Licensing Information
EXAM APPLICATIONS: The applications to take any of the pesticide exams must be obtained from the Department of Agricultural Resources @ (617) 626-1785.
These Changes became effective January 1, 1994
On March 3, 1993, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources' Pesticide Board approved revision and modification of the Licensing and Certification Regulations (sections 9 and 10 of 333 CMR) and reorganization of certain parts of section 10 into section 13, "Standards of Application." A complete copy of 333 CMR (the entire pesticide law) can be purchased from the State Book Store, Rm. 116, State House, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 727-2834. See Study Materials and check "Massachusetts Pesticide Regulations (1979, amended 1997)(333 CMR 1.00-13.00)" when ordering from the UMass Extension Bookstore.
State Licensing Law Changed!
The Massachusetts General Law has been amended to require that individuals
who use pesticides "as part of their duties" in and around apartment
buildings, condominiums, schools, etc. are required to obtain a Massachusetts
Applicator License or Certification. This includes janitors, maintenance
personnel, and landlords. This will affect anyone who applies pesticides
when in the employ of a municipality, public or private school, or similar
situation.
Closed Book Exams
All exams will be closed book.
One Exam
One exam will be given for each type of license. Applicator Licenses will
still require the Core exam. Certification and Dealer licenses will require
only one exam that combines the components of the core and specialty exam.
Age Requirement
Anyone taking any pesticide exam must be at least 18 years of age as of the
date of the examination.
Experience Requirement
Before becoming certified, an individual must have at least two years of
work or other relevant experience. Examples of acceptable experience include
work as a licensed applicator, academic studies, and other relevant work
experience. Relevant experience substitutions will be defined and provided
with the examination applications. The intent of the experience requirement
is for an individual to work as a commercial applicator before applying
for the commercial certification examination.
Contact Hours
The old system of obtaining "credits" has been changed to one of
accumulating "contact hours". A contact hour will equal 50 consecutive
minutes of training. In addition, the number of years to obtain training
has been changed from 5 years to 3 years. Licensed Applicators and Licensed
Dealers are now required to accumulate contact hours. The number of contact
hours required is as follows:
- Commercial Certification - 12 hrs. (per category)
- Private Certification - 12 hrs. (per category)
- Comm. Appl. License - 6 hrs.
- Dealer License - 3 hrs.
You can convert your current recertification credits into contact hours by a straight conversion (1 credit = 1 contact hour). During any renewal period you may be audited to verify your continuing education. Those individuals will be notified beforehand with additional information pertaining to these new changes.
Obtaining Contact Hours
You may still obtain contact hours by attending workshops, lectures, and
seminars. In addition, the revised regulations also allow for alternative
ways to accumulate contact hours.
Academic Courses
The course must be within the framework of a curriculum that leads to an
academic degree in entomology, botany, plant pathology, agriculture, pest
control, toxicology, public health, or is relevant to pesticide use, or
any course within that curriculum that is necessary to an individual's
professional growth and development as a pesticide applicator or handler.
Self-Study or Correspondence Course
The course should be one developed by a professional group such as an educational
corporation, professional association, or university.
Teaching or Publication
Continuing education hours may be earned by teaching a particular course,
seminar series, or workshop for the first time, delivering a paper or lecture,
or publishing an article or book on pesticide use. A course, seminar, or
book may be considered for up to 9 continuing education hours; a published
article may be considered the equivalent of up to 5 hours; a lecture or
paper may be considered the equivalent of up to 3 hours.
Degree Programs
Certified or noncertified applicators taking courses for the purpose of obtaining
a baccalaureate or higher degree in the biological sciences will be considered
to have met the continuing education requirements specified in this section
provided such courses equal at least the required number of hours. Other
academic degree programs may qualify at the discretion of the department.
Failing an Exam
After failing an exam, an applicant may apply for the next available date
for re-taking that exam. An applicant who fails any exam twice must wait
3 months before applying for that exam. If an exam candidate fails any
exam three times, the candidate will be required to wait 1 year before
applying for it again.
Record Keeping - Pesticide
Dealers Only!
The record keeping requirement for the signature of the purchaser or his
agent has been changed to the signature of purchaser and his agent. If a
certified applicator sends someone else to purchase restricted use pesticides
on his or her behalf, the Dealer must obtain the certified applicator's signature
as well.
For additional information on these changes or on any aspect of the Massachusetts Pesticide Laws and Regulation, contact the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources @ (617) 626-1789, 251 Causeway Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114.
