A. Applicants seeking commercial
certification must establish competency in the general principles of safe pest
control by demonstrating knowledge of basic subjects including, but not limited
to, pesticide labeling, safety, environmental concerns, pest organisms,
pesticides, equipment, application techniques and applicable laws and
regulations. (Core Exam).
B.
Applicants seeking commercial certification must demonstrate competency in each
applicable category or subcategory. (Category Exam). Competency in the
applicable category or subcategory shall be established as follows:
I.
Agricultural Animal and Plant Pest
Controla.
Agricultural
Animals. Applicants seeking certification in the subcategory of Animal
Pest Control as described in Section
2(A)(I)(a) must
demonstrate knowledge of animals, their associated pests, and methods of pest
control. Areas of practical knowledge shall include specific toxicity, residue
potential, relative hazards of different formulations, application techniques,
and hazards associated with age of animals, stress, and extent of
treatment.
b.
Agricultural
Plant. Applicants seeking certification in the subcategory of Plant Pest
Control as described in Section
2(A)(I)(b) Options I -
IV must demonstrate practical knowledge of the crops grown and the specific
pests of those crops on which they may be using pesticides. Areas of such
practical knowledge shall include soil and water problems, preharvest
intervals, reentry intervals, phytotoxicity, potential for environmental
contamination, non-target injury, and community problems related to pesticide
use in certain areas. Also required shall be a knowledge of current methodology
and technology for the control of pesticide drift to non-target areas, the
proper meteorological conditions for the application of pesticides, and the
potential adverse effect of pesticides on plants, animals or humans.
II.
Forest Pest
Management
Applicants seeking certification in the category of Forest
Pest Management as described in Section
2(A) (II) must
demonstrate practical knowledge of forest vegetation management, forest tree
biology and associated pests. Such required knowledge shall include population
dynamics of pest species, pesticide-organism interactions, integration of
pesticide use with other pest control methods, environmental contamination,
pesticide effects on non-target organisms, and use of specialized equipment.
Also required shall be a knowledge of current methodology and technology for
the control of pesticide drift to non-target areas, the proper meteorological
conditions for the application of pesticides, and the potential adverse effect
of pesticides on plants, animals or humans.
III.
Ornamental and Turf Pest
Controla.
Outdoor
Ornamentals. Applicants seeking certification in the Outdoor Ornamental
subcategory as defined in Section
2(A) (III)(a) must
demonstrate practical knowledge of pesticide problems associated with the
production and maintenance of trees, shrubs and floral plantings. Such
knowledge shall include potential phytotoxicity, undue pesticide persistence,
and application methods, with particular reference to techniques used in
proximity to human habitations. Also required shall be a knowledge of current
methodology and technology for the control of pesticide drift to non-target
areas, the proper meteorological conditions for the application of pesticides,
and the potential adverse effect of pesticides on plants, animals or
humans.
b.
Turf.
Applicants seeking certification in the Turf subcategory as described in
Section
2(A) (III)(b) must
demonstrate practical knowledge of pesticide problems associated with the
production and maintenance of turf. Such knowledge shall include potential
phytotoxicity, undue pesticide persistence, and application methods, with
particular reference to techniques used in proximity to human habitations. Also
required shall be a knowledge of current methodology and technology for the
control of pesticide drift to non-target areas, the proper meteorological
conditions for the application of pesticides, and the potential adverse effect
of pesticides on plants, animals or humans.
c.
Indoor Ornamentals.
Applicants seeking certification in the Indoor Ornamental subcategory described
in Section
2(A) (III)(c) must
demonstrate practical knowledge of pesticide problems associated with the
production and maintenance of indoor ornamental plantings. Such knowledge shall
include pest recognition, proper pesticide selection, undue pesticide
persistence, and application methods with particular reference to techniques
used in proximity to human presence.
IV.
Seed Treatment
Applicants seeking certification in the category of Seed
Treatment as described in Section
2(A) (IV) must
demonstrate practical knowledge of seed types and problems requiring chemical
treatment. Such knowledge shall include seed coloring agents, carriers and
binders which may affect germination, hazards associated with handling,
sorting, and mixing in the treatment process, hazards of introduction of
treated seed into food and feed channels, and proper disposal of unused treated
seeds.
V.
Aquatic
Pest Control
a.
