What is a Pesticide:

The term pesticide is very broad and includes substances such as repellents, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, plant growth regulators, and even disinfectants.

The mixing, loading, application and disposal of pesticides presents risks to humans (applicator and others) and the environment.

Some pesticides pose a relatively high degree of risk and are classified by EPA as "restricted-use pesticides" (RUPs). Due to the risks associated with them, RUPs can only be purchased and used by persons certified and licensed as pesticide applicators.

Pesticides which present a lower level of risk to humans and the environment are classified as "general- use pesticides" (GUPs). These GUPs are made available to the general public and typically do not require a license to apply. Exception: Persons making applications of GUPs to an ornamental and turf site (lawn, sports field, golf course, cemetery, etc.) or to a structural site (home, hospital, school, office building, food handling, food manufacturing facility, etc.) are required to be licensed when the application is done commercially (on a for-hire basis).

A third group of pesticides are the "minimal-risk pesticides." These products lack EPA registration and are often marketed as alternatives to traditional pesticides. Since these products meet the definition of being pesticides, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) views the regulation of their use the same as GUPs.

Types of Pesticide Applicators:

Private
A Private pesticide applicator is a certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of any RUP for the purposes of producing any agricultural commodity on property owned or rented by him or his or her employer . . ." The private applicator designation includes farmers, commercial fruit growers, commercial gardeners, potato seed producers, sod producers, and the ag producer who applies RUPs to stored agricultural commodities. Private applicators receive no outside compensation for their work other than trading of personal services between producers.

Non-commercial
A Non-commercial pesticide applicator is a certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of an RUP solely to sites owned or controlled by his or her employer or for a governmental agency or subdivision of the state. As an employee, these people are applying pesticides for their employer as a part of their regularly assigned duties. Contracted work, which provides the employee an income beyond their base pay, requires a commercial license.

Commercial
A Commercial pesticide applicator is a certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of an RUP (also GUPs for persons applying to Ornamental and Turf or Structural sites) on a contract or for- hire basis.

A comparison of contrasting situations where an applicator would be required to hold a commercial or non-commercial license appears on the back of this brochure.

If I Need A License, How Do I Acquire One?

The first step is to become certified.

Private applicators become certified by attending approved training, completing a cooperative extension self-study packet, or by examination. Contact your local extension educator for specifics.

Commercial or non-commercial applicators must complete and pass (70%) a General Standards exam and a category-specific exam for each category in which they desire to become certified. Contact NDA at www.agr.state.ne.us/division/ bpi/ pes/certest.htm or (402) 471-2394.

Once you are certified, the next step is to become licensed. Persons who complete private or commercial applicator certification requirements will be issued a billing statement from NDA. It is up to the applicator to return the billing statement with either a check or credit card information to cover the license fee. Upon receipt and processing of your license fee (three to four working days), NDA will issue you a pesticide applicator license. An applicator will not be considered licensed to purchase or apply pesticides until payment for their license has been processed.

A three-year pesticide applicator license costs $25 for private applicators, $90 for commercial applicators, and is free to non-commercial applicators. Fees are non-refundable and not prorated for less than three years.

Commercial certification study materials are available through the University of Nebraska at (402) 472-1632 or http://pested.unl.edu

Commercial Licensing

A commercial pesticide applicator license allows an applicator to apply, for hire or under contract, pesticides to property the applicator or his or her employer do not personally own or control. Employees of commercial pest control businesses need this license.

A commercial applicator license is needed by:

• A grain elevator employee treating an elevator client other than his employer's;
• A hi-boy/floater operator or farmer treating another's property for hire;
• A county weed control person treating a field or pasture of a landowner for hire;
• A contracted applicator treating livestock or farm animals;
• A contracted applicator treating golf course property, a city park, school, commercial property or cemetery;
• A lawncare business employee treating the property of a client or customer;
• A golf course employee treating property other than his employer's;
• A Game and Parks employee treating a privately owned aquatic site for hire;
• A weed superintendent treating a private aquatic site or wetland for hire;
• An employee of a seed producer treating seed not owned by his employer;
• A contracted employer treating forest or park trails, railroad ROW, roadsides, parking areas for hire;
• A contracted applicator treating grain elevator structures and perimeters, homes, barns, outbuildings, etc., for hire;
• An employee doing additional or contracted work and receiving additional pay.

Non-Commercial Licensing

A non-commercial pesticide applicator license is limited and only allows the applicator to use and apply pesticides for his/her employer or governmental agency or subdivision of the state, as a part of their regular job description. A non-commercial applicator license is needed by:

• A grain elevator employee treating a grain bin or the grounds owned or controlled by the employer;
• County weed control personnel when controlling state listed noxious weeds in a regulatory capacity;
• A forest service employee applying pesticides on Forest Service land;
• An irrigation district employee treating aquatic sites owned or controlled by employer;
• A school maintenance employee making application to school ground;
• A city employee performing city mosquito control;
• A city groundskeeper applying to city parks, paths, public gardens, cemeteries;
• A golf course employee applying to grounds owned by the golf course;
• A Game and Parks employees treating state controlled aquatic or recreational sites;
• A Department of Roads employee treating state-controlled ROW sites;
• An employee of a seed producer treating seed owned by employer;
• A utility employee treating lumber owned by utility;
• A wildlife service employee controlling animals on a not-for-profit basis.