Training & Continuing Education
Applying pesticides — whether on a farm, commercially, or on business property — requires both initial and ongoing training. To learn more, view the different training options below.
Pre-licensing Education
Learn more about our pre-license trainings for those seeking private and commercial licenses.
Continuing Education
Learn more about our online and in-person continuing education courses.
Non-Registered Limited Commercial and Public Applicator Training
Learn how to meet training requirements for applying pesticides on your employer’s property.
Technician Classroom Training
See in-person and online training courses that will fulfill technician training hours.
Resources for WPS Trainers
Find training resources for WPS employers and trainers.
Pre-Licensing Education
Private and commercial pesticide applicators must take the appropriate exam(s) to get their license. To learn more about the licensing process, please visit our Applicator Licensing Page.
Study guides for private and commercial general and category exams are available through the CEPEP store. Additionally, we offer in-person and online training for preparing individuals to take the general exam.
Online Pre-License Education
AGLL 1021: Pesticide Application and Safety Basics is designed for people seeking commercial and private applicator licenses in Colorado. Our goal is not only to provide essential knowledge but also to fully prepare learners for the Colorado general licensing exam. This course covers pest management strategies, pesticide properties, environmental and public safety considerations, applicator safety, application procedures, and relevant laws and regulations.
This course prepares you for roles such as qualified supervisor, certified operator, and private applicator, and provides helpful information for navigating the examination and licensing process.
You can learn at your own pace with our flexible, self-paced online format.
In-Person Pre-License Education
Currently there are no in-person pre-license trainings scheduled. If you would like to be notified the next time an in-person pre-license training occurs, please fill out this form to get on the notification list.
Continuing Education (CEC)
Both private and commercial applicators are required to complete continuing education to maintain their pesticide applicator license. These courses can sharpen your emergency and safety practices, provide insights for effective application strategies, and keep you informed about the latest environmental and regulatory changes affecting pesticide applicators.
We offer both in-person and online training opportunities.
Continuing Education Requirements
All Colorado licensed pesticide applicators are responsible for ensuring their applicator license is up-to-date and renewing their license. Below are requirements that licensed applicators should consider:
- Licensed applicators must renew their license every 3 years.
- Your license expires on your birthdate.
- Continuing Education Credits can be earned any time during the 3-year period.
- Applicators who allow their license to lapse beyond the 3-year period must re-test to receive their license.
- Applicators can attend any CDA-approved recertification training to receive the required credits.
Online Continuing Education Courses
We offer six specialized continuing education courses that fulfill the seven core credits that every private applicator, qualified supervisor, and certified operator are required to have to renew their license. These Colorado Department of Agriculture approved courses can be taken individually or as a bundle. They are flexible, self-paced, and can be worked on when it is most convenient for you.
AGLL 1029: Core Continuing Education Course Bundle (7 credits)
- This bundle includes AGLL 1022 through AGLL 1027.
- By completing this course, you will earn all seven (7) core credits in all subject areas.
- Cost: $125
AGLL 1022: Laws and Regulations Pesticide Compliance in Colorado (2 credits)
- Explore common label, regulatory, and Worker Protection Standard violations by pesticide applicators in Colorado and equip yourself with the knowledge and methods to avoid them. You will also be updated on changes to testing, licensing, and regulations.
- By completing this course, you will earn two (2) continuing education credits in Laws and Regulations.
- Cost: $35
AGLL 1023: Use of Pesticides - Planning an Application (1 credit)
- Test your label knowledge, find and utilize helpful resources, and stay up to date on evolving label language and requirements through engaging exercises based on a real-world scenario.
- By completing this course, you will earn one (1) continuing education credit in Use of Pesticides.
- Cost: $20
AGLL 1024: Applicator Safety - Respiratory Protection (1 credit)
- Learn to navigate respiratory protection requirements and ensure proper use of personal protective equipment as outlined on pesticide labels and by federal law.
- By completing this course, you will earn one (1) continuing education credit in Applicator Safety.
- Cost: $20
AGLL 1025: Public Safety - Pesticide Spills (1 credit)
- Equip yourself with essential knowledge and skills for effectively managing pesticide spills and responding to accidental exposures. It covers topics of spill cleanup and emergency response protocols and prioritizes prevention strategies and practices to help you protect yourself, your employees, and your business.
- By completing this course, you will earn one (1) continuing education credit in Public Safety.
- Cost: $20
AGLL 1026: Environmental Protection - Endangered Species (1 credit)
- Explore the impact of the Endangered Species Act on pesticide regulation and gain the skills to understand label requirements for endangered species protection.
- By completing this course, you will earn one (1) continuing education credit in Environmental Protection
- Cost: $20
AGLL 1027: Pesticides and Their Families - Resistance Management (1 credit)
- Discover how pesticide modes of action can influence resistance management and learn techniques to delay resistance and maintain efficacy.
- By completing this course, you will earn one (1) continuing education credit in Pesticides and Their Families.
- Cost: $20
Upcoming Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification Opportunities
Currently there are no in-person continuing education courses scheduled. If you would like to be notified the next time a training occurs, please fill out this form to get on the notification list.
