Depending on the type of pesticide application you are making and/or the pesticide involved, you may need to be a certified pesticide applicator to buy, sell, use, or supervise the use of pesticides in New York State. You may need a to obtain a private pesticide applicator certification or may be required to be a commercial pesticide technician, apprentice, or applicator. The links below provide more information on certification, eligibility requirements, and training information to prepare for the certification examination.
Thirty-Hour Certification Eligibility Information Successfully completing an approved category/subcategory specific 30-hour training course is one way to become eligible to take the certification exam. You can search for certification courses through New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation’s Pesticide Training Course Database.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Contacts and Information
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is the lead agency that regulates pesticides for New York State. The NYSDEC Bureau of Pesticides provides many resources for pesticide applicators, registrants, and the public. Here we list some of the most common NYSDEC resources we refer to regarding certification:
- For specific questions about pesticide regulations, contact your local NYSDEC Regional Offices
- To find available exams to become a certified applicator, view the Pesticide Certification Exam Schedule
- For more information about pesticide regulation, pesticide use, and applicator and technical training requirements (including what category you want to be certified in), visit Pesticides Certification and Compliance Information
- If you are a certified applicator and have questions regarding your recertification and the amount of credits you have earned or need, you can contact your regional control specialist at your NYSDEC Regional Office or contact NYSDEC’s Central Office at 1-518-402-8748 or PestMgt@dec.ny.gov
