Commercial Applicator

Agricultural Categories (Categories 101-111)
In order to become a QS in these categories, you must have obtained the following experience or qualifications within the last 5 years:

• 8 months field experience or;
• 2 years of college credit and 2 months field experience or;
• 1 year college credit and 5 months field experience.

The application of pesticides to agricultural plants, including applications performed on pastures, croplands and non-crop agricultural lands, to control invertebrate pests, including insects, mites, slugs, snails, and nematodes.

The application of pesticides to agricultural plants, including applications performed on pastures, croplands and non-crop agricultural lands, to control plant diseases.

The application of pesticides to agricultural lands, including pastures, croplands and non-crop agricultural lands, to control weeds.

The application of pesticides to seeds.

The application of pesticides to livestock.

The application of pesticides in forests, forest nurseries, forest seed producing areas managed for the production of timber and other forest products or maintained as wood vegetation for such indirect benefits as protection of catchment areas or public recreation, including windbreaks and downed timber. For applications in forested areas within fifty (50) feet of a residential or commercial structure, an applicator must also hold the ornamental pest control category in accordance with Part 9 of these rules and comply with all of the posting and notification requirements in section 35-10-112, C.R.S., of the Pesticide Applicators’ Act. This additional certification in the ornamental pest control category shall not apply to aerial applicators or ground applications made by federal, state, or local governments on property they own. This category does not apply to pesticide applications made to control vertebrate pests.

The application of pesticides to land which is not managed for turf, pasture or forest on which the vegetation is predominantly native plant species of introduced species managed as native species such as grasses, grass-like plants, forbs or shrubs. Rangelands include but are not limited to natural grasslands, shrublands, deserts, tundras, and meadows. For applications performed in rangeland areas within fifty (50) feet of a residential or commercial structure, an applicator must also hold the turf pest control category in accordance with Part 9 of these rules and comply with all of the posting and notification requirements in section 35-10-112, C.R.S., of the Pesticide Applicators’ Act. This additional certification in the ornamental pest control category shall not apply to aerial applicators or ground applications made by federal, state, or local governments on property they own. This category does not apply to pesticide applications made to control vertebrate pests.

The application of pesticides to standing or running water when made to control weeds, amphibians, fish and other pests in water, except for pesticide applications which are included in the “Public Health” category

The application of pesticides to maintain roads, sidewalks, trails, paths, utility lines, railways, parking lots, drilling rigs, substations, open irrigation and drainage structures or similar areas and adjacent land within right of ways associated with such areas for the purpose of establishing or maintaining definable cover or bare ground.

The application of pesticides for control of disease vectors, except vertebrates.

Application of pesticides in the course of conducting field research or demonstration. No license or certification will be issued in this category unless the applicant also obtains licensing or certification, in the specific category listed in the Rules, which is appropriate to the research activity.

Metam sodium for root control in sewers: the application of metam sodium in sewers to control roots. For purposes of this sub-category, “sewer” shall mean any artificial conduit for the transmission of wastewater to a wastewater treatment plant.

In order to become a QS in this category, you must have obtained the following experience or qualifications within the last 5 years:

• 40 hours of field experience in the application of pesticides in sewers; or
• Level 2 or 3 wastewater collection certification issued by CO Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Systems Council and 20 hours of field experience; or
• Class A, B, or C wastewater treatment plant operator certification issued by the CDPHE, and 20 hours of field experience.

Content is in sub-categories

The application of pesticides to: (1) turf to control invertebrate pests, including insects, mites, slugs, snails, and nematodes, or to control plant diseases or weeds; or (2) ornamental beds to control weeds.

In order to become a QS in this category, you must have obtained the following experience or qualifications within the last 2 years:

• 4 months field experience; or
• 2 years college credit and 1 month field experience; or
• 1 year college credit and 2.5 months field experience

The application of pesticides to ornamental trees, shrubs, beds, flowers and other ornamental plants, except turf or indoor ornamental plants, to control invertebrate pests, including insects, mites, slugs, snails and nematodes, or to control plant diseases.

In order to become a QS in this category, you must have obtained the following experience or qualifications within the last 5 years:

• 8 months field experience in ornamental pest control; or
• 2 years college credit and 4 months field experience; or
• 1 year college credit and 6 months field experience.

In order to become a QS in these categories, you must have obtained the following experience or equivalents within the last 5 years:

• 24 months field experience
• OR College or University Credit in structural pest control or related field may be combined with field experience:
  • 4 years college credit and 4 months field experience; or
  • 3 years college credit and 9 months field experience; or
  • 2 years college credit and 14 months field experience; or
  • 1 year college credit and 19 months field experience.

* Applicants licensing as a Qualified Supervisor in Wood Destroying Organisms must also have obtained, within the two years immediately preceeding the application for licensing: 100 hours of verifiable field experience in termite control, including 30 hours of verifiable “hands-on” field experience covering drill and inject and other post-treat methods and applications. Any or all of these 100 hours may be obtained in courses approved by the Commissioner.

The application of pesticides to control termites, carpenter ants, powder post beetles, fungi, and/or other wood destroying organisms in structures and/or adjacent outside areas.

The application of a fumigant to one or more rooms in a structure or to the entire structure at a desired concentration and for a length of time necessary for the control of rodents and/or insect pests, including the application of a fumigant to a localized space or harborage within a structure for local insect and/or rodent control.

The application of pesticides or bait stations intended for use for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating structural pests, including without limitation insects and rodents. However, this category does not include the application of fumigants or actions taken to control wood destroying organisms, outdoor vertebrates, or grain storage pests.

In order to become a QS in these categories, you must have obtained the following experience or qualifications within the last 5 years:

• 8 months field experience; or
• 2 years college credit and 2 months field experience; or
• 1 year college credit and 5 months field experience.

The application of pesticides intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any reptile, bird, feral dogs and cats, moles, voles, bats, wild carnivores, rabbits, skunks, amphibian pests not in water and any other vertebrate pest, except rats and mice.

The application of pesticides for the treatment of pests in raw grain stored in facilities which are not used for animal or human habitation; the application of plant growth regulators to agricultural commodities stored in facilities which are not used for animal or human habitation; and the application of pesticides to commodity processing equipment or commodity storage facilities (not including offices or other structures).

The application of pesticides to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate pests in wood or wood products which are, or are capable of being, incorporated into a structure, not including downed timber prior to bark removal or sawing.

The application of pesticides to house plants and other indoor ornamental plants kept or located within structures occupied by humans, including, but not limited to houses, apartments, offices, shopping malls, other places of business and other dwelling places, to control invertebrate pests that adversely affect such plants, including insects, mites, slugs, snails and nematodes; and to control plant diseases.

The application of pesticides for the treatment of pests in raw potatoes stored in facilities which are not used for animal or human habitation; the application of plant growth regulators to potatoes stored in facilities which are not used for animal or human habitation; and the application of pesticides to potato processing equipment or potato storage facilities (not including offices or other structures).