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Commercial Applicators
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Do I need a commercial license?
A commercial license is required for any one of the following situations:
- Application of any restricted/limited use pesticide for purposes other than producing and agricultural commodity
- Use of any pesticide as a service for which compensation is received (examples include lawn care, water damage restoration, mold remediation, tree & shrub care and pest control)
- Use of any pesticide on sites open to public use. Property is considered open to use by the public when the owner permits routine access by the public, even if a fee is charged for such use. Examples range from office and apartment buildings to golf courses and other outdoor recreation facilities.
- Use of any pesticide by a government employee as part of their job duties. Government employees include but are not limited to school, town, county, housing authority, water district, State, Federal and Defense officials.
The commercial applicator/operator certification is the minimum license requirement for individuals employed as technicians under supervision of a licensed master applicator. The operator's license is in effect only if the employing company or organization has at least one licensed master applicator.
The commercial applicator/master certification is required for one individual within each company, organization or agency and at every branch office of that company. This license is generally intended for the owner, supervisor or manager as long as it is the person responsible for major pest control decisions, for establishing policies related to proper pesticide use, and for employee training and overall work practices.
How do I earn a commercial license certification?
Persons wishing to obtain either level of commercial applicator certification must pass two or more written, closed book examinations with the exception of pool and spa and mold remediation and water damage restoration applicators who must pass only one test. The two minimum tests are the Core Exam which covers general pesticide information and the Category Exams which test knowledge of pest management practices pertinent to the specific profession where pesticides are used, such as in forestry, lawn care services or structural pest control (see full category list). The core exam and category exams cost $10.00 each. (exam fees are waived for governmental examinees)
Master-level applicants must also successfully complete a test on pesticide regulations and pass an oral examination conducted by the BPC staff. These exams cost an additional $50.00. (exam fees are waived for governmental examinees)
Tests must be scheduled by submitting a completed application form and the proper fee to the BPC. Exam applications are available by visiting our online Download Library or from the BPC. Exams are generally held weekly at the BPC offices in Augusta (usually on Wednesdays) or in Presque Isle by special arrangement (usually on the last Friday of each month). Self-help study materials are available through the UMCE Pest Management Office, 491 College Avenue, Orono, ME 04773; telephone 800-287-0279 or, outside Maine, 207-581-3880, e-mail donald.barry@maine.edu or go to UMCE's training manual Web pages.
Staying Certified
A commercial certification is valid for six years; however, the commercial license must be renewed biennially. So that applicators remain current in the latest technologies and regulations while they are certified, the BPC requires holders to attend continuing education courses. The number of credits (1 credit = 1 hour of training) needed for recertification varies according to the license level. Commercial-Master Applicators need 18 credits every 6 years; Commercial-Operator Applicators need 12 credits every 6 years. As with recertification for private license holders, commercial applicators participate in category specific training sessions made available through the BPC, UMCE, industry and trade organizations both in Maine and out of state.
