buildings or homes must also have a commercial pesticide applicators license. Public employees (those employed by a town, county, state) applying mosquito control pesticides whether restricted- or general-use, must also hold a commercial or noncommercial certification.
Commercial/noncommercial applicators have four options to recertify or get a new license.
TRADITIONAL TRAINING CLASSES
Visit https://pested.unl.edu for dates, locations and registration. Preregistration is required. Cost is $80 per online preregistration or $90 per mail/fax or walk-in registration. Trainings will be held at the Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County conference rooms, 444 Cherrycreek Road, Lincoln.
• Initial trainings starting at 8:30 a.m. — Tuesday, Feb. 1, Thursday, Feb. 24, Tuesday, March 15 and Thursday, April 7.
• Recertification trainings starting at 8:30 a.m. — Thursday, Feb. 3, Tuesday, Feb. 22, Thursday, March 24 and Wednesday, April 6.
In-person trainings are a supplemental learning opportunity; they DO NOT replace pre-class studying of category manuals or flip charts for test preparation. Study materials for all commercial categories must be purchased online at https://pested.unl.edu.
CONFERENCE OPTIONS
Crop Production Clinics — For those commercial/noncommercial applicators needing recertification only for General Standards (00), Ag Plant (01) or Demonstration/Research (D/R) categories. See related article in this e-newsletter or go to https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc. Pre-registration is required, cost $80/person.
Urban Pest Management Conference — For those commercial/noncommercial applicators needing recertification only for General Standards (00), Structural Health (08), Wood Destroying Organisms (08w) and Fumigation (11) categories. Visit https://www.nspca.org for more information.
NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TESTING-ONLY OPTIONS
Closed-book exams are given by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA). Visit https://pested.unl.edu for a list of available test-only dates, times and locations.
NDA computer-based testing is provided through the Pearson-Vue company. Testing only, no training. Visit https://nda.nebraska.gov/pesticide/pearson_vue_testing.html for a list of testing sites, categories available, dates and registration information. Cost $55 per exam. (For applicators with multiple categories on their license, each category is charged the full testing fee.)
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PRIVATE APPLICATORS
Private applicators are farmers or producers raising an agricultural commodity on land they own or rent or an employee making pesticide applications on their employer’s farm. Private applicators have four ways to recertify or get a new license.
TRADITIONAL IN-PERSON TRAINING CLASSES
Call your local Extension office, https://epd.unl.edu, for training dates in your area and to preregister. Lincoln dates will be Friday, Feb. 11, 9 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2 p.m. and Friday, Mar. 11, 9 a.m. Cost $50 per participant collected at the door. Pre-registration required at https://croptechcafe.org/training/.
CROP PRODUCTION CLINICS
Initial training in General Standards (00) and Ag Plant (01) is available for private applicators. See related article in this e-newsletter or go to https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc. Pre-registration is required, cost $80/person.
ONLINE SELF-STUDY PROGRAM
This is a 100% online, self-paced training with 10 modules. There are questions within the modules and a score of 100% is needed to pass. Visit https://pested.unl.edu/certification-and-training for more information and a link to registration. Cost is $50.
NDA TESTING OPTIONS
Take a written, closed-book exam given by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Visit https://pested.unl.edu, for a list of available test-only dates, times and locations.