Pesticide Safety for the 21st Century: Proposed Changes to Pesticide Education & Safety Training and Applicator Certification Programs Certification and Training Assessment Group January 1999

CTAG Review  Certification & Training Advisory Group (CTAG) established in 1996 to: –Review previous program evaluations –Explore proposals –Determine changing needs of C&T programs –Provide direction for future of the pesticide applicator C&T program.

CTAG Members  CTAG members represent: –EPA –USDA, CES –Pesticide State Lead Agencies –Tribes –Armed Forces Pest Management Board –AAPCO –ASPCRO –AAPSE

Proposed Changes  Changes being proposed to: –FIFRA –Regulations (40 CFR 171) –EPA and USDA activities –Activities in conjunction with states, tribes, and territories.  Significant long-term changes may also require changes to state, tribe, and territorial laws and regulations

Proposed Changes (cont’d.)  Preliminary Report and Executive Summary issued in January 1999 (available at  Changes proposed in five goal areas  Proposals requiring difficult or long-term changes and extensive dialogue and feedback with stakeholders are marked with an arrow (  )

Five Goals 1. Reduce risks to the public from pesticide use. 2. Provide high quality pesticide education and safety training programs. 3. Improve the certification and recertification programs and processes. 4. Ensure adequacy and equity of funding. 5. Improve the efficiency of program organization and operations.

Goal 1: Reduce Risks to the Public èInitiate a National Consumer Education Program èExpand regulatory scope of pesticide applicator C&T program. Cover all pesticide applicators who apply pesticides as part of occupational responsibilities

Goal 1 (cont’d.) èIntegrate WPS training requirements with new applicator training program èConsider a tiered classification, e.g.: –consumer/homeowner use products –general pesticides for occupational use –restricted use pesticides –restricted, “prescription use” products  Change name of C&T program (e.g., PESTAC Program)

Goal 2: High Quality Education & Training èUpdate core training requirements, establish national model curriculum èCoordinate development and review of training materials

Goal 2 (cont’d.)  Improve skills of trainers/educators  Establish network of subject matter experts  Develop training materials in electronic, modular formats  Establish national Web site directory of training materials

Goal 3: Improve Certification & Recertification Programs èEstablish prerequisites for certification èRequire continuing education program èRequire written exam for all applicators èRequire use of validation process for all exams èFacilitate reciprocity agreements

Goal 3 (cont’d.)  Establish national 5-year maximum recertification period  Upgrade content of certification exam  Update exams along with materials  Establish exam database

Goal 3 (cont.d)  Fund the purchase of electronic grading machines  Maintain information on licensing software  Develop or improve Web pages  Share policies and experiences on ADA

Goal 4: Ensure Adequate, Equitable Funding èChange federal funding formula for SLAs èChange federal funding formula for CES èAssess pesticide registration fee to help cover program costs èExplore non-traditional sources of funding èProvide USDA funding for CES program offices

Goal 4 (cont’d.)  Provide information on use of EPA regional discretionary funds  Use common definition of “certified applicators”  Share information on sources of supplemental funding

Goal 5: Improve Program Efficiency èDevelop national tool to measure and evaluate program success èImprove capabilities for assessing program effectiveness

Goal 5 (cont’d.)  Improve program cooperation among implementing agencies  Fund pilot projects that explore innovative evaluation tools  Encourage monitoring of training programs  Require annual review of state plans  Effectively market the C&T program and promote accomplishments

Next Steps  Input from stakeholders sought  Report and executive summary are available at  Comments welcomed through April 2, 1999:  Final report to be presented at the National Pesticide Applicator Training Conference, August 1999, Portland, Maine