License Categories
COMMERCIAL-MASTER |
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Certification |
|
Type of exams |
Minimum of 3 written (Core, one or more categories, and regulation exams) plus a Master's Oral exam. |
Where do I get my study materials? |
Core and Commodity manuals: |
Where do I take exams? |
BPC offices by prefiled exam application (see below) only. |
Exam application |
Commercial Applicator Exam Application (PDF) |
Exam fees |
$10 each for the Core and for each category exam. |
Exam pass policy |
Examinees must pass both the core and at least one category exam within one year. If an applicant only passes one of the required exams within one year, the examinee must retake and successfully complete all exams, even those previously passed, before qualifying for certification. |
Rescheduling exams |
Requests to reschedule exams must be made at least 24 hours in advance. If you fail to do so, all exam fees will be forfeited, and you must re-file the complete exam application, pay all appropriate fees and pay an additional $15 reapplication fee. |
Certification expiration |
6 years |
Required recertification credits |
Commercial Master - 18 hours over the 6 year certification period |
L i c e n s i n g |
|
License fee |
$70 |
License expiration |
2 years (renewable 12/31) |
License application |
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COMMERCIAL-OPERATOR |
|
Certification |
|
Type of exams |
Minimum of 2 written (Core and one or more category exams) |
Where do I get study materials? |
Core and Commodity manuals: |
Where do I take exams |
BPC offices by prefiled exam application only. |
Exam application |
Commercial Applicator Exam Application (PDF) |
Exam fees |
$10 each for the Core and for each category exam |
Exam pass policy |
Examinees must pass both the core and at least one category exam within one year. If an applicant only passes one of the required exams within one year, the examinee must retake and successfully complete all exams, even those previously passed, before qualifying for certification. |
Rescheduling exams |
Requests to reschedule exams must be made at least 24 hours in advance. If you fail to do so, all exam fees will be forfeited, and you must re-file the complete exam application, pay all appropriate fees and pay an additional $15 reapplication fee. |
Certification expiration |
6 years |
Required recertification credits |
Commercial Operator - 12 hours over the 6 year certification period |
Licensing |
|
License fee |
$70 |
License expiration |
2 years (renewable 12/31) |
License application |
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NOTE: Company agency must have a licensed Commercial Master applicator before Commercial Operators may be licensed. See
Chapter 31 (Word) exemptions.
FIRM* |
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L i c e n s i n g |
|
License fee |
$200** |
License expiration |
2 years (renewable 12/31) |
*Required of all custom applicator companies other than sole proprietors with no other employees or companies which perform all applications solely on or within a premises which they own or lease (i.e., golf courses or wood treating establishments and boat yards).
**In addition to the license fee, proof of insurance and Commercial Master applicator is required.
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LICENSE CATEGORIES |
1A Agricultural - Animal |
1B Agricultural - Plant |
2 Forest Pest Management |
3A Outdoor Ornamentals |
3B Turf |
3C Indoor Ornamentals |
4 Seed Treatment |
5A Aquatic Pest Control |
5B Sewer Root Control |
6A Right of Way Vegetation Management |
6B Industrial/Commercial/Municipal Vegetation Management |
7A Structural General Pest Control (Includes Food Processing) |
7B Structural Fumigation |
7C1 Disinfectant and Biocide Treatments |
7C2 Swimming Pool & Spa |
7C3 Mold Remediation & Water Damage Restoration |
7D Wood Preserving |
7E Biting Fly & Other Arthropod Vectors (Ticks) |
7F Termite Pests |
8A Public Health - Biting Fly (a) |
8B Public Health - Other (a) |
9 Regulatory Pest Control (a) |
10 Demonstration & Research Pest Control (b) |
11 Aerial Pest Control (b) |
(a) for government officials only
(b) requires another certification category
Insurance coverage
- Affidavit of Insurance Coverage form (PDF) must be completed prior to licensing. This form is considered a legally binding document and is assurance that liability insurance coverage is in effect when making custom applications.
Treat only in your licensed category (ies)
Commercial applicators are only allowed to apply in categories in which they are licensed. Summary reports have revealed several applicators reporting applications made to areas they are not licensed to treat.
An area which has caused concern is weed control on sidewalks, patios, driveways or parking lots. Commercial applicators must be licensed in Category 6D (Industrial/Commercial/Municipal Vegetation Management) to do these types of applications. Those areas cannot legally be treated if the applicator is only licensed in Category 3A (Outdoor Ornamentals) or 3B (Turf).
If a licensed employee no longer works for your company. . .
Employers should notify the Board of Pesticides Control about termination of licensed personnel so they can be removed from the company/agency applicator list.
Commercial applicator licenses are company affiliated. That means a commercial applicator's license is voided when that person leaves the company or agency where he/she has been licensed. Companies or agencies could be liable for applications done by terminated individuals until the Board is notified of their termination.
Terminated employees should check with the BPC about license reinstatement. No pesticide applications should be performed elsewhere without the license reinstated.