Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education Credit Workshops

PESTICIDE APPLICATOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT WORKSHOPS

By Wilma Trujillo, SEA Agronomist

In the state of Colorado, pesticide application is regulated by a very strict set of laws enforced by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA). Some of the regulations include the licensing of private, commercial, limited-commercial, and public pesticide applicators. The purpose of the license is to demonstrate a level of competency by pesticide users on the safe use of pesticides. To become licensed, a private applicator must take and past an open book test developed by CDA. Commercial applicators must take a closed book test for categories in which they wish to be licensed. All pesticide applicator licenses are valid for three years. Under the Colorado Pesticide Applicators Act, applicators must re-certify either by re-examination or by attending pesticide education programs to acquire continuing education credits (CEC’s) in core subjects and if a commercial applicator, one or two CEC(s) in each of the categories in which they are currently licensed.

Colorado State University’s Southeast Area Extension is offering three Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education Credit Workshops in December 2011. Training is aimed to provide new information on pest control, health and environmental safety, pest management technology and changes in pesticide laws and regulations to help the applicators to continue to use pesticides safely and effectively. The training provides required continuing education credits to applicators already holding valid CDA licenses.

The Pesticide Applicator training sessions are schedules as follows:

December 14

8:00 am to 12:15 pm for private and core commercial credits, Springfield, Baca County Fairgrounds

1:00 to 5:30 pm for commercial Ag categories (101, 102, 103, 111 and 303)

December 15 (Private and core commercial credits only)

8:00 am to 12:15 pm Eads, Kiowa County Court Meeting Room

2:00 pm to 6:00 pm Lamar, County Anex. Mezzanine

The workshop fees are $35 for private applicators (morning or afternoon sessions) and $75 for commercial applicators (all day sessions). If you are interested in attending any of the workshops scheduled, please contact your local County Extension Office (Bent, Baca, Cheyenne, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, and Prowers) for more information and registration. You can also contact Wilma Trujillo, the Southeast Area Agronomist, at the Prowers Extension Office,1001 S Main Street, Lamar, CO. Tel: (719) 336-7734 or at wilma.trujillo@colostate.edu. Registration deadline is December 9, 2011.

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