Continuing Education

Recertification

Pesticide applicator continuing education is required to become recertified. Recertification is a program that ensures certified applicators, both private and commercial, maintain competence and keep current with changing technology.

• Licensed applicators in Colorado are required to recertify every 3 years.
• The recertification period is simultaneous with the 3-year licensing period.
• Recertification credit can be earned any time during the 3 year period.
• Persons who allow their applicator’s license to lapse must re-take the test.
• Applicators can attend any CDA-approved recertification training to receive the required credits.

Recertification training provides applicators with new information on pest control, health and environmental safety, pest management technology, and changes in pesticide laws and regulations to help the applicator continue to use pesticides safely and effectively.

Earning Credits

Both private and commercial applicators must earn 1 or 2 CDA required core credits in 6 different categories. Commercial applicators must earn additional credits for the category they are certified in.

Applicators earn credits toward recertification by attending Continuing Education Workshops. Search through the Google Calendar for dates and locations. Each location will contain information on core credits offered and category credits if available. Not every workshop offers all core credits.

CDA-approved providers and the credits offered can be found in the list below the calendar. Contact the individual providers for information on fees and to schedule your CEC. The list below also includes CEC opportunities that can be obtained online.

To become recertified, both private and commercial applicators must earn credits in CDA-required categories. These credits must be earned any time during the 3 year licensing period. The required “core” categories all applicators must earn to be eligible for recertification are:

• 2 Credits Laws and Regulations
• 1 Credit Pesticides and their families
• 1 Credit Environmental Protection
• 1 Credit Use of Pesticides
• 1 Credit Applicator Safety
• 1 Credit Public Safety

For Commercial applicators, category credits are required in addition to all 7 core credits. Turf, ornamental, and structural applicators must earn 2 credits in their license category. All other applicators must earn 1 credit in their category .