Training offered for pesticide application certification, continuing education

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is reminding certified private pesticide applicators that there are a number of options for them to meet continuing education and testing requirements to maintain their certifications.

All commercial pesticide applicators must pass the pesticide application certification examination to receive certification.  Private applicators who want to apply a restricted use pesticide also must pass a certification exam.

Commercial and private applicators receive a three-year certification.  The certification can be renewed without further testing if the applicator participates in continuing instruction each of the three years they hold the certification. 

Applicators must pay the certification fees to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship regardless of whether they renew by continuing instruction or by testing.

Iowa State University Extension, in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, is offering continuing instruction courses across the state. For a location, date, time and fees, go to

www.extension.iastate.edu/calendar and select “pesticide applicator training” on the drop down menu.