On August 5, 2015, EPA released a proposal to revise the standards for both commercial and private pesticide applicators. In California this rule would affect anyone with a Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC), a Qualified Applicator License (QAL), or a Private Applicator Certificate (PAC). This could affect you as a pesticide applicator, or any clientele who are commercial or private applicators.

The primary proposed changes that I think will affect California pesticide applicators the most are:

• Category-specific Continuing Education Requirements for QACs and QALs. Commercial applicators will have to earn 6 Continuing Education Units covering Laws and Regulations (called “core”), AND 6 Continuing Education Units for each category in which you are licensed or certified. (see section XIV.B. “Recertification Requirements Unit”)
• Category-specific Certification and Continuing Education for PACs. Private applicators performing soil fumigation or non-soil fumigation will be required to be certified in those categories; they will have to take an additional test, and there will be additional Continuing Education requirements. (see section VII. Establish Application Method-Specific Categories…..” and section XIV.B. “Recertification Requirements Unit”)

The public has the opportunity to comment on this proposal until November 23, 2015.

The proposed revisions can be found on www.regulations.gov using the Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0183. The Docket is titled: Certification of Pesticide Applicators Rule Revision (40 CFR 171). There is also a link on the docket for making comments.