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Pesticides

PESTICIDE APPLICATOR LICENSE

Who needs a pesticide applicator license?
An individual must obtain the appropriate type of pesticide applicator license in order to purchase, use, or supervise the use of a restricted use pesticide, or any general use or restricted use pesticide when providing pesticide applications for a fee.

What type of pesticide applicator license do I need?
It depends on the type of pesticide you need to use and the manner in which you use it. In order to purchase, use, or supervise the use of any restricted use pesticide on your property or the property of your employer, while engaged in the production of an agricultural commodity, a Private Applicator License is the appropriate license to obtain. When not engaged in the production of an agricultural commodity, a Commercial Applicator License in the appropriate category is required to purchase, use, or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides on your property or the property of your employer. In order to provide pesticide applications of any type of pesticide, whether general use or restricted use, to the property of another person, and collect a fee for these services, both a Commercial Applicator License and a Pesticide Contractor License are required.

How do I obtain a Private Applicator license?
The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Serviceprovides the training exercise necessary to obtain a private applicator license. You may arrange for this training to be provided to you by contacting the County Extension Agent in your County. After you participate in the training session, your Extension Agent will send the necessary documentation to the Georgia Department of Agriculture Pesticide Division for processing, and your license will be printed and mailed to you. This process may take three to four weeks to complete, but if you need to purchase or use a restricted use pesticide immediately, a temporary license number can be assigned to you. Just ask the County Agent to call the Georgia Department of Agriculture Pesticide Division at (404) 656-4958 to obtain a temporary license number immediately upon your completion of the training exercise. This will allow you to purchase and use restricted use pesticides on your property or the property of your employer until your official private applicator license arrives in the mail.

How do I obtain a Commercial Applicator license?
In order to obtain a commercial applicator license, you must pass the commercial applicator examination provided by the Georgia Technical Colleges. This computerized exam is administered at several locations around the state numerous times during the course of a given year. Please visit www.gapestexam.com to learn more about our commercial examination. You can select a location and date that is convenient for you. Simply follow the instructions at the site to register for the exam. Please note that you will need to obtain study materials form the University of Georgia (material pricing varies). Ordering information is also located on the www.gapestexam.com web site. A $45 exam fee will be charged by the Technical Colleges. Most colleges accept checks, credit cards or money orders. Once you pass the exam, you will need to mail in a check or money order in the amount of $25.00 made payable to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Individuals who wish to obtain a commercial applicator license must pass the general standards examination, as well as at least one major category examination with a score of 70%. The general standards exam is designed to test for general knowledge on the use of pesticides, while the category examinations are more specific to particular types of pesticide application. Please review the Rules of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Use and Application, Chapter 40-21-2, Categories for Certified Applicators, to determine the appropriate category for the type of pesticide applications you will be making. Rules of Georgia Pesticide Use and Application Act of 1976.After you take the commercial examination, your license will be mailed to you within three to four weeks if you pass the exam. A failure notice will be mailed to those individuals who do not pass the exam.

When and how often can I take the commercial applicator exam if I do not pass the exam the first time?
If you do not pass the computer exam the first time, you may retest as soon as you feel ready to try again. You may take the exam as often as you like as long as you register at www.gapestexam.com for each exam session. Please note that the $45 exam fee will be charged each time you take the exam. Records of examination scores for the general standards and category exams shall be maintained for one year from date of the first examination by the Georgia Department of Agriculture Pesticide Division. Example: If an individual passes the general standards exam but fails the category exam, the passing score on the general standards exam will be maintained for one year from the date of the first exam. The individual could retest in the category only, for a period of one year and within the guidelines presented above, until the category exam is passed as well. After the category exam is passed, a commercial license will be issued to the individual based on the initial passing grade on the general standards exam, and the subsequent passing grade on the category exam. The same would also pertain if the category exam was passed initially, but the general standards exam was failed. However, both the general standards and category exams must be passed within one year from the date of the initial exam, or all test scores will be discarded and the applicant must again pass both the general standards exam and a category exam in order to become certified.

What is the duration and cost of a private or commercial pesticide applicator's license?
Both the private and commercial pesticide applicator's license are valid for a five year period. The fee for the commercial pesticide applicator's license is $25.00, and there is no fee to obtain a private pesticide applicator's license.

How do I renew my pesticide applicator's license when it expires?
You must be re-certified to renew your pesticide applicator's license. There are two options you may choose to accomplish this. The first option is that you may take the commercial applicator's exam again to renew your commercial applicator's license, or participate in the private applicator training again to renew your private applicator's license. The second option is for you to accumulate the required re-certification credit hours during your five year license period. Please note that all re-certification credit hours must be received in the Georgia Department of Agriculture Pesticide Division office at least 90 days prior to the expiration of your license. Private applicators must obtain three (3) re-certification credit hours in order to renew the private applicator's license, and commercial applicators must obtain either six (6) or ten (10) re-certification credit hours per licensed category to renew the commercial applicator's license. To search for upcoming approved re-certification courses in your licensed category, please examine the following link. Pesticide Applicator Re-certification Courses. All licensees who obtain the required re-certification credit hours will be mailed a renewal notice approximately 90 days prior to license expiration.

Do I need a Pesticide Contractor's license, and if so, how do I obtain a Pesticide Contractor's license?
A Pesticide Contractor's license is required for any individual or company to engage in the business of contracting for the application of any type of general use or restricted use pesticide to the lands of another within this state. This license is required for each business (company branch office) location, and each business (company branch office) must maintain in full time employment during all periods of operation at least one certified commercial pesticide applicator. The fee for the Contractor's license is $15.00 per year, and this license must be renewed each year. The forms to obtain the Pesticide Contractor's license (license application and proof of liability insurance form), Application Package for Georgia Pesticide Contractor's License must be completed and sent to the Georgia Department of Agriculture Pesticide Division for review, along with a check or money order (no cash please) made payable to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Your Pesticide Contractor's license will be sent to you in the mail, and must be displayed in a prominent place in each business (company branch office) location.

What should I do if I move, lose or damage my license?
If your pesticide license is lost or damaged you may request a new one by calling or e-mailing our office. Also, if you have a change of address you should notify our office so important license renewal information can be sent to you. To request a new license contact our office at (404)656-4958 or e-mail mloggins@agr.state.ga.us.