Answers to frequently asked questions about North Dakota's pesticide certification, and state approved continuing education.
We Are Here To Help! Monday-Friday 8am-8pm ESTPhone: (701) 231-8050
Address: NDSU Dept. 7000
311 Morrill Hall, P.O. Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
Email: ndsu.pesticide@ndsu.edu
Web: NDSU Extension Pesticide Program
Any person selling, purchasing, or using restricted-use-pesticides, or any person using general use pesticides for hire.
Private Applicator: anyone who uses, or supervises the use of, any restricted pesticide for purposes of producing any agricultural commodity on property owned or rented by the person or his employer or, if applied without compensation other than trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities, on the property of another person. Private applicator includes all farms and ranges that produce commodities such as cattle, emu, equine, greenhouse, nursery, fruit, vegetables, or row crops.
Commercial/Public Applicator and Dealer:
A commercial/public applicator or dealer is "any person who engages in application or sale of pesticides or employment of devices."
-Agricultural Pest Control (Plant and Animal)
-Commodity and Structural Fumigation
-Greenhouse
-Home, Industrial and Institutional Pest Control
-Ornamental & Turf Pest Control
-Public Health Pest Control
-Research and Demonstration
-Right-of-Way
-Seed Treatment Pest Control
-Wood Preservatives
-Vertebrate Pest Control
-Sewer Root Control
7-Specialty Uses
Click here for further explanations and definitions.
Private Categories Only:
-General
-Commodity and Structural Fumigation
-Vertebrate Control with Fumigant Pesticides
If North Dakota law requires you to have a pesticide certification, you must hold a North Dakota certificate. A valid certification in another state may help you obtain a North Dakota certificate, but it does not substitute for one.
North Dakota may issue a certification on a reciprocal basis, without examination, to nonresidents who are certified to use restricted use or merchandise pesticides under an EPA-approved program. Whether reciprocity exists or not depends on other state's regulations and how similar they are to North Dakota. Eligibility for an individual holding a certificate will be determined on a case by case basis.
Out-of-state applicators and dealers must meet all requirements for certification in North Dakota. These requirements include:
To request information on how to apply for reciprocal certification in North Dakota contact the NDSU Extension Pesticide Program or access the NDSU Extension Pesticide Program web page.
Commercial/Public/Dealer:
Private:
NDSU Extension County Offices
Contact your NDSU Extension County Office
Private:
Commercial/Public/Dealer:
Complete a recertification training when a category is up for renewal OR retest in the expired category by passing a monitored exam(s) at your local NDSU county extension office.
Pesticide certification is the demonstration (through testing) that an individual has the knowledge to apply pesticides without undue risk to themselves, the public, or the environment.
Pesticide licensing is the legal standing with the state to offer your application services to the public for monetary compensation.
An agricultural worker is anyone who works in a field that has been sprayed with pesticides within the last 30 days or does high-contact agricultural tasks such as weeding, moving irrigation equipment, pruning, and harvesting. Workers DO NOT handle pesticides.
A handler is anyone who assists with applications, mixes, loads, or transfers pesticides into application equipment, cleans repairs, or maintains application equipment, works on equipment that has been used to mix, load, or apply, disposes of pesticides or materials with pesticides on them, acts as a flagger, performs tasks as a crop adviser, or applies pesticides.
The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) applies to all establishments involved in growing, producing, or maintaining for sale agricultural plants (including ornamental plants). This may include, but is not limited to:
Most establishments covered by the WPS are crop producing such as farms, forest operations or nurseries. WPS also covers family owned agricultural operations even if only family members handle and work around pesticides. Essentially, WPS applies to any entity that grows, maintains or produces agricultural plants.
The following facilities or operations that are not generally recognized as traditional agricultural production establishments are covered by the rule if they use WPS-labeled pesticide products:
The WPS also applies to any entity operating as a commercial pesticide handling establishment applying or advising the application of WPS-labeled pesticide products on agricultural commodities
All employers must provide EPA approved pesticide training for workers and handlers. Employers must also provide access to specific information including: applications on the establishment, safety data sheets for pesticides applied on establishment, and display a poster with pesticide safety and emergency information.
