R68-7-8. Certification Procedures

  (A) Commercial Applicators.

  (1) License Required. No person shall apply, advertise for, solicit, or hold oneself out as willing to engage in the business of applying any pesticide for hire or compensation to the lands of another at any time without becoming certified and obtaining a commercial applicator's license and a pesticide business license as described in 4-14-111 issued by the department, or working for a company which has already attained such business license.

  (2) The pesticide applicator business license fee will be determined by the number of commercial pesticide applicators employed by the business. The fee ranges are 1-4 commercial pesticide applicators, 5-9 commercial pesticide applicators and 10 or more commercial pesticide applicators.

  (a) Application for such licenses shall be made in writing on an approved form obtained from the Department and shall include such information as prescribed by the Department. Each individual performing the physical act of applying pesticides for hire or compensation must be licensed as a commercial applicator. An applicator and business license fee determined by the Department, pursuant to Subsection 4-2-103(2), shall be assessed at the time of certification and recertification.

  (b) A commercial pesticide applicator operating under more than one business identity or name from a single business location shall be licensed separately for each business identity or name.

  (c) A commercial pesticide applicator with a single business identity or name but operating from more than one business location shall be licensed at each separate business location.

  (d) If the name selected by an applicant for a license to act, operate, or do business or advertise as a commercial or noncommercial applicator in the State of Utah is the same or so near the same as that of another licensee already doing business in the state as to cause confusion in the minds of the people or is likely to deceive the public, the Department may require the applicant to apply for a license under a different name that is distinguishable from the names of existing licensees. Any determination made pursuant to this rule shall be at the sole discretion of the Department.

  (e) Each business location licensed shall have a minimum of one certified applicator at that location who is certified in each licensed category for which applications are made.

  (f) A franchised business shall have a separate license and a separate certified applicator at each business location.

  (3) Written Examination. An applicant for a commercial pesticide license shall demonstrate competency and knowledge of pesticide applications by passing the appropriate written examinations. Examination and educational-material fees determined by the Department, pursuant to Subsection 4-2-103(2), shall be assessed at the time of certification and recertification. Any person applying to become certified or recertified must demonstrate the ability to: (a) read and understand three or more sets of pesticide label directions from pesticide containers randomly chosen by division personnel, and (b) demonstrate competency and knowledge of mixing and applying pesticides in a safe way. All applicants for a commercial applicator license must pass the general examination and the examination(s) pertaining to the category(s) for which they desire to be licensed. Certification examinations shall be conducted by representatives of the commissioner by appointment. A score of 70 or above is required to pass any written examination. A score of less than 70 on the general standards or category examinations shall result in denial of certification of that test. A person must pass the general and at least one category examination before becoming certified. An applicant scoring less than 65% on any examination must wait three days before retesting on that examination. A person scoring from 65% to 69% may retake the test again the same day, schedule permitting. After paying the certification fee a person may attempt to pass any of the required exams up to three times. If any exam is not passed within three attempts, a person must wait fourteen (14) calendar days and pay a retest fee for each exam failed and he/she will be allowed up to two additional attempts to pass an exam. If any exam is again not passed, a person must wait another fourteen (14) calendar days and again pay a retest fee for each exam failed and he/she will again be allowed up to two additional attempts to pass an exam. If all required exams are not passed after seven attempts, a person must again pay the certification fee and the testing process will begin again; the original certification fee and any retesting fees will not be refunded.

  (4) License Issuance. If the Department finds the applicant qualified to apply pesticides in the classifications applied for and for which the prescribed fee(s) have been paid, the Department shall issue a commercial applicator's license. The license shall expire December 31 of the third calendar year unless it has been revoked or suspended by the commissioner for cause, which may include any of the unlawful acts given in R68-7-14. If an application for a commercial license is denied the applicant shall be informed of the reason. The applicator is required to have their license in their immediate possession at all times when making a pesticide application. If the applicator requests a duplicate license from the Department of Agriculture and Food, a fee determined by the Department pursuant to Subsection 4-2-103(2), must be paid before a replacement license will be issued. A pesticide applicator business license shall be required for each pesticide business location with applicators working in the state.

