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Pesticide Licensing

WSU Okanogan County Extension offers testing for private applicators at the Extension Office in Okanogan. Tests are given the first and third Wednesdays of each month through June.  Testing times begin at 8:00a.m.  All testers must show photo ID prior to testing. A $25 testing fee in addition to the license fee must be paid before the test is taken, total of $70.  Payment must be made by check or money order payable to WSDA, cash will not be accepted. Individuals wishing to take the test are asked to notify the Extension Office ahead of time due to limited seating.  Study materials for all pesticide tests are available at the Extension Office, however only the private applicator tests can be taken here. For information on other tests contact WSDA at 1-877-301-4555. Use of a calculator is allowed during the exam.

The WSU Okanogan County Extension Office is located in the Public Works Building, 1234 2nd Ave. S.  Okanogan.  Phone 509-422-7245.

There are three licenses that are available for the Private Applicator.

Standard Private Applicator

The Private Applicator license allows the holder to apply or supervise applications of “restricted use” pesticides on their own or employer’s land (rented also) which produces an agricultural commodity (e.g., farmers, foresters, greenhouse or nursery operators.)  Note:  Pesticides include insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides, and other products that control, repel, or destroy pests.  (Applications of aquatic pesticides to water that moves off the agricultural property requires the aquatic endorsement.) This license requires a $33 annual fee.  The license holder is required to obtain 20 recertification credits in a five-year period, with no more than 10 to be credited in a one-year period.

Limited Private Applicator

The Limited Private Applicator license allows the holder to supervise and apply restricted use herbicides on non-production agricultural land that includes pastures, rangeland, fencerows and area around farm buildings.  The use of aquatic herbicides is NOT allowed.  Noxious weed control in mixed rangeland-timber areas is permissible for the sole purpose of controlling weeds designated for mandatory control under state or local regulations.  Herbicide applications to control any other type of competing vegetation on forest lands for the purpose of improving timber growth or survival is not permissible.  The licensee can use no other type of restricted use pesticides, including insecticides, fungicides and rodenticides, unless they are supervised by a traditionally licensed Private Applicator. This license requires a $33.00 fee, good for five years.  Eight recertification credits are required by the end of the five-year license/recertification cycle.  All credits must be directly or indirectly related to weed control.

Rancher Private Applicator

The Rancher Private Applicator license allows the use and supervision of restricted use herbicides and rodenticides on non-production agricultural land, as with the Limited Private Applicator license, and on production agricultural land where grain and hay are grown primarily for personal use.  (Up to 10% of the grain and/or hay grown may be sold and then only within the county of production.)  The licensee can use no other type of restricted use pesticide including aquatic herbicides or insecticides, unless they are supervised by a traditionally licensed Private Applicator. This license requires a $100.00 fee, good for the five years.  Twelve recertification credits are required by the end of the five-year license/recertification cycle.

The Limited and Rancher Private Applicator licenses have no restrictions on the number of credits earned/year although all the credits for the Limited Private Applicator license must be directly or indirectly related to weed control.

The Private Applicator Pesticide Education Manual EM020 is the study guide for the Private Applicator, Limited and Rancher Private Applicator test. If you purchase this manual to study for either the Limited or Rancher Private Applicator license, it is recommended that you study all parts of the Private Applicator Pesticide Education Manual (MISC0126) EXCEPT the following sections:

“How Organophosphate or Carbamate Insecticides Poison”

“Management of Insects and Mites”

“Plant Diseases and Plant Health”

Those studying for the Rancher Private Applicator should study the section on “Vertebrate Pest Management” while those studying for the Limited Private Applicator should not study this section.