PRE-REGISTRATION FOR PESTICIDES TESTING

Due to the ongoing state of emergency declared by Governor Beshear on March 6, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 virus outbreak and subsequent directive that provision of all in-person government services cease effective March 17, 2020, in response to the need for the use of pesticides for the production of food and reduction of pests, including the need for application of anti-microbial pesticides.The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is addressing the testing, certification and licensure of all pesticide operators and applicators in the following manner:

October 5, 2020 Update

For Commercial and Non-Commercial Licenses

• Beginning on June 22nd, 2020, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture will be able to resume limited testing operations at our Frankfort and Gilbertsville locations. You MUST PRE-REGISTER for an assigned testing date and time. NO WALK-INS WILL BE PERMITTED.  In order to register for an assigned testing date and time, please click here.
  Testing appointments can be made at the Frankfort location (105 Corporate Drive) on Tuesdays only at 9:00 am and 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.
  Testing appointments can be made at the Gilbertsville (West KY) location (735 Airport Road) on Wednesdays only at 9:00 am and 11:00 am.
  Testing fee is $25.00. You may pay this fee on-line or in-person with a check or money order made payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer. This fee is non-refundable.

• For all license holders whose certification expired December 31, 2019, the KDA will extend their certification period until December 31, 2020.
• To maintain compliance with CDC guidelines on social distancing, supervision of trainees will be subject to the following provision:

  “Unless otherwise prescribed by its labeling, a pesticide shall be considered to be applied under the direct supervision of a certified applicator if it is applied by a competent person acting under the instructions and control of a certified applicator who is available if and when needed, even though such certified applicator is not physically present at the time and place the pesticide is applied.”

For Private Applicator Licenses

• For all private applicators whose certification expired December 31, 2019, the KDA (in cooperation with the University of Kentucky’s Department of Entomology) will extend their certification period until December 31, 2020;
• Training for new private applicator licenses will be handled by the University of Kentucky’s Department of Entomology through remote methods. This training will be available online beginning Monday, March 23, 2020 at UK pesticide safety education program.

Kentucky law requires you to maintain pesticide certification with 12 CEUs (continuing education units) for agriculture related categories (9 general and 3 specific) OR a total of 15 CEUs for structural licenses within a 3-year period. If your certification expires, the only remaining option will be to retest.

While we currently have the ability to provide limited testing at two locations in Kentucky, KDA is unsure of widespread testing availability in the 2021 season. Maintaining your current certification through CEUs is critical in determining your ability to apply pesticides in 2021.

Under current COVID-19 meeting restrictions, face-to-face meetings for CEU courses will not be available in the near future. All courses being approved for CEU credits are only available online. The approved courses and times can be viewed on our Agriculture and Structural CEU Schedules.

For structural applicators, the University of Kentucky has developed an on-line short course for Category 7 applicators to obtain their required CEUs. The program will offer CEU classes from October 23 through December 18 on every Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. You can view registration requirements at the structural CEU schedule.

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UPDATE: KDA statement on pesticide license requirements for use of EPA designated general use public health products for routine cleaning and sanitation. Click here to see statement.

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These measures will remain in effect until further notice. Please direct any questions to the Division of Environmental Services by calling (502) 573-0282.