  (5) Any new applicator or applicator business license licensing after November 1 will be licensed for the remainder of that year and the following three calendar years.

  (6) License Recertification.

  (a) Each license shall expire on December 31 of the third calendar year of its issuance. Commercial applicators must recertify every three years, and be subject to re-examination at any time. Information that may be required to insure a continuing level of competence and ability to use pesticides safely and properly due to changing technology, and to satisfy certification requirements as described herein, or meet any other requirements specified by the commissioner shall be added to this rule as often as necessary.

  (b) Recertification options:

  (i) Complete the original certification process of taking the required general and category test(s) and passing each required test with a score of 70% or above or;

  (ii) Attend approved recertification courses and pass the required category examinations with a score of 70% or above or;

  (iii) Participate in approved continuing education courses and accumulate 24 credits during the valid three years of certification.

  (7) Records Maintained. Commercial applicators shall keep and maintain records of each pesticide application. These records must be recorded within 24 hours after the pesticide application is made. These application records must include the following information:

  (a) Name and address of property owner;

  (b) Location of treatment site, if different from (a);

  (c) The month, day and year when the pesticide was applied;

  (d) Brand name of pesticide, EPA registration number, rate of formulation (undiluted pesticide product as sold by the manufacturer) applied per unit area and total amount of diluted pesticide used;

  (e) Purpose of application (target site and pest to be treated);

  (f) The name, business address and license number of the certified applicator who applied the pesticide.

  Such records shall be kept for a period of two years from the date of application of the pesticide and shall be available for inspection by the commissioner's designee at reasonable times. The commissioner's designee shall, upon request, be furnished a copy of such records by the commercial applicator.

  (8) Exemption.

  The provisions of this section relating to pesticide licenses and requirements for their issuance do not apply to private pesticide applicators using pesticides in the production of any agricultural commodity and applying pesticides for his/her neighbors provided he/she operates and maintains pesticide application equipment for his/her own use, is not engaged in the business of applying pesticides for hire or compensation in any form other than trading of services between producers of agricultural commodities, does not publicly represent himself/herself as a pesticide applicator, and operates his/her pesticide application equipment only in the vicinity of his/her owned or rented property; provided, however, that when he/she applies a restricted-use pesticide, he/she shall comply with the certification requirements specified herein.

  (B) Non-Commercial Applicators.

  (1) License Required. No non-commercial applicator shall use or demonstrate the use of any restricted-use pesticide without becoming certified and obtaining a non-commercial applicator's license issued by the Department. Application for such license shall be made in writing on an approved form obtained from the Department and shall include such information as prescribed by the Department. Each individual performing the physical act of applying restricted-use pesticides must be licensed.

  (2) Written Examination. An applicant for a non-commercial pesticide license shall demonstrate to the Department competency and knowledge of pesticides and their applications by passing the appropriate written examinations. Examination and educational-material fees determined by the Department pursuant to Subsection 4-2-103(2), shall be assessed at the time an individual takes the general and category tests. All applicants for a non-commercial applicator license must successfully pass a general examination based upon standards applicable to all categories. After passing the general examination, applicants must pass the examination(s) pertaining to the category(s) for which they desire to be licensed. Certification examinations shall be conducted by representatives of the commissioner by appointment. A score of 70 percent or above is required for passing any written examination. A score of less than 70 percent on the general or category examinations shall result in denial of certification in that category. A person must pass the general and at least one category examination before becoming certified. An applicator scoring less than 65 percent on any examination must wait three days before retesting on that examination. A person scoring from 65% to 69% may retake the test again the same day, schedule permitting. Any person applying to become certified or recertified must demonstrate the ability to: (a) read and understand three or more sets of pesticide label directions from pesticide containers randomly chosen by division personnel, and (b) demonstrate competency and knowledge of mixing and applying pesticides in a safe way. After paying the certification fee a person may attempt to pass any of the required exams up to three times. If any exam is not passed within three attempts, a person must wait fourteen (14) calendar days and pay a retest fee for each exam failed and he or she will be allowed up to two additional attempts to pass an exam. If any exam is again not passed, a person must wait another fourteen (14) calendar days and again pay a retest fee for each exam failed and he/she will again be allowed up to two additional attempts to pass an exam. If all required exams are not passed after seven attempts, a person must again pay the certification fee and the testing process will begin again. The original certification fee and any retesting fees will not be refunded.

