Examinations for Certified Commercial Applicators, Certified Noncommercial Applicators, Certified Public Operators, Certified Private Applicators, Certified Provisional Private Applicators, Noncertified Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) Applicators, and Pesticide Dealers

PURPOSE: This rule sets forth the type of examination to be taken (written, oral or practical); provides for hardship cases; provides that the director may determine the specific content of the examination; provides for rules of conduct during examinations; and provides for examination. (1) Applicants for a certified commercial applicator license, certified noncommercial applicator license, or certified public operator license shall take written examinations based on the general standards of competence and category specific standards of competence provided in 2 CSR 70-25.110. Applicants for a certified private applicator license or certified provisional private applicator license may take a written examination for each requested category defined in 2 CSR 70-25.140 based on the standards of competence provided in 2 CSR 70-25.150. Applicants for a noncertified RUP applicator license may take a written examination based on the general standards of competence provided in 2 CSR 70-25.110(3). Applicants for a pesticide dealer license shall take a written examination based on the laws and regulations governing the use and sale of pesticides. Applicants may be required to conduct a practical demonstration of competence, in addition to written examinations. (2) Examinations shall cover material judged by the director to be pertinent to the request contained in the application. (3) Applicants must present at the time of examination a valid, government-issued photo identification or other form of similarly reliable identification authorized by the director as proof of identity and age to be eligible for certification. (4) Any applicant who gives or receives unauthorized assistance during an examination shall be dismissed from the examination and the applicant’s examination shall be voided. (5) Only persons authorized by the director may be in the examination room during the examination. (6) Only director-approved reference material provided by the examination proctor may be used during the examination. All reference material will be collected and examined by the examination proctor to ensure no portion of the reference material has been removed, altered, or destroyed. No portion of any examination or reference material may be copied, photographed, or retained by any person other than a proctor authorized by the director. Examination results shall be voided for any applicant found to have copied, photographed, retained, removed, altered, or destroyed any portion of the examination or reference material. (7) Any applicant who fails to attain a passing score of at least seventy percent (70%) on any examination may request to retake the examination through the normal registration process. (8) All examination results are valid for eighteen (18) months and shall be retained by the department for at least eighteen (18) months from the examination date. Following the eighteen- (18-) month period of retention, the examination results will be invalid. Individuals who do not apply for a license during that eighteen- (18-) month period must reexamine. Applicators may use valid examinations to apply for additional licenses. AUTHORITY: section 281.035, RSMo Supp. 2024.* Original rule filed May 12, 1976, effective Oct. 21, 1976. Amended: Filed Sept. 6, 1977, effective Dec. 11, 1977. Amended: Filed Aug. 14, 1989, effective Jan. 1, 1990. Amended: Filed May 15, 2024, effective Jan. 1, 2025. *Original authority: 281.035, RSMo 1974, amended 1977, 1988, 2019, 2021.