California Pesticide Applicator License

Applying pesticides can be dangerous for the environment as well as for anyone nearby. If you want to make sure that the person using pesticide on your property is licensed, you can check their California pesticide applicator license. Having this license shows that they know how to apply the pesticide safely.

How Do I Get a Pesticide License in California?

There are two different pesticide licenses. A Qualified Applicator Certificate lets you employ or supervise someone else applying state- or federally-restricted pesticides. A Qualified Applicators License has the same functionality, but it also enables you to manage licensed pest control businesses as they utilize pesticides.

For either of these pesticide applicator license California options, you will have to complete an application, pass an exam, and pay a fee. Both require the “Laws, Regulations, and Basic Principles” test and a passing score of 70% or higher. There are numerous options for a pesticide applicator license practice test in California to help you prepare. The exam costs $50. The license fee is $40 for a Qualified Applicator Certificate and $80 for a Qualified Applicator License. The renewal fee for either is $120, and you need to renew the license after one or two years.

Keep in mind that you will have to get 20 hours or more of continuing education as part of the renewal. Four of those hours have to be dedicated to pesticide regulations and laws. Some classifications only need four or eight hours of continuing education after your first pesticide applicator license renewal in California.

To help you prepare for the exam, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation offers a “Laws and Regulations Study Guide.” Many companies also offer courses that teach you the required material to become licensed.

Keep in mind that the EPA sets minimum requirements for pesticide applicators at the federal level, and each state is welcome to make additional requirements. California has chosen to do so, so the process of becoming a licensed pesticide applicator is a bit more in-depth in California than in some other states.

Do You Need a License to Spray Roundup in California?

You don’t currently need a license to spray roundup on your private property in California. However, you do need a license to spray it on anyone else’s property.

What Is a Certified Pesticide Applicator?

After you understand how to get a California Qualified Pesticide Applicator License, you may want to make sure you know what a certified pesticide applicator is.

A certified pesticide applicator is someone who has shown their qualifications to use pesticides that are restricted by the state or the federal government. They have also demonstrated their ability to supervise others as they apply these pesticides.

What Does a Pesticide Applicator Do?

As the name implies, pesticide applicators employ pesticides on the properties of others. These can include pesticides that have restricted usage in California, as long as the applicator has the proper license. Some pesticide applicators also apply insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. These pesticides can be in sprays, chemical applications, vapors, dust, and soil incorporation.