  (3) License Issuance. If the Department finds the applicant qualified to apply pesticides in the classification(s) applied for, the Department shall issue a non-commercial applicator's license limited to such activities and classifications applied for. The applicator is required to have his/her license in his/her immediate possession at all times when making a pesticide application. If the applicator requests a duplicate license from the Department of Agriculture and Food, a fee as determined by the Department pursuant to Subsection 4-2-103(2), must be paid before a replacement license will be issued. The license shall expire December 31, three calendar years after the issuance of the certification, unless it has been suspended or revoked by the commissioner for cause, which may include any of the unlawful acts given in R68-7-14. If an application for a non-commercial license is denied the applicant shall be informed of the reason.

  (4) Any new applicator licensing after November 1 will be licensed for the remainder of that year and the following calendar year.

  (5) License Recertification. Non-commercial applicators must recertify every three years, and be subject to re-examination at any time. Information may be required to insure a continuing level of competence and ability to use pesticides safely and properly due to changing technology, and to satisfy certification requirements as described herein, or any other requirements specified by the commissioner shall be added to this rule as often as necessary.

  Recertification options are:

  (a) Complete the original certification process of taking the required general and category test(s) and passing each required test with a score of 70% or above or;

  (b) Attend approved recertification courses and pass the required category test(s) with a score of 70% or above or;

  (c) Participate in approved continuing education courses and accumulate 24 credits during the valid three years of certification.

  (6) Records Maintained. Non-commercial applicators shall keep and maintain records of each application of any restricted-use pesticide. These application records must be recorded within 24 hours after the pesticide application is made. These records must include the following information:

  (a) Name and address of property owner;

  (b) Location of treatment site, if different from (a);

  (c) The month, day and year when the pesticide was applied;

  (d) Brand name of pesticide, EPA registration number, rate of formulation (undiluted pesticide concentrate product as sold by the manufacturer) applied per unit area, and total amount of diluted pesticide used;

  (e) Purpose of application (target site and pest to be treated);

  (f) The name, address, and license number of the certified applicator who applied the pesticide.

  Such records shall be kept for a period of two years from the date of application of the pesticide and shall be available for inspection by the commissioner's designee at reasonable times. The commissioner's designee shall, upon request, be furnished a copy of such records by the non-commercial applicator.

  (7) Exemption. The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons conducting laboratory research involving restricted-use pesticides as drugs or medication during the course of their normal practice. Non-Commercial applicators engaged in public-health related activities are exempt from recording the name and address of property owners, but are required to document a detailed description of treatment areas by using such means as GPS coordinates or other locality descriptions for record keeping purposes.

  (C) Private Applicators.

  (1) License Required. No private applicator shall purchase, use or supervise the use of any restricted-use pesticide without a private applicator's license issued by the Department. Issuance of such license shall be conditioned upon the applicator's complying with the certification requirements determined by the Department as necessary to prevent unreasonable adverse effects on the environment, including injury to the applicator or other persons. Application for a license shall be made in writing on a designated form obtained from the Department.

  (2) Certification Methods. Any person applying to become licensed must demonstrate the ability to: (a) read and understand three or more sets of pesticide label directions from pesticide containers randomly chosen by division personnel, and (b) demonstrate competency and knowledge of mixing and applying pesticides in a safe way. All first-time Private Applicators must successfully pass a written test. A score of 70 percent or above is required for passing any written test. A score of less than 70 percent will result in the denial of certification. An applicator scoring less than 65% on any examination must wait three days before retesting on that examination. A person scoring from 65% to 69% may retake the test again the same day, schedule permitting.