Employers must keep workers and others out of areas where pesticides are being applied and away from equipment during applications. Handlers must stop application if workers or others are near equipment during applications. Workers must stay out of areas that are under a restricted-entry interval (REI). All early-entry workers on the job in in pesticide-treated areas during REI must be trained in the correct usage of personal protective equipment. Any handlers using highly toxic pesticides must be monitored. Personal protective equipment must be provided and monitored by employers.
The Worker Protection Standard course will train handlers and workers on supply decontamination and emergency assistance including transportation in the case of a pesticide-related accident.
More information on the requirements and how to comply can be found here. https://goo.gl/bjfk8K
As of January 2nd, 2017 employers are required to train workers and handlers annually before pesticide application.
A pesticide product is covered by the WPS if the following statement is in the Directions for Use section on the product labeling:
AGRICULTURAL USE REQUIREMENTS
Use this product only in accordance with its labeling and with the Worker Protection Standard, 40 CFR 170.
More information may be found at the EPA Agricultural Worker Protection Standard website, or you may reach the EPA at one of the regional offices listed below.
EPA Region 1 (New England) - 888-372-7341 in the New England States, or 617-918-1111
EPA Region 2 - 887-251-4575
EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic) - 800-428-2474 in Region 3, or 215-814-5122
EPA Region 4 (Southeast) - 800-241-1754 in Region 4, or 404-562-9900
EPA Region 5 - 800-621-8431 in Region 5, or 312-353-2000
EPA Region 6 (South Central) - 800-887-6063
EPA Region 7 (Midwest) - 800-223-0425 in Region 7, or 913-551-7003
EPA Region 8 (Mountains and Plains) - 800-227-8917 in Region 8, or 303-312-6312
EPA Region 9 (Pacific Southwest) - 866-372-9378 in Region 9, or 415-947-8000
EPA Region 10 (Pacific Northwest) - 800-424-4372 in Region 10, or 206-553-1200
Not sure what region you're in? Click here.
Employers at agricultural establishments and commercial pesticide handling establishments such as farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses.
Yes! Worker Protection Standards apply to pesticides if the following statement is in the Directions for Use section on the product labeling:
AGRICULTURAL USE REQUIREMENTS
Use this product only in accordance with its labeling and with the Worker Protection Standard, 40 CFR 170.
Pesticide certification is the demonstration (through testing) that an individual has the knowledge to apply pesticides without undue risk to themselves, the public, or the environment.
Pesticide licensing is the legal standing with the state to offer your application services to the public for monetary compensation.
Anyone who is preparing to become a commercial or private pesticide applicator and plans on taking the National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Exam. This course will give you everything you need to know to pass the exam on your first try. It is also an awesome tool for pesticide applicators who would like to refresh their knowledge or need to complete CEUs*.
*Please check with your state for current continuing education requirements.
Pesticide certification is the demonstration (through testing) that an individual has the knowledge to apply pesticides without undue risk to themselves, the public, or the environment.
Pesticide licensing is the legal standing with the state to offer your application services to the public for monetary compensation.
The CCA certification was established by the American Society of Agronomy in 1992 to provide a benchmark for practicing agronomy professionals in the United States and Canada.
Any adviser/consultant that spends the majority of their time advising growers or farm managers/operators on agronomic practices and can meet the standards of the program. Being certified adds credibility and shows that you are serious about what you do.
2 years: your certification will expire December 31st two years after your initial certification date.
For example: if you became a CCA on any day between January 1st, 2018-December 31st, 2018--your expiration date would be December 31st, 2020.
Yes, many of our courses are approved by the American Society of Agronomy Board. On the state pages, the course description will say "Approved for Certified Crop Adviser Credit".
Yes, the continuing education units you complete must fall within certain topic guidelines. The topic breakdown is as follows:
In each two year cycle, a CCA must complete a minimum of 5 CEUs in each of the 4 categories.
The categories are Nutrient Management, Soil and Water Management, Integrated Pest Management, and Crop Management.
At least 20 of the 40 total CEUs must be board approved.
Yes, absolutely! Any course that is approved for Certified Crop Adviser Credit can also be used for state pesticide applicator continuing education credits.