General
Aquatic - Applicants seeking certification in the subcategory of General
Aquatic as described in Section
2(A)(V)(a) must
demonstrate practical knowledge of proper methods of aquatic pesticide
application, application to limited area, and a recognition of the adverse
effects which can be caused by improper techniques, dosage rates, and
formulations. Such knowledge shall include basic factors contributing to the
development of nuisance aquatic plant growth such as algal blooms,
understanding of various water use situations and potential downstream effects
from pesticide use, and potential effects of various aquatic pesticides on
plants, fish, birds, insects and other organisms associated with the aquatic
environment. Also required shall be an understanding of the Department of
Environmental Protection laws and regulations pertaining to aquatic discharges
and aquatic weed control and a knowledge of current methodology and technology
for the control of pesticide drift to non-target areas, the proper
meteorological conditions for the application of pesticides, and the potential
adverse effect of pesticides on plants, animals or humans.
b.
Sewer Root Control -
Applicants seeking certification in the subcategory of Sewer Root Control as
described in Section
2(A)(V)(b) must
demonstrate practical knowledge of proper methods of sewer root control
pesticide application, application to pipes, and a recognition of the adverse
effects which can be caused by improper techniques, dosage rates, and
formulations. Such knowledge shall include potential effects on water treatment
plants, movement of pesticides into off target pipes or buildings and the
hazards of sewer gases.
VI.
Vegetation Management
Applicants seeking certification in the subcategories under
Vegetation Management as described in Section
2(A) (VI) (a-b) must
demonstrate practical knowledge of the impact of pesticide use on a wide
variety of environments. Such knowledge shall include an ability to recognize
target organisms and circumstances specific to the subcategory, awareness of
problems of runoff, root pickup and aesthetic considerations associated with
excessive foliage destruction and "brown-out", and an understanding of the mode
of action of herbicides, and reasons for the choice of particular chemicals for
particular problems, importance of the assessment of potential impact of
spraying on adjacent public and private properties and activities, and effects
of spraying on fish and wildlife species and their habitat. Also required shall
be a knowledge of current methodology and technology for the control of
pesticide drift to non-target areas, the proper meteorological conditions for
the application of pesticides, and the potential adverse effect of pesticides
on plants, animals or humans.
VII.
Industrial, Institutional,
Structural and Health Related Pesta.
General. Applicants seeking certification in the subcategory of
General Pest Control as described in Section
2(A) (VII)(a) must
demonstrate a practical knowledge of a wide variety of pests and methods for
their control. Such knowledge shall include identification of pests and
knowledge of life cycles, formulations appropriate for various indoor and
outdoor uses, methods to avoid contamination of food and feed, and damage to
structures and furnishings, avoidance of risk to humans, domestic animals, and
non-target organisms and risks to the environment associated with structural
pesticide use.
b.
Fumigation. Applicants seeking certification in the subcategory
Fumigation as described in Section
2(A) (VII)(b) must
demonstrate a practical knowledge of a wide variety of pests and fumigation
methods for their control. Such knowledge shall include identification of pests
and knowledge of life cycles, fumigant formulations, methods to avoid
contamination of food and damage to structures and furnishings, and avoidance
of risks to employees and customers.
c.
Disinfectant and Biocide
Treatments.1.
Disinfectant and
Biocide Treatments.Applicants seeking certification in the subcategory
of Disinfectant and Biocide Treatments as described in Section
2(A) (VII)(c)(1) must
demonstrate practical knowledge of water organisms and their life cycles,
drinking water treatment plant designs, cooling water system designs, labels,
and hazards of disinfectants and biocides and proper application techniques to
ensure adequate control while minimizing exposure to humans and the
environment.
2.
Swimming Pool
& Spa. Applicants seeking certification in the subcategory of
Swimming Pool & Spa as described in Section
2(A) (VII)(c)(2) must
demonstrate practical knowledge of water organisms and their life cycles, pool
and spa design systems, labels, and hazards of disinfectants and biocides and
proper application techniques to ensure adequate control while minimizing
exposure to humans and the environment.
3.
Mold Remediation. Applicants
seeking certification in the subcategory of Mold Remediation as described in
Section
2(A) (VII)(c)(3) must
demonstrate practical knowledge of mold and problematic microbial organisms,
their life cycles, labels, and hazards of disinfectants and biocides and proper
application techniques to ensure adequate control while minimizing exposure to
humans and the environment.
d.
Wood Preserving. Applicants
seeking certification in the Wood Preserving Subcategory described in Section
2(A) (VII)(d) must
demonstrate practical knowledge in wood destroying organisms and their life
cycles, nonchemical control methods, pesticides appropriate for wood
preservation, hazards associated with their use, proper handling of the
finished product, proper disposal of waste preservatives, and proper
application techniques to assure adequate control while minimizing exposure to
humans, livestock and the environment.
e.
