The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) sets the requirements for eligibility of each license type, approves courses, and sets exam dates and locations.
Here at Cornell Cooperative Extension, we offer courses throughout the year that may qualify for the credits needed either for the prerequisites to take the exam, or to meet license requirements once you become a certified pesticide applicator.
The CAAHP commercial ornamental horticulture program focuses on commercial categories 3A, 3B, and 3C, and private categories 24 and 25, although private categories 22 and 23 may occasionally fall under some program topics.
- 3A: Ornamentals, Shade Trees, & Turf
- 3B: Turf
- 3C: Interior Plant Maintenance
- 22: Fruit
- 23: Vegetable
- 24: Greenhouse & Florist
- 25: Nursery, Ornamentals, & Turf
A wealth of information is available through the NYS DEC and through Cornell University’s PSEP/PMEP program. I’ve tried to pull out information from both for a quick guide for getting started.
NYS DEC has a great FAQs page that’s not easy to find
The PSEP CORE tutorial
Who needs to be certified?
- You need to be a certified applicator in order to purchase, possess, sell, or supervise the use or sale of restricted-use pesticides in the State of New York.
- There are three types of licenses: Commercial Technician, Commercial Applicator and Private Applicator (More information on licenses from DEC)
Commercial Applicator: Can use or supervise the use of any commercial application of pesticides in their category, or sell or supervise the sale of a restricted-use pesticide. Can purchase/possess restricted-use pesticides. A commercial applicator can train technicians/apprentices to make commercial applications.
Commercial Tech: can apply general use pesticides or any pesticide under the direct supervision of a certified commercial applicator. Requires direct supervision of a commercial applicator registered under the *same business or agency* to purchase/possess restricted-use pesticides. Technicians cannot supervise other technicians or apprentices.
Private Applicator: Can use or supervise use of a restricted use pesticide on property they own or lease to produce an agricultural commodity.
Who does NOT need an applicator’s license?
If you are using only general use pesticides on your own property/applicator’s residence. There are caveats to this, but as far as for agricultural or general landscape applications, this applies.