Certification Categories for Certified Commercial Applicators, Certified Noncommercial

Applicators, and Certified Public Operators PURPOSE: This rule is necessary in order to provide categories for the certification of applicators and operators due to the wide diversity of areas of knowledge which has evolved within the pest control industry. These categories are necessary in that no individual should be expected to demonstrate a practical knowledge of all facets of the pest control industry, nor is this demonstration necessary. This rule contains information regarding the number of categories in which applicators or operators may be certified, a special stipulation regarding the category of demonstration pest control, the necessity of certification by examination and a description of the activities of those individuals required to be certified in the various categories. (1) To qualify for a certified commercial applicator license, certified noncommercial applicator license, or certified public operator license, individuals shall be certified in one (1) or more of the following pesticide applicator categories: Category 1— Agricultural Pest Control, Subcategory a—Agricultural Plant Pest Control, Subcategory b—Agricultural Animal Pest Control; Category 2—Forest Pest Control; Category 3—Ornamental and Turf Pest Control; Category 4—Seed Treatment; Category 5—Aquatic Pest Control, Subcategory b—Sewer Root Pest Control; Category 6—Right-of-Way Pest Control; Category 7— Structural Pest Control, Subcategory a—General Structural Pest Control, Subcategory b—Termite Pest Control, Subcategory c—Fumigation Pest Control; Category 8—Public Health Pest Control; Category 9—Regulatory Pest Control; Category 10— Demonstration and Research Pest Control; Category 11—Wood Products Pest Control; Category 12—Soil Fumigation Pest Control; and Category 13—Aerial Pest Control. (2) Those individuals who wish to obtain a certified commercial applicator license, certified noncommercial applicator license, or certified public operator license as authority to conduct demonstrations involving pesticides and devices must be certified in Category 10—Demonstration and Research Pest Control. In addition, those individuals must be certified in the categories that relate to the area of expertise in which they wish to conduct these demonstrations. (3) Those individuals who wish to obtain a certified commercial applicator license, certified noncommercial applicator license, or certified public operator license as authority to use any pesticide with any manned or unmanned aircraft, either fixed wing or rotary wing, must be certified in Category 13—Aerial Pest Control, as well as the proper category(ies) of use. (4) Description of Commercial Applicator, Noncommercial Applicator, and Public Operator Certification Categories. (A) Category 1—Agricultural Pest Control. 1. Subcategory a—Agricultural Plant Pest Control. This category is provided for pesticide use relating to agricultural commodities, including but not limited to tobacco, peanuts, cotton, corn, cereal grain, feed grains, soybeans, forages and forage crops, vegetables, small fruits, tree fruits and nuts, grassland and noncrop agricultural lands, greenhouse products, Christmas tree plantings, sod nurseries, plant nurseries, and forested areas to be converted to agricultural lands. 2. Subcategory b—Agricultural Animal Pest Control. This category is provided for pesticide use relating to animals, including but not limited to cattle, swine, sheep, furbearing animals, horses, goats, poultry, honey bees, other livestock, wild or exotic animals in captivity, and places where animals are confined with the exception of aquatic harborages. This includes those agricultural animals used as work or draft animals and those used as pleasure animals. (B) Category 2—Forest Pest Control. This category is provided for pesticide use relating to forests, forest nurseries, and forest seed producing areas for the purpose of the propagation and maintenance of those forests, forest nurseries, and forest seed producing areas. (C) Category 3—Ornamental and Turf Pest Control. This category is provided for pesticide use, excluding fumigants, relating to the control of pests in the care and maintenance of ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers, and turf. (D) Category 4—Seed Treatment. This category is provided for pesticide use relating to seeds. (E) Category 5—Aquatic Pest Control. This category is provided for pesticide use relating to standing or running water for the control of aquatic pests with the exception of health-related pests. 1. Subcategory b—Sewer Root Pest Control. This subcategory is provided for pesticide use relating to the control of roots within sewer systems. (F) Category 6—Right-of-Way Pest Control. This category is provided for pesticide use relating to the maintenance of public roads, electric power lines, pipelines, industrial sites, electric and gas substations, cell phone towers, riprap along banks and shorelines, parking lots, trails, railroad rights-ofway, or similar areas. (G) Category 7—Structural Pest Control. This category is provided for pesticide use in, on, or around any structure. 1. Subcategory a—General Structural Pest Control. This subcategory is provided for pesticide use relating to the control of general structural pests with the exception of wooddestroying organisms. 2. Subcategory b—Termite Pest Control. This subcategory is provided for pesticide use relating to the control of wooddestroying organisms, including but not limited to termites, carpenter ants, and powderpost beetles. 3. Subcategory c—Fumigation Pest Control. This subcategory is provided for the use of fumigants for structural pest control and mole control. (H) Category 8—Public Health Pest Control. This category is provided for pesticide use in public health programs relating to the management and control of pests having medical and public health importance. (I) Category 9—Regulatory Pest Control. This category is provided for pesticide use relating to the control of regulated pests. (J) Category 10—Demonstration and Research Pest Control. This category is provided for individuals who demonstrate to the public the proper use of restricted use pesticides or supervise the demonstration. It is also provided for individuals who conduct field research with pesticides and, in doing so, use or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides. The applicant must also be certified in the proper category(ies) of use. (K) Category 11—Wood Products Pest Control. This category is provided for pesticide use relating to the control or prevention of wood-degrading organisms, including but not limited to insects and the fungi or bacteria causing surface molding, surface staining, sap staining, brown rot, white rot, dry rot, and soft rot. (L) Category 12—Soil Fumigation Pest Control. This category is provided for the use of fumigants to soil for the control of pests (excluding moles) found in or on labeled sites. (M) Category 13—Aerial Pest Control. This category is provided for the use of pesticides applied by any manned or unmanned aircraft, either fixed or rotary wing. The applicant must also be certified in the proper category(ies) of use. AUTHORITY: sections 281.035 and 281.045, RSMo Supp. 2024.* Original rule filed May 12, 1976, effective Oct. 21, 1976. Amended: Filed Sept. 6, 1977, effective Dec. 11, 1977. Amended: Filed March 13, 1978, effective June 11, 1978. 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, and 281.045, RSMo 1974, amended 1977, 1988, 2021.