Many people who use, sell, or consult on the use of pesticides are required to be licensed by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA).  This requirement does not generally apply to homeowners who use home and garden pesticides on their own property.

LICENSING

Washington state's pesticide licensing program includes ten license types and over 25 exam categories.  All licenses except the Limited Private Applicator and Rancher Private Applicator must be renewed annually.  The license needed to legally apply, distribute, or consult on the use of pesticides in Washington depends on who your employer is and/or what type of pest control work you will be performing.  To determine the type of license you need and which test(s) you need to take, refer to http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert or call WSDA Pesticide Management toll free at 877-301-4555.  You must be licensed in all categories in which you will be working.  A Commercial Applicator must be licensed in all categories in which the company conducts pesticide applications.

Exam Preparation
There are two ways to prepare for WSDA pesticide exams.  You may obtain and study the corresponding WSU exam study manual or you may attend a pre-license training course. 

Study manuals may be purchased from WSU Extension.  WSU Extension in Walla Walla County has most of the study manuals in stock.  Manuals may also be ordered directly from WSU at http://pubs.wsu.edu or by calling the WSU Bulletins office at 1-800-723-1763. If you are unsure what test to take or which study materials to use, call WSDA Pesticide Management toll free at 1-877-301-4555.

Prelicense training courses are offered statewide, primarily January through April, by the WSU Pesticide Education Program.  Information on these courses is available by calling 509-335-2830, 509-335-9222, or 253-445-4577 or by going to the WSU website at http://pep.wsu.edu/education/prelicense.html

Testing
You must be prepared to present picture identification and to pay all license fees by check or money order to WSDA at the time of testing. 

WSU Extension in Walla Walla County offers three pesticide license tests by appointment only during regular business hours:

Private Applicator
The Private Applicator license allows the use of any restricted use pesticide (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, etc.) on your own or your employer's land for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity.  (Applications of aquatic pesticides to water that moves off the agricultural property requires the aquatic endorsement.)  The Private Applicator license is renewed each year and the applicator must earn 20 WSDA approved credits every five years (no more that 8/year) or retest.

Limited Private Applicator
The Limited Private Applicator license allows the holder to supervise and apply restricted use herbicides on non-production agricultural land that includes pastures, rangeland, fencerows, andareas around farm buildings.  The use of aquatic herbicides is NOT allowed.  Noxious weed control in mixed rangeland-timber areas is permissible for the sole purpose of contolling weeds designated for mandatory control under state or local regulations.  Herbicide applications to control any type of competing vegetation on forest lands for the purpose of improving timber growth or survival is NOT permissible.  The licensee can use no other type of restricted use pesticides, including insecticides, fungicides, and rodenticides, unless they are supervised by a traditionally licensed Private Applicator.  This is a five year license requiring 8 WSDA approved credits to recertify without further testing.

Rancher Private Applicator
The Rancher Private Applicator license allows the same uses as with the Limited Private Applicator license.  In addition, this license allows the use of restricted use herbicides and rodenticides on limited production agricultural land where grain and hay are grown primarily for personal use. (No more than 10% of the grain and/or hay grown may be sold.) The licensee can use no other type of restricted use pesticide, including aquatic herbicides or insecticides, unless they are supervised by a traditionally licensed Private Applicator. This is a five year license requiring 12 WSDA approved credits to recertify without further testing.

Testing for other license types is conducted regularly in Olympia, Yakima, Everett, Spokane, Wenatchee, and Moses Lake.  Reservations are required and can be made by calling WSDA toll-free at 877-301-4555. For a current testing schedule, see http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/LicensingEd/Licensing.htm

Reciprocal licenses
Individuals holding a current license from Oregon, Idaho, Nebraska, Utah, USDA, USDOD, or USDOE may obtain a Washington license in comparable categories without testing by submitting a Washington license application, the appropriate fee, and a copy of their other state/federal license.  Eligibility for individuals holding licenses from state/agencies other than those listed above will be determined on a case by case basis. See http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/LicensingEd/Licensing.htm or call WSDA toll-free at 877-301-4555 for complete information.

RECERTIFICATION

All individuals holding a WSDA pesticide or Structural Pest Inspector (SPI) license must complete recertification requirements every five years in order to maintain their license. This may be accomplished by attending WSDA approved recertification courses or by retesting. The type of license you hold determines the extent of your recertification requirement.

Many people confuse the five-year recertification requirement with annual renewal. In order to be valid, a license must be renewed annually. A licensee has five years to complete his/her recertification requirement. Once a five-year recertification cycle is completed, a new one begins.

WSDA accredits several hundred recertification courses each year, the majority of which are open to all. Courses are sponsored by a variety of businesses, agencies and organizations. Depending on the course and sponsor, there may be a fee required for attendance. WSDA maintains a list of approved recertification courses at http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/LicensingEd/ListApprovedRecertClasses.htm

The Washington State University's (WSU) Pesticide Education Program sponsors a number of statewide recertification shortcourses each fall and winter. Individuals holding a current WSDA license will receive a brochure on these courses each fall. Your local county extension agent and/or noxious weed board may also sponsor courses as may your pesticide dealer and any professional organizations that you belong to. You can find information on courses offered by WSU's pesticide education program, including one-hour, Internet courses, at http://pep.wsu.edu/Education/educ.html. In addition, WSU mails current licensees an annual Recertification Shortcourses bulletin.

To learn more about WSDA's recertification program, go to http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/LicensingEd/Recertification.htm