Pesticide Applicator Pre-Certification Training - Laws & Safety

From farmers and ranchers to agricultural managers, landscape architects and pest control workers, federal law requires any person who applies or supervises the use of restricted use pesticides (RUPs) to be certified in accordance with national regulations and state, territorial and tribal laws.

This pre-certification training program, offered by Oregon State’s Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) will help learners be more prepared, efficient, and successful in passing the state Laws & Safety Exam. It is based on training materials developed together by PSEP and the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA).

Becoming a Licensed Pesticide Applicator in Oregon

Pesticide applicators must know how to apply RUPs properly and safely. Most pesticide licensure types in Oregon require an applicant to pass the Laws & Safety Exam.

Many students either choose or are required to then take additional ‘category’ exams to complete their certification.

Category training materials are provided on ODA’s website, but are not part of this course at this time. For more information on the full licensing process, please visit PSEP’s Pre-Certification webpage.

Pesticide Applicator Exam Prep

This 11-module program is designed to cover all aspects of the Laws & Safety Exam, which is required as part of the process to becoming a licensed pesticide applicator in Oregon.

The purpose of this Pesticide Applicator Pre-Certification Training program is to give you the best possible chance of passing the state Laws and Safety Exam.

Our team has a deep understanding of how to help make the technical material easier to understand and master.

The program includes interactive sections to reinforce topics, built-in assessments, and more. Our goal is to make learning easier and more engaging so that you or your team pass the Laws and Safety Exam... the first time.

Preparing for the Laws & Safety Exam

Overall, the program will prepare you for all aspects covered by the Laws & Safety Exam. The licensing authority in our state (Oregon Dept. of Agriculture) requires every pesticide applicator to pass the Laws & Safety exam. Often, applicators choose to then also choose a category specific to their industry. The content for category exams is not included in this program.

Pre-certification Training Overview

This 16-hour course has been developed to assist you as you prepare to become a licensed pesticide applicator in Oregon. It includes interactive sections to reinforce topics and built-in assessments.

You can proceed at your own pace and revisit any of the sections at any time. Some topics covered by the course include:

label comprehension
personal protective equipment (PPE)
laws and regulations
integrated pest management (IPM)
protecting waterways
reducing drift
pesticide transport, storage, and disposal
and more!

The Oregon Addendum and National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual are available for review, but are not required for this course. If you would like to obtain printed copies of each handbook, contact the Chemeketa Community College Bookstore at 503-399-5131 to request.

On demand. Access any time.

16 hours

Online

Free

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Instructors

Kaci Buhl

Kaci Buhl is an Associate Professor of Practice at Oregon State University (OSU). She coordinates the Statewide Pesticide Safety Education Program, working to educate professional pesticide applicators. On the national level, Ms. Buhl is the Deputy Director of the Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative, which creates pesticide manuals, exams, and other resources for professionals. She studied integrated pest management (IPM) at Michigan State University and previously coordinated the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC).

Jessica Green

Jessica Green is the outreach coordinator for PSEP, and has worked in agricultural pest management at Oregon State since 2012. She has designed and conducted many pesticide trials and is a contributing author and editor for the PNW Insect and Weed Management Handbooks. Ms. Green has specific training in adult education and how to make learning accessible to diverse audiences. She worked on the development team to finalize these training materials and format them into an easy, self-paced, e-learning format.

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