Section R3-3-208. Applicator Certification; Examination; Fee; Renewal

A.      An individual shall not act as a private applicator, golf applica- tor, or commercial applicator unless the individual is certified by the Department.

B.       Application. An individual applying for either commercial, golf, or private applicator certification shall pay the applicable fee and submit a completed application to the Department con- taining the following information on a form obtained from the Department:

1.        The applicant’s name, address, e-mail address if applica- ble, daytime telephone number, Social Security number, and signature;

2.        Date of the application;

3.        Name, physical address, mailing address, e-mail address, if applicable, and daytime telephone number of the appli- cant’s employer, if applicable;

4.        Whether the application is for a commercial, golf, or pri- vate applicator certification;

5.        If applicable, an indication the applicant seeks private applicator or golf applicator fumigation certification;

6.        If applicable, an indication the applicant seeks golf appli- cator aquatic certification or golf restricted use pesticide certification;

7.        For commercial certification, the categories in which the applicant seeks to be certified;

8.        Whether the applicant has had a similar certification revoked, suspended, or denied in this or any other juris- diction during the last three years, and the nature of the violation; and

9.        Certification renewal period.

C.        Fumigation certification.

1.        Fumigation certification requires certification as a private applicator, a golf applicator, or a commercial applicator.

2.        Fumigation certification allows a private applicator or a commercial applicator acting as a private applicator to use, apply, or supervise the use or application of a fumi- gant to an on-farm raw agricultural commodity or on- farm burrowing rodent problem.

3.        Fumigation certification allows a golf applicator to use and apply a fumigant to a golf course burrowing rodent problem.

D.      Golf applicator aquatic certification allows a golf applicator to use or apply an aquatic pesticide to a body of water on a golf course to control an aquatic pest problem.

E.       Golf restricted use pesticide certification allows a golf applica- tor to use or apply restricted use pesticides to an ornamental and turf area of a golf course.

F.       Examinations. The Department shall administer examinations by appointment at every Environmental Services Division office. An applicant shall achieve a passing score of 75 percent in the applicable subject area in order to receive initial certifi- cation.

1.        Commercial applicator certification (PUC). In addition to the core examination required by R3-3-202, an applicant shall demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the subjects listed in Appendix A, subsection (B) for each commercial certification category sought.

2.        Commercial certification categories. An individual may apply for commercial applicator certification in any of the following categories:

a.         Agricultural pest control;

b.        Forest pest control;

c.         Seed-treatment;

d.        Aquatic pest control;

e.         Right-of-way pest control;

f.         Public health pest control;

g.        Regulatory pest control: M-44 or rodent, if a govern- ment employee; or

h.        Demonstration and research pest control.

3.        Private applicator (PUP) and golf applicator (PUG) certi- fication. An applicant shall demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the core examination subjects listed in R3-3-202.

a.         Fumigation certification. An applicant seeking pri- vate applicator or golf applicator fumigation certifi- cation shall also pass a separate fumigation examination.

b.        Golf aquatic certification. An applicant seeking aquatic certification shall also pass a separate aquat- ics examination.

c.         Golf restricted use pesticide certification. An appli- cant seeking golf restricted use pesticide certifica- tion shall also pass a separate ornamental and turf examination.

4.        An individual who fails an examination may retake it no more than three times in a 12-month period, and shall not retake an examination until at least seven days have elapsed from the date of the last examination.

G.      Fee.

1.        An applicant for private or commercial certification shall pay a $50 fee per year of certification.

2.        An applicant for golf certification shall pay a $100 fee per year of certification.

H.      Applicator certification is not transferable, expires on Decem- ber 31, and is:

1.        Issued for the remainder of the calendar year as an initial certification;

2.        Renewed for one or two years, depending on the renewal period selected by the applicant; and

3.        Renewed for all categories of certification for the same renewal period.

I.        Renewal.

1.        An applicant for renewal of an applicator certification shall select a one or two-year renewal period.

2.        An applicant shall submit the completed application accompanied by the applicable fee for a one-year renewal or double the fee for a two-year renewal.

3.        CEU requirements.

a.         The Department shall not renew a private applicator or golf applicator certification unless, prior to the expiration of the current certification, the applicator completes three CEUs for each year of the renewal period.

b.        The Department shall not renew a commercial appli- cator certification unless, prior to expiration of the current certification, the applicator completes six CEUs for each year of the renewal period.

c.         The Department shall not renew a fumigation certifi- cation unless, prior to the expiration of the current certification, the applicant qualifies  to  renew the applicant’s private, golf, or commercial applicator certification under this subsection and completes three additional CEUs per year of the renewal period.

d.        The Department shall not renew a golf aquatic certi- fication unless, prior to the expiration of the current certification, the  applicant  qualifies  to renew  the

applicant’s golf applicator certification under this subsection and completes three additional CEUs per year of the renewal period. The three additional CEUs per year may also be used to simultaneously satisfy the three additional CEUs per year require- ment in subsection (I)(3)(c).

e.         An applicator shall complete CEU credit while the current certification period is in effect. CEU credits earned in excess of the requirements do not carry forward for use in subsequent renewals.

f.         To obtain credit, the applicant shall provide the Department with documentation of completion of the CEU course.

g.        The CEU requirements are not applicable to an indi- vidual renewing an initial certification issued between October 1 and December 31.

4.        Examination exception. An applicator who fails to com- plete the CEUs required for renewal may renew a certifi- cation, prior to expiration, for one year by submitting the completed application accompanied by the applicable fee and retaking and passing the applicable certification examination prescribed in this Section.

J.        Renewal; expired certification.

1.        An applicant may renew an expired certification without retaking the written examinations provided the applicant:

a.         Has satisfied the CEU requirements,

b.        Submits a completed application and fee within 30 days after the expiration date, and

c.         Does not provide any pesticide-related service from the date the certification expired until the date the renewal is effective.

2.        All other applicants for renewal shall complete the requirements for initial certification, including retaking and passing the written examinations prescribed in this Section.

Historical Note

Adopted effective November 20, 1987 (Supp. 87-4). Renumbered from R3-10-208 (Supp. 91-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 10 A.A.R. 276, effective March 6,

2004 (Supp. 04-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 18

A.A.R. 2481, effective November 10, 2012 (Supp. 12-3). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 19 A.A.R. 3130,

effective September 16, 2013 (Supp. 13-3).