Biting Fly and Other Arthropod
Vector Pests. Applicants seeking certification in the subcategory of
Biting Fly and Other Arthropod Vector Pest control as described in Section
2(A) (VII)(e) must
demonstrate a practical knowledge of the species involved, their potential
roles in disease transmission, and the use of pesticides in their control. Such
knowledge shall include identification of and familiarity with life cycles and
habitat requirements, special environmental hazards associated with the use of
pesticides in control programs, and knowledge of the importance of integrating
chemical and non-chemical control methods. Also required shall be a knowledge
of current methodology and technology for the control of pesticide drift to
non-target areas, the proper meteorological conditions for the application of
pesticides, and the potential adverse effect of pesticides on plants, animals
or humans.
f.
Termite
Pests. Applicants seeking certification in this subcategory must
demonstrate a practical knowledge of Termite pests and methods for their
control. Such knowledge shall include identification of termites and knowledge
of life cycles, formulations appropriate for various indoor and outdoor uses,
methods to avoid contamination of food and feed, and damage to structures and
furnishings, avoidance of risk to humans, domestic animals, and non-target
organisms and risks to the environment associated with structural pesticide
use.
VIII.
Public
Health Pest Control
a.
Biting
Fly and Other Arthropod Vector Pests. Applicants seeking certification
in the subcategory of Biting Fly and Other Arthropod Vector Pest Control as
described in Section
2(A) (VIII)(a) must
demonstrate a practical knowledge of the species involved, their potential
roles in disease transmission, and the use of pesticides in their control. Such
knowledge shall include identification of and familiarity with life cycles and
habitat requirements, special environmental hazards associated with the use of
pesticides in control programs, and knowledge of the importance of integrating
chemical and non-chemical control methods. Also required shall be a knowledge
of current methodology and technology for the control of pesticide drift to
non-target areas, the proper meteorological conditions for the application of
pesticides, and the potential adverse effect of pesticides on plants, animals
or humans.
b.
Other
Pests. Applicants seeking certification in the subcategory of Other Pest
Control as described in Section
2(A) (VIII)(b) must
demonstrate a practical knowledge of the species involved, their potential
roles in disease transmission, and the use of pesticides in their control. Such
knowledge shall include identification of and familiarity with life cycles and
habitat requirements, special environmental hazards associated with the use of
pesticides in control programs, and knowledge of the importance of integrating
chemical and non-chemical control methods. Also required shall be a knowledge
of current methodology and technology for the control of pesticide drift to
non-target areas, the proper meteorological conditions for the application of
pesticides, and the potential adverse effect of pesticides on plants, animals
or humans.
IX.
Regulatory Pest Control
Applicants seeking certification in the category of
Regulatory Pest Control as described in Section
2(A) (IX) must
demonstrate practical knowledge of regulated pests and applicable laws relating
to quarantine and other regulations of pests. Such knowledge shall also include
environmental impact of pesticide use in eradication and suppression programs,
and factors influencing introduction, spread, and population dynamics of
relevant pests. Also required shall be a knowledge of current methodology and
technology for the control of pesticide drift to non-target areas, the proper
meteorological conditions for the application of pesticides, and the potential
adverse effect of pesticides on plants, animals or humans.
X.
Demonstration and Research Pest
Control
Applicants seeking certification in the category of
Demonstration and Research Pest Control as described in Section
2(A)(X) must
demonstrate practical knowledge in the broad spectrum of activities involved in
advising other applicators and the public as to the safe and effective use of
pesticides. Persons involved specifically in demonstration activities will be
required to demonstrate knowledge of pesticide-organism interactions, the
importance of integrating chemical and non-chemical control methods, and a
grasp of the pests, life cycles and problems appropriate to the particular
demonstration situation. Field researchers will be required to demonstrate
general knowledge of pesticides and pesticide safety, as well as a familiarity
with the specific standards of this Section which apply to their particular
areas of experimentation. All individuals certified in this category must also
be certified in one or more of the previous categories or subcategories which
represent at least 80% of their practice. Also required shall be a knowledge of
current methodology and technology for the control of pesticide drift to
non-target areas, the proper meteorological conditions for the application of
pesticides, and the potential adverse effect of pesticides on plants, animals
or humans.
XI.
Aerial
Pest Control
Applicants seeking certification in the category of Aerial
Pest Control as described in Section
2(A) (XI) must
demonstrate at least a practical knowledge of problems which are of special
significance in aerial application of pesticides, including chemical dispersal
equipment, tank, pump and plumbing arrangements; nozzle selection and location;
ultra-low volume systems; aircraft calibration; field flight patterns; droplet
size considerations; flagging methods; and loading procedures. Applicants must
also demonstrate competency in the specific category or subcategory in which
applications will be made, as described in paragraphs I, II, VI and VIII
herein. Also required shall be a knowledge of current methodology and
technology for the control of pesticide drift to non-target areas, the proper
meteorological conditions for the application of pesticides, and the potential
adverse effect of pesticides on plants, animals or humans.