Colorado Core Pesticide Training for Non-Registered Limited Commercial and Public Applicators
Non-Registered Limited Commercial or Public Applicator entities must ensure their employees complete core pesticide safety training before applying pesticides to property they own or lease. This training is required by law.
This course meets the core pesticide safety training requirements outlined in Part 16 of the Rules and Regulations of the Pesticide Applicators’ Act. Employees must complete this training before making any pesticide applications.
Important Notes:
- The training expires after three years. Employees must retake it to continue applying pesticides.
- Employers must keep training records for three years.
- If an employee applies restricted use pesticides (RUPs), they must be licensed as a Certified Operator (CO) or Qualified Supervisor (QS). In this case, the employer must also register with the Colorado Department of Agriculture Pesticide Program.
For full details, refer to Part 16 of the Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Administration and Enforcement of the Pesticide Applicators’ Act.
Technician Classroom Training
Pesticide technicians are individuals who apply pesticides under the supervision of a Qualified Supervisor. Both new and experienced technicians need classroom training. To learn more about technician training requirements please visit the CDA Technician Training Page.
All our courses, online and in-person, can count towards technician classroom training hours. See the list below for information on our online trainings.
For in-person offerings, please check the Pre-License Education and Continuing Education sections.
AGLL 1021: Pesticide Application and Safety Basics
- Goes over the basics of pesticide application and pesticide safety. In addition to counting towards technician classroom hours, this course can help those technicians looking to get fully licensed prepare for their general exam.
- Counts toward 9 classroom hours
- Cost: $149
AGLL 1029: Core Continuing Education Course Bundle (3.5 classroom hours)
- This bundle includes AGLL 1022 through AGLL 1027.
- Counts towards 3.5 classroom hours
- Cost: $125
AGLL 1022: Laws and Regulations Pesticide Compliance in Colorado (1 classroom hour)
- Explore common label, regulatory, and Worker Protection Standard violations by pesticide applicators in Colorado and equip yourself with the knowledge and methods to avoid them. You will also be updated on changes to testing, licensing, and regulations.
- Counts toward 1 classroom hour in Laws and Regulations.
- Cost: $35
AGLL 1023: Use of Pesticides - Planning an Application (0.5 classroom hour)
- Test your label knowledge, find and utilize helpful resources, and stay up to date on evolving label language and requirements through engaging exercises based on a real-world scenario.
- Counts toward 0.5 classroom hours (30 minutes) in Use of Pesticides.
- Cost: $20
AGLL 1024: Applicator Safety - Respiratory Protection (0.5 classroom hour)
- Learn to navigate respiratory protection requirements and ensure proper use of personal protective equipment as outlined on pesticide labels and by federal law.
- Counts toward 0.5 classroom hours (30 minutes) in Applicator Safety.
- Cost: $20
AGLL 1025: Public Safety - Pesticide Spills (0.5 classroom hour)
- Equip yourself with essential knowledge and skills for effectively managing pesticide spills and responding to accidental exposures. It covers topics of spill cleanup and emergency response protocols and prioritizes prevention strategies and practices to help you protect yourself, your employees, and your business.
- Counts toward 0.5 classroom hours (30 minutes) in Public Safety.
- Cost: $20
AGLL 1026: Environmental Protection - Endangered Species (0.5 classroom hour)
- Explore the impact of the Endangered Species Act on pesticide regulation and gain the skills to understand label requirements for endangered species protection.
- Counts toward 0.5 classroom hours (30 minutes) in Environmental Protection.
- Cost: $20
AGLL 1027: Pesticides and Their Families - Resistance Management (0.5 classroom hour)
- Discover how pesticide modes of action can influence resistance management and learn techniques to delay resistance and maintain efficacy.
- Counts toward 0.5 classroom hours (30 minutes) in Pesticides and Their Families.
- Cost: $20
Colorado Basic Pesticide Training
- This course covers safe pesticide use, laws and regulations, label comprehension, safety practices, application methods, and environmental and public health protection.
- Counts toward 2.5 classroom hours.
- Cost: Free
Resources for WPS Trainers
The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a federal requirement that applies to any agricultural establishment where pesticides are used. For more information, please visit our Worker Protection Standard Page. To give annual pesticide safety trainings for WPS employees you must be qualified — either as a certified/licensed applicator (Qualified Supervisor, Certified Operator, or Private Applicator) or by completing an EPA-approved Train-the-Trainer program.
We offer EPA-approved Train-the-Trainer workshops for individuals who want to become qualified to provide this training. If you are interested, please fill out this form. Workshops are scheduled based on demand.
Every WPS trainer has certain responsibilities. Before giving a training, please review this webpage on trainer responsibilities.
All WPS trainers must give trainings using EPA-approved materials. The Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative (PERC) has developed EPA-approved WPS training videos for your use.
Train-the-Trainer Programs
In-Person Train-the-Trainer Programs
Currently there are no in-person train-the-trainer programs scheduled. If you would like to be notified the next time a training occurs, please fill out this form to get on the notification list. Programs are scheduled based on demand.
Online Train-the-Trainer Programs
While CEPEP does not offer an online Train-the-Trainer program, the Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative (PERC) does. To learn more and enroll view PERC’s Web-based Training for Trainers page.