[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”3012″ img_size=”full” css=”” el_class=”w-100″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][breadcrumb-shortcode][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion color=”white” spacing=”1″ gap=”2″ c_icon=”chevron” c_position=”right” active_section=”-1″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Part 1. General Information” tab_id=”part-1-general-information”][vc_column_text css=””]Pesticide Applicator Certification is designed to demonstrate a certain level of competency by pesticide users on the safe use of pesticides. Users of pesticides are classified as either private applicators or commercial applicators.<\/p>\n
PRIVATE APPLICATOR<\/strong>\u00a0– any person who uses, or supervises the use, of pesticides for the purpose of raising an\u00a0agricultural commodity. The application can be done on land owned or rented by the applicator or the applicator’s employer. Examples of private applicators are dairy farmers, vegetable or fruit growers, greenhouse growers, ranchers, nurserymen, and home gardeners. Request a private exam application if your occupation requires private certification.<\/p>\n COMMERCIAL APPLICATOR<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0any person who applies pesticides for\u00a0non-agricultural purposes. Any person who uses, or supervises the use, of pesticides on a “for hire” basis.* Also, any person who applies pesticides as part of his job with any governmental agency. Examples of commercial applicators are those who work for exterminators; landscapers; tree services; aerial applicators; weed control firms; pet groomers; apartments, motels, nursing homes, restaurants, etc. who do their own pest control work; and governmental agencies such as mosquito extermination commissions, public schools, Departments of Public Works, Departments of Health, the DOT, etc.<\/p>\n *<\/strong>If you apply pesticides “for hire” in New Jersey, State law requires that your business obtain a\u00a0Pesticide Applicator Business License<\/a>. The definition of a Pesticide Applicator Business is a business (or person) who, either wholly or in part, holds himself out for hire to apply pesticides. Examples are: pet groomers, exterminators, landscapers, tree services, aerial applicators, etc. This Pesticide Applicator Business License is\u00a0in addition to<\/strong>\u00a0your Certified Pesticide Applicator license.<\/p>\n LICENSE AMENDMENTS:<\/strong> To make changes to personal information associated with a current license, including updates to the home address, please submit\u00a0License Change Form VPC-004<\/a>\u00a0<\/i> to\u00a0pestcertcourses@deptest.nj.gov<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][vc_tta_accordion color=”white” spacing=”1″ gap=”2″ c_icon=”chevron” c_position=”right” active_section=”-1″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Part 2. Commercial Applicator Certification” tab_id=”part-2-commercial-applicator-certification”][vc_column_text css=””]Rutgers University now administers all pesticide licensing exams. In most cases, a Commercial Pesticide Applicator is fully certified after passing the Core exam and at least one Category exam. Please note that one must become fully certified within one year of passing any certification exam or the exams previously passed will become invalid. The online Pesticide Applicator Certification Exam Registration (PACER) system is available for your use. Anyone interested in taking a Pesticide exam must register through the PACER system<\/a>.<\/p>\n When you have passed the Core exam and a Category exam, you are fully certified, unless you have taken either the Category 10, 11, or 13 exam. For Category 10, 11, and 13 you must pass at least one other category exam to be fully certified. Because Categories 10, 11, and 13 are general categories; an additional category exam, which is more specific to the type of pesticide work being done, must be taken.<\/p>\n CORE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAM SIGN-UP INSTRUCTIONS:<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone must pass the basic “Core” certification exam. This exam is based on the Pesticide Applicator Training Manual – Core.<\/p>\n STEP 1<\/strong> – To be eligible to take the Core exam, the applicant shall submit proof of completion of a Department approved Basic Pesticide Training Course<\/a>. The course shall provide a working knowledge of the following: proper use of application equipment, potential hazards involved in applying pesticides, instructions for the mixing of pesticides, protective clothing and equipment, applicable State and Federal pesticide laws and regulations, interpretation of pesticide labels and understanding integrated pest management. Proof of course completion must be uploaded to the PACER system at pacer.rutgers.edu when applying to take the Core exam.<\/p>\n You must attend an approved\u00a0Basic Pesticide Training Class<\/a>\u00a0before taking the Core exam if:<\/p>\n You do not need to take the “Basic Pesticide Training Class” if you are taking exams for recertification AND it has been less than two (2) years since your license expired as long as you have a copy of your expired license or a copy of your original training certificate (see Attention Recertification Applicants in Step 2 below).<\/p>\n STEP 2<\/strong> – Prepare the following:<\/p>\n STEP 3<\/strong> \u2013 Sign up for the exam with Rutgers University<\/p>\n Register through the PACER system.<\/a><\/p>\n CATEGORY REQUIREMENTS AND EXAM SIGN-UP INSTRUCTIONS:<\/strong><\/p>\n In addition to the Core exam, one or more “Category” certification exams must be passed. The Category exams needed depend on the type of pest control that will be done.\u00a0To be eligible to take a Category exam, the applicant must complete a minimum of 40 hours of “on-the-job training” (OJT) for each category applied for. By definition, 40 hours of on-the-job training shall consist of a minimum number of separate applications, as specified in the following table. Certification in Category 10 and 13 is exempt from the category training requirements. Certification in Category 11 requires training in aerial only.<\/p>\n STEP 1<\/strong> – Complete 40-hours of\u00a0“On-the-Job Training” (OJT)\u00a0for each category if it is available to you. Forty hours of OJT is required if it is available to you.<\/p>\n Attention Recertification Applicants:<\/strong> You do not need to take 40 hours OJT again for a category you were previously licensed in. You may use the\u00a0Affidavit Form VPE-001<\/a> <\/i> if you have been previously licensed as a New Jersey Commercial Pesticide Applicator in the categories you are applying for. Upload the signed affidavit to the PACER portal<\/a> when you apply for you category exam.<\/p>\n IF OJT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU:<\/strong><\/p>\n Have the licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicator who trained you fill out and sign the Training Verification Form VPE-002<\/a>. <\/i>\u00a0Prepare a digital copy\/picture of the form to upload to the PACER system. To submit the 40 hours of OJT information, indicate on the “Category Training Verification Form” the following information:<\/p>\n IF OJT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO YOU:<\/strong><\/p>\n Option A<\/strong> – You may take training courses for categories 3A, 3B, 7A, 7B and 8B. Trainers certified in these categories can be found on the Pesticide Training Courses<\/a> page. You will receive a category training attendance certificate from the course coordinator after completion of the course. Prepare a digital copy of your category training attendance certificate to upload to the PACER system.<\/p>\n OR<\/p>\n Option B<\/strong> – For categories other than 3A, 3B, 7A, 7B, 8B, or 11, a training exemption is available. Some of the situations that would qualify for this exemption include a person who is starting their own business, or someone working for an apartment complex, school or government agency and where there is no Certified Pesticide Applicator currently employed to give the training. To apply for the exemption, indicate on the Training Verification Form VPE-002<\/a> <\/i> why the 40 hours of OJT is not available to you and prepare a digital copy of the form to upload to the PACER system.<\/p>\n OJT is always required for Category 11: Aerial. However, if all applications will be done aerially, additional categories do not require OJT.<\/p>\n Categories Available with the Minimum Number of Applications to be Witnessed or Performed and Training Course Availability:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
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