Training & Continuing Education
Licensed pesticide applicators are required to complete continuing education to maintain their pesticide applicator license. Participating in continuing education workshops ensures certified applicators, both private and commercial, maintain competence and keep current with changing technology.
Continuing education workshops provide applicators with new information on pest control, health and environmental safety, pest management technology, and changes in pesticide laws and regulations to ensure the applicator continues to use pesticides safely and effectively.
Upcoming Private Pesticide Applicator
Recertification Opportunities
CSU Extension is offering training opportunities that will provide 7 core credit continuing education units. To preregister, for any one of the training events below, click on the date below you plant to attend, which will link you directly to the specific EventBrite page for that training. The resulting page will take you to registration, where a $60 registration fee (additional fees may apply) will be required. You may directly contact the host of the event. Registration over the phone and at the door is also permitted, but preregistration is required.
Registration fee: $60 | 7 Credits Available
To be paid online via EventBrite.com or check given to the event contact
Registrations are now closed
Feb 06
Feb 07
Feb 14
Feb 24
Feb 25
Feb 26
Mar 27
CSU Pesticide Applicator Training
Our program has developed an online course to prepare you for the general licensing exam. Through our comprehensive training, participants will learn the essential aspects of pest management strategies, pesticide properties, environmental and public safety, applicator safety, and relevant laws and regulations for Colorado applicators.
Technician Training
A technician is a person without a license and under the supervision of a qualified supervisor, whose job involves pesticides. There are specific training requirements dependent on which class of technician you are. The CDA defines three classes of technicians:
- Applicator Technician: Any technician whose job includes the use of pesticides.
- Sales Technician: A technician who sells pesticide application services.
- Sales Technician / Applicator Technician: Sells pesticide application services AND handles pesticides.
Experienced technicians are technicians who have met CDA experience requirements within the last three years. These requirements include six months of experience for applicator technicians doing structural applications, one season of experience for applicator technicians doing agricultural, turf, or ornamental applications, and one season of sales experience for sales technicians.
- New Hire Experienced Technician: Experienced, but is a new employee.
- On-going Experienced Technician: Experienced and continues to work for the same entity.
Colorado Core Pesticide Training for Non-Registered Limited Commercial and Public Applicators
This training fulfills the core pesticide safety training required under the Pesticide Applicators’ Act (Section 35-10-109 (2)(a) and (2)(b), Colorado Revised Statutes) for individuals working under a Limited Commercial or Public Applicator entity who mix, load, and apply General Use Pesticides (GUPs) ONLY and are not otherwise licensed. If an individual intends to apply Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs), they must obtain either a Certified Operator (CO) license or a Qualified Supervisor (QS) license. Information on obtaining certification and signing up for free training can be found in the sections below.
Anyone applying pesticides to produce an agricultural commodity under the supervision of a Private Applicator must complete Handler Training in accordance with the federal Worker Protection Standard (WPS). More information on WPS training requirements can be found on the Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative (PERC) website. Additionally, individuals training to become a Technician under the supervision of a Qualified Supervisor (QS) should review the Commercial Applicator Technician Training requirements to ensure compliance.
Why must I take this training?
Non-Registered Limited Commercial and Public applicators who have employees applying pesticides to property they own or lease are required by law to ensure their employees have core pesticide safety training. This course fulfills the training requirement elements (as outlined in Part 16 of the Pesticide Applicators’ Act Rules) for limited commercial and public applicators who are not a registered business entity with the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Training must be provided within three years PRIOR to the date of any application and the employer must maintain records of that training for three years.
More information on this requirement can be found in the Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Administration and Enforcement of the Pesticide Applicators’ Act, Part 16.
This training program can also be used to fulfill 2.5 hours of Technician Training (as required in Part 5 of 8 CCR 1203-2, “Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Administration and Enforcement of the Pesticide Applicators’ Act).
What is in the training?
- Pesticide use (IPM and Laws Governing the Use of Pesticides)
- Understanding Pesticide Labels and Safety Data Sheets
- Applicator Safety
- Pesticide Application
- and Environmental Protection and Public Health.
At the conclusion of each module, an “Understanding the Module” quiz will be given. All questions on the quiz must be answered correctly or the participant will be redirected to the information concerning the incorrect response. Upon successful completion of all five modules, a certificate will be issued. This certificate must be retained by the employer for a period of three years.
Instructions on Accessing the Training
- Register for the Course. Requires Chrome or Firefox browsers.
- Select “Create new account” below the Login box.
- Follow directions to create a new account.
- After creating an account, simply return to the Extension Campus and login.
- Select the “Pest Management” tab and scroll down to the “Colorado Basic Pesticide Training,” or click here to directly access the training. It can be difficult to find in the list due to many states offering courses!
There is NO FEE required for this training!
Continuing Education (CEC)
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 (NOTE: 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.
Earning Credits (CECs)
Both private and commercial applicators must earn one or two CDA required core credits in six different categories. Commercial applicators must earn additional credits for the category(ies) they are certified in. Applicators earn credits toward recertification by attending Continuing Education Workshops
CEC Workshop Approval
If you are considering hosting a workshop that qualifies for CECs, click the link below to view the requirements for providing classroom and online CEC Workshops.
CEC Workshop Approval Information
CEC Workshop Approval
If you are considering hosting a workshop that qualifies for CECs, click the link below to view the requirements for providing classroom and online CEC Workshops.
CEC Workshop Approval Information