If you want pesticide certification anywhere in the United States, you must meet the standards of the state in which you plan to work. These standards vary greatly across the country, but there are a few common denominators. For example, each state will require that you pass an exam and pay a fee. All states have developed training programs that conform to standards set by the national Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); some states mandate that applicants take the training, while others make it optional. Upon certification, you’ll be able to work in the field, limited only by the type of certification you’ve received, and in some states you’ll be able to supervise others who aren’t certified.
Pesticides are poisons and their use is strictly regulated. Many states require that even a property owner who intends to apply pesticides only on his own property must be certified. This requirement is enforced by restricting the purchase of pesticides only to those with pesticide certification, and then requiring from purchasers an accounting of how the pesticides purchased were used.
Pesticide certifications are issued either for private or commercial use. Private applicators do their pesticide work in conjunction with the production of an agricultural commodity, either on their own or their employer’s property. Commercial applicators generally cover any application not covered by private applicators.
There are many different types of pesticide certification, each with its own special considerations and training. For example, one type of pesticide certification is for those who will apply pesticides to turf and ornamental plantings; some others are for such applications as aquatic pest control and the treatment of seeds to be used in agricultural applications. One of the most commonly applied-for certifications in urban and suburban areas is the “structural and rodent” subcategory of the industrial, institutional and structural pest control category. You should research the different types thoroughly and determine which you’ll apply for. It’s not necessary to achieve certification in all different types, only those in which you intend to do jobs. If you're not certified in an area, though, you may not do work in that area unless you're being supervised by someone with the proper certification.
If you’re going to do your work in a state where taking the training course is optional, you can bypass the training and register for the exam and pay the fee, but you should take this approach only if you have both experience and a good amount of “book learning” in your certification area. On the other hand, depending on your particular learning style, you can arrange online or CD training, or you may prefer the classroom environment. Your state’s Cooperative Extension Service will identify all the training courses you can access. In many cases, these courses will be offered by third parties such as for-profit education services, community colleges and the like. Comparison shopping is recommended here, because there will likely be a wide disparity among the fees charged by different organizations.
Some larger exterminator chains also have developed in-house training that can lead to certification. This is an excellent approach for non-certified technicians who want to advance within the field. Those taking this approach, though, should be aware of their employer’s policy regarding reimbursement of the costs of such training in the event of termination of employment for whatever reason.
If you’re considering getting a pesticide certification and working on your own as a commercial pesticide applicator — also called exterminator — you should be aware that there may be significant start-up costs involved. Although the cost of your initial acquisition of equipment and supplies may be moderate, depending on the specific certification, you’ll be required to register your business in every state, and most states will require that you carry liability insurance to cover any damages caused in the course of your work. In addition, paperwork will occupy a good deal of your time; as previously noted, this is a highly regulated industry, and most states will require detailed reports as to your purchases of pesticides and the ways in which you use them.