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Agriculture pesticide applicator certificate

Last updated on July 26, 2023

Get certified to use pesticides on pests associated with agricultural production, including rodent management for farm buildings.

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Certificate categories

There are 3 categories for this certificate:

  • Agriculture: Field Crop and Orchard
    • For managing pests in field and orchard crops
  • Agriculture: Greenhouse
    • For managing pests in nurseries and greenhouses
  • Agriculture: Rodent Management
    • Restricted to the management of rodent pests associated with agricultural production, including around farm buildings

These categories are for:

  • Custom applicators
  • Private growers
  • Farmworkers

Any of the 3 categories can fulfil the certification requirements for second generation anti-coagulant rodenticides (SGARs).

If applying pesticides and rodenticides, the Greenhouse or Field Crop and Orchard categories are recommended.

A different landscape pesticide applicator certificate is used for landscapers growing their own ornamentals.

Pilots wishing to apply pesticides by aircraft to agricultural land must get an aerial applicator certificate.

 How to apply

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How to get your certificate

Flowchart showing the pesticide certification process

 

Study materials

These categories use the Pesticide Applicator Course for Agricultural Producers (2018):

  • Agriculture: Field Crop
  • Orchard and Agriculture: Greenhouse

Older editions of the study material are not recommended.

Study materials for the Agriculture: Rodent Management certificate include:

  • Canadian Pesticide Education Program Applicator Core Manual British Columbia Edition (2011)
  • Agriculture: Rodent Management Pesticide Applicator Certification (2022)

Additional resources

Resources are available for agricultural producers on:

  • Best practices to manage drift, dispose of rodenticide waste and manage pests in commercial cannabis production
  • Best practices for rodentidice disposal

These resources are not part of the study materials required to write the agriculture pesticide applicator certificate exams.

 

Which exam should I take?

Get the study materials listed above.

If you're applying pesticides to the field or orchard crops, arrange to write the 3-hour Agriculture: Field Crop and Orchard exam:

  • The exam is available in English, Punjabi, Spanish, French, Chinese (Traditional) and Vietnamese
  • An extra half hour is provided when writing the exam in languages other than English

If you're applying pesticides in nurseries or greenhouses, arrange to write the 3-hour Agriculture: Greenhouse exam:

  • The exam is available in English, Punjabi, Chinese (Traditional) and Vietnamese
  • An extra half hour is provided when writing the exam in languages other than English

If you're using rodenticides for agricultural production, arrange to write the 3-hour Agriculture: Rodent Management exam.

To arrange writing the exam, contact Service BC. The exam cost is $90.

Your exam mark will determine the term of your certificate:

  • 5 years (75% and above)
  • One year (60% to 74%)
 

Recertification

Option 1: Recertify by exam 

Agriculture: Field Crop and Orchard

Pesticide applicator certificates can recertify by writing the Agriculture: Field Crop and Orchard exam.

Agriculture: Greenhouse

Pesticide applicator certificates can recertify by writing the Agriculture: Greenhouse exam.

Agriculture: Rodent Management

Pesticide applicator certificates can recertify by writing the Agriculture: Rodent Management exam.

The exam cost is $90.

Option 2: Recertify by CECs

Recertification by CECs is only available for these categories:

  • Agriculture: Field Crop and Orchard
  • Agriculture: Greenhouse
  • Agriculture: Rodent Management
    • Pesticide applicator certificates may only recertify by writing the Agriculture: Rodent Management exam

If you held a 5-year certificate, you have the option of recertifying by collecting continuing education credits (CECs).

To be recertified using this process:

  • You must get 20 CECs over 5 years
  • The cost to recertify by CECs is $25

Recertification credits for agriculture pesticide applicator certificates are managed by private industry associations:

  • BC Fruit Growers Association
  • BC Wine Grape Council
  • Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association

Order certificate study materials online from Crown Publications.

Agriculture study materials:

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

Contact Service BC to arrange writing certification exams: