Pesticide applicators have more time to complete recertification

     The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has waived the deadline for pesticide applicators to meet recertification requirements, following a proclamation by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds March 22.

     The waiver allows Iowa pesticide applicators who were certified as of Dec. 31, 2019, to retain their status through Dec. 31, 2020, and temporarily allows commercial certified pesticide applicators to continue to operate under a current company license without having to immediately submit proof of training or testing.

     Applicators still need to meet pesticide certification standards by Dec. 31, 2020. In-person examinations required to renew a pesticide applicator certification also must be completed by Dec. 31. All pesticide applicator certifications remain on a three-year certification.

     If a commercial applicator re-certifies by attending a Commercial Continuing Instruction Course (C-CIC), this schedule remains unchanged, according to Kristine Schaefer, program manager for the Pesticide Safety Education Program at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

     The ISU Extension and Outreach Spring C-CIC programs were completed as scheduled. Fall C-CIC programs will restart again in October. More information is available on the ISU website.

     Applicators will still need to attend a C-CIC in 2020 if they plan to recertify by training.

     Private pesticide applicators with certifications that were current up to Dec. 31, 2019, will be able to purchase and apply restricted use pesticides for the 2020 growing season. Private pesticide applicators whose certification expired Dec. 31, 2019, and planned to recertify by testing now have until Dec. 31, 2020, to meet that requirement.

     Private pesticide applicators who plan to recertify by attending Private applicator Continuing Instruction Course (P-CIC) programs and were unable to participate in a 2019-2020 P-CIC will now have until Sept. 30, 2020, to attend the 2019-2020 CIC program, according to Schaefer.

     More information regarding 2019-2020 P-CIC programs will be communicated as it becomes available. The 2020-2021 P-CIC program will continue as scheduled and run from Dec. 1, 2020, to Apr. 15, 2021.

     Iowa pesticide applicators do not need to wait until the end of the year to apply for recertification and are encouraged to submit a request once they have completed testing or training requirements.

     This waiver does not apply to individuals who are not certified. To become certified, a potential pesticide applicator will still need to pass the appropriate exam(s). ISU Extension and Outreach will work with IDALS to help provide testing sites once testing activities resume.

     Pesticide company/business license requirements remain unchanged.