Pesticide License and Certification Requirements Structural Pest Control Chapter 482, F.S.

Chapter 482 (FS) – Structural Pest Control Act FDACS Bureau of Entomology and Pest Control (BEPC) Regulates Structural Pest Control – for hire services at large to the public or applications that could potentially expose the public to pesticide applications

Chapter 482 – Structural Pest Control Licenses and Certifications Pest Control Business License A Business license ($300/yr) is needed to perform commercial pest control services for hire A license will not be issued unless one employee is a FL PCO in charge Certificates Pest Control Operator (PCO) Certificate Special Identification Cardholder (SPID)

Chapter 482 – Structural Pest Control Licenses and Certifications Pest Control Operator (PCO) Certification Categories General Household Pest Control Termite & Wood Destroying Organisms Lawn & Ornamental Fumigation BEPC handles all applications, examinations, grading and issuance

Chapter 482 – Structural Pest Control Licenses and Certifications PCO Exam Qualifications 3 years employment as a service employee of a Florida licensed pest control business, OR A degree in Entomology (or other qualifying major) PLUS 1 year experience with a Florida licensed business, as above Completion/documentation of 45 service jobs Pass the state exam with a score of at least 75%

Chapter 482 – Structural Pest Control Licenses and Certifications Certified Operator in Charge (COIC) Is able to supervise many employees Employees (ID Cardholders) must carry their ID Cards while conducting pest control Must provide training for his employees (ID Cardholders) Required to properly equip his ID Cardholders – PPE, product, equipment

Chapter 482 – Structural Pest Control Licenses and Certifications Special Identification Card for Fumigation (SPID) Certified individuals who conduct fumigations Act only under the direct supervision of the Certified Operator In Charge (COIC) – can not operate on their own

Chapter 482 – Structural Pest Control Licenses and Certifications Limited Certifications Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance Certificate (LCLM) Limited Private/Gov’t Certificate Lawn and Ornamental (LL&O) Limited Structural (LS) Limited Urban Fertilizer Certificate (LF) Some training and all examinations administered by IFAS – applications, grading and issuance handled by BEPC

Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance Individual certification required (NOT company) Must complete 6 hours of classroom training and pass the exam Limited to landscape and ornamental plantings, only (NO turf) Only “CAUTION” labeled pesticides allowed and must use hand held application equipment – NO POWER EQUIPMENT

Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance Cannot operate a pest control business or advertize pest control Cannot supervise other applicators Cannot use weed-n-feed or fertilizers with pesticides incorporated in TURF/LAWN areas

Limited Private/Gov’t Lawn & Ornamental Individual certification Must pass an exam No other qualifications required Limited to government and private property employees Allowed to make any pesticide applications to turf and ornamental areas of employer properties, only (NO golf courses)

Limited Private/Gov’t Structural Individual certification Must pass an exam No other qualifications required Limited to government and private property employees Allowed to make any pesticide applications in, on, or under the buildings of employer’s properties only

Limited Private/Gov’t Neither certification (LL&O or LS) allows for the operation of a pest control business license. Certification is NOT required if over the counter, ready to use pesticides are utilized. (HOWEVER, if the person is making routine applications as part of their job description, they SHOULD have limited certification.)

Recertification Requirements Ch. 482- PCO/SPID – Annually 4 CEUs (2 Core + 2 category) LCLM – Annually - 4 CEUs (any combination) Ltd Private/Gov’t – L&O/Structural – Renews every 4 years – 4 CEUs (any combination) Non-certified employee cardholder – Annually - 2 CEUs (any combination) Ltd Fertilizer – Renews every 4 years – 4 CEUs (2 Core + 2 category)

Contact FDACS Bureau of Entomology & Pest Control 1203 Governors Square Blvd. (Suite 300) Tallahassee, FL 32301 Telephone: (850) 617-7997 Michael.Page@freshfromflorida.com http://www.flaes.org/aes-ent/index.html

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