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Pesticide certification and training

Last updated on January 18, 2024

Only a trained and certified person may sell or use most pesticides.

Learn about the different types of certificates and find out how to:

  • Get study materials
  • Access training courses
  • Take an exam
  • Get continuing education credits

Certification and training requirements

A Pesticide Applicator Certificate is required for:

  • Purchasing or using restricted class pesticides
  • Using a pesticide with a label that states the product may only be used by a certificate holder
  • Using pesticides for authorization holders (such as a licence, confirmation or permit)

Assistant Applicator training is required for:

  • Assisting a certified applicator in the application, transportation, storage and security of pesticides

A Pesticide Dispenser Certificate is required for:

  • Dispensing (selling) pesticides for a licenced vendor

A Residential Applicator Certificate is required for:

  • Residents who wish to apply domestic-class pesticides on their own private landscapes, including lawns, flower beds, ornamental trees and plants

Certification may also be required to meet WorkSafe BC standards.

Certification is not required for:

  • Selling or using a pesticide listed on Schedule 2 of the Integrated Pest Management Regulation (IPMR)
  • Residents using a pesticide listed on Schedule 5 of the IPMR for application on their own private landscapes, including lawns, flower beds, ornamental trees and plants

Additional authorizations may be required for a certified person to use or sell pesticides as part of a business, industry, or public program.

Visit the authorizations page for more information.

Certification and training process

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Step 1: Determine what certificate or training category you need

Certificates and training are specific to the type of work you'll be doing.

Visit the certificate and training categories page to find your certification or training category.

There are specific study materials and exams for each category.

 

Step 2: Prepare for the exam         

All certificates (or records of completion for assistant applicators) are first issued by passing an exam.

Study materials and training courses are available to help you prepare for it.

Pesticide Applicator and Dispenser Certificates

  • Study materials are available for each certificate category. Order the appropriate study materials to prepare for the exam of the certificate category you wish to get
    • Costs vary for the study materials and can be paid online by credit card
  • You may prepare for the exam through self-study or by taking a course through an independent trainer
  • Visit the certificate study materials and training page for more information

Assistant Applicators

Residential Applicator Certificate

 

Step 3: Write the exam

All certificates (or records of completion for assistant applicators) are first issued by passing an exam.

All certificates or records of completion holders may recertify by successfully completing an exam.

Pesticide Applicator and Dispenser Certificates

  • Exams are arranged through Service BC, through courses offered by independent trainers, or through a private invigilator
  • The cost for each exam is $90 and is non-refundable
    • Independent trainers or private invigilators may have additional fees for their services
  • All exams are open book
    • Bring the study materials you ordered, a non-programmable calculator and a valid government-issued photo ID to the exam
    • Phones are not permitted in the exam
  • Each exam is unique and will have a 6-digit Exam ID
    • You must confirm that this Exam ID is the same all your exam materials or your exam will not score correctly
  • The time given to write an exam is between 1 and 3 hours, depending on the exam category
  • A 3-week time period is normally required for marking exams and issuing results
    • Please do not contact Service BC to check your grade within this time period
  • Your final mark on the exam will determine how long your certificate is valid for
  • Visit the write the exam page for more information

Assistant Applicators

  • The ministry provides a free online course and exam
  • The course and exam should take approximately 4 hours to complete
  • Upon passing the exam, a record of completion is generated

Residential Applicator Certificate

  • The ministry provides a free online course and exam
  • The course and exam should take approximately 2 hours to complete
  • Upon passing the exam, residents are issued a 10-year certificate
 

Step 4: Recertify    

All certificates and records of completion are valid for a specified period of time.

Recertification is required once the time period has lapsed, provided the individual wishes to continue using or selling pesticides.

Pesticide Applicator and Dispenser Certificates

  • Pesticide Applicator and Dispenser certificates are valid for one or 5 years, after which the certificate holder must be recertified if they wish to continue applying or selling pesticides
  • All certificate categories can recertify by writing the exam
  • Some certificate categories also have the option of recertifying by collecting continuing education credits (CECs) through an approved industry association
  • CECs are managed by approved industry associations
  • The cost to recertify by CECs is $25
  • Visit the recertification page for more information

Assistant Applicators

Residential Applicator Certificates

  • Residential Applicator Certificates are valid for 10 years
  • Upon expiry, residents may recertify by completing the free online training and exam

 

Certification from other provinces

Pesticide certificates from other Canadian provinces are not valid in B.C. However, B.C. offers reciprocity for pesticide certificates from other Canadian provinces in certain categories (Aerial, Forestry, Industrial Vegetation and Noxious Weed, Landscape, Mosquito, and Structural).

A certification candidate who holds a valid 5-year pesticide certificate from another Canadian province in one of these categories can write a one hour exam on the Integrated Pest Management Act and Regulation.

To prepare for this exam:

Candidates with a score of at least 75% on the exam will receive a B.C. certificate that's equivalent to the category of certification from another province.

The B.C. certificate will be valid until 5 years from the date the out of province certificate was issued.

Visit the write the exam page to find out how to arrange to write the IPM Act and Regulation exam.

Order certificate study materials from Crown Publications:

Contact an independent trainer for certification courses or find an approved invigilator:

Contact Service BC to arrange writing certification exams:

Find out about pesticide recertification, including relevant industry associations that manage recertification credits (CECs).