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Pesticide, Fertilizer Application & Distribution Licenses
Following is a description of the licensing requirements for individuals and businesses that apply or distribute restricted use pesticides (RUPs), general use pesticide (GUPs) for hire, or fertilizer materials for hire.
- Pesticide Business License:
- Any business that applies restricted use pesticides (RUPs), general use pesticides (GUPs), or fertilizer materials to the property of another person for hire must have a business license.
- The business must have liability insurance.
- The business must employ at least one licensed for hire commercial applicator fully certified in the categories in which the business operates.
- Application of a General Use Pesticide (GUP) For Hire:
- Any individual that applies a GUP for hire must be:
- at least 18 years of age;
- an employee of the pesticide business; and
- a certified and licensed applicator or a registered technician.
- To qualify as a commercial certified applicator, an individual must pass a written:
- core exam; and
- category-specific exam.
- To qualify as a registered technician, an individual must complete one of the following mandatory training options listed at https://oisc.purdue.edu/pesticide/training_rt_gups.html.
- Any individual that applies a GUP for hire must be:
- Application of a Fertilizer Material For Hire:
- Any individual that applies fertilizer material for hire must be an employee of a licensed business and must be a certified and licensed applicator or a registered technician.
- To qualify as a commercial certified applicator to apply a fertilizer material for hire on turf, an individual must pass the category 3b written exam.
- To qualify as a commercial applicator to apply fertilizer material for hire on agricultural lands, an individual must pass the category 14 written exam.
- Use of a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP):
- Any individual that uses any RUP for any purpose or on any property must be:
- at least 18 years of age; and
- a certified and licensed applicator; or
- operating under the direct supervision (see #5 below) of a certified and licensed applicator employed by the business, organization, or farm operation.
- To qualify as a commercial certified applicator, an individuial must pass a written:
- core exam; and
- category-specific exam
- To qualify as a private applicator (uses a RUP on property personally owned or controlled for producing an agricultural commodity), an individual must pass a written core exam but must also pass a category specific exam to use fumigants (category 7D) or to apply aerially by plane, helicopter, or drone (category 11)
- Any individual that uses any RUP for any purpose or on any property must be:
- Direct Supervision of a Noncertified Individual Using a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP):
- The certified and licensed supervisor shall be legally responsible for all requirements and activities by the noncertified applicator.
- The noncertified individual must complete one of the following mandatory training options annually, listed at https://oisc.purdue.edu/pesticide/training_nca_rups.html.
- The certified and licensed supervisor must keep records for two years for the training in item 5b above, that includes the following:
- WPS Pesticide Handler Training.
- Pesticide Safety Training for Non-Certified Applicators Using RUPs.
- The certified and licensed supervisor must ensure the following for the noncertified individual:
- Access to product labeling at all times during use.
- Personal protective equipment is available, clean, and is being worn correctly.
- Understandable site-specific instructions covering precise location, precautions, use directions, and potential adverse effects.
- Daily proper operation verification of all mixing, loading, transferring, and application equipment.
- Means of immediate communication between the noncertified applicator and the certified and licensed supervisor.
- Physical presence of certified and licensed supervisor at the work site, if required by label.
- Use of a GUP by Any Person that is NOT Applying it For Hire:
- Not for hire (in-house) GUP users are NOT required to be certified applicators or registered technicians.
- Public (government) GUP users are NOT required to be certified applicators or registered technicians.
- This exemption from certification and licensing includes not for hire or public GUP uses at all locations, including schools, golf courses, and community wide mosquito management, all of which previously required certification of the applicator but does not now.