  (3) Emergency-Use Permit. A single restricted-use pesticide may be purchased and used by a non-certified person on a one-time-only basis if an emergency control situation is shown to exist. Before purchasing the product, the applicant shall participate in a discussion concerning safe use of the specific product with a representative of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. Following an adequate discussion of same, the Department of Agriculture and Food may issue the applicant a permit to purchase and use the product on a specific site on a one-time-only basis. The applicant shall be required to become certified before being authorized to further purchase and use restricted-use pesticides.

  (4) License Issuance. If the Department finds the applicant qualified to apply pesticides, the applicant shall be issued a private applicator's license. Examination and educational-material fees determined by the Department pursuant to Subsection 4-2-103(2), shall be assessed at the time of certification and recertification. The license issued by the commissioner shall expire on December 31, three calendar years after issuance, unless the license has been revoked or suspended by the commissioner. If an application for a private license is denied, the applicant shall be informed of the reason. If the applicator requests a duplicate license from the Department of Agriculture and Food, a fee determined by the Department pursuant to Subsection 4-2-103(2), must be paid before a replacement license will be issued.

  (5) Any new applicator licensing after November 1 will be licensed for the remainder of that year and the following calendar year.

  (6) License Renewal, Recertification. A person applying to recertify must demonstrate the ability to: (a) read and understand three or more sets of pesticide label directions from pesticide containers randomly chosen by division personnel, and (b) demonstrate the mixing and application of pesticides in a safe way. All certified private applicators must recertify every three years, or more frequently if determined necessary by the Department, by satisfying any of the following procedures or any other requirements specified by the Department.

  (a) Completion of a recertification course approved by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food and passing a written test with a score of 70% or above or;

  (b) Complete the original certification process of taking the required written test(s). A score of 70 percent or above is required to pass or;

  (c) Accumulate six credits of approved continuing education during the valid three years of certification.

  (d) Records Maintained. Private applicators must keep and maintain records according to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements.

  (D) Employees of Federal Agencies. Federal Government Employees wishing to be certified in Utah shall be required to qualify as non-commercial applicators by passing the appropriate examinations, unless such requirement is waived upon presentation of adequate evidence of certification in the appropriate categories from another state with comparable certification requirements. In the event a federal agency develops an applicator certification plan which meets the Utah certification standards, employees of that agency who become certified under that plan may qualify for certification in the State of Utah.

  (E) Certification of Out-of-State Applicants.

  When a pesticide applicator is certified under an approved state plan of another state and desires to apply pesticides in Utah, he/she shall make application to the Department and shall include, along with the proper fee and any other details required by the Act or these rules, a true copy of his/her credentials as proof of certification in the person's state of residence and a letter from that state's department of agriculture stating that he/she has not been convicted of a violation of any pesticide law and is currently licensed as a pesticide applicator in that state. The Department may upon review of the credentials, issue a Utah certification to the applicator in accordance with the use situations for which the applicator is certified in another state without requiring determination of competency; provided that the state having certified the applicator will similarly certify holders of Utah licenses or certificates and has entered into a reciprocal agreement with the State of Utah. Out-of-state pesticide applicators who operate in Utah will be subject to all Utah laws and rules.

  (F) Change of Licensee Information

  (1) Every certified commercial, non-commercial, and private applicator shall notify the Department of any change in, but not limited to applicator's name, address, and phone number and/or change of employer within 30 calendar days of the change.

  (2) Every commercial pesticide business licensee shall notify the Department of any changes in, including but not limited to, ownership, company name, owner or manager's name company address, and phone number within 30 calendar days of the change.

  (a) Business licenses are nontransferable, and in case of a change in business ownership, a new application and fee are required.