Mosquito pesticide applicator certificate

Last updated on July 26, 2023

Get certified to use pesticides to manage biting flies and/or mosquitoes.

There are 3 categories for this certificate:

Mosquito and Biting Fly:

  • Ground-based application of pesticides (including bacterial pesticides and growth regulators) to manage adult and/or larval mosquitoes and biting flies

Aerial – Restricted to Granular Bacterial Pesticides:

  • Restricted to managing mosquitoes by applying granular bacterial pesticides from helicopters

Mosquito – Ground Application of Bacterial Pesticides and Growth Regulators:

  • Restricted to managing mosquitoes using bacterial pesticides and growth regulators applied by ground-based equipment

Pilots wishing to apply pesticides other than granular bacterial pesticides by helicopter for mosquito control must get an Aerial applicator certificate.


 

Graphic overview of the process to get your certificate

Flowchart showing the pesticide certification process

 

What study materials do I need?

The study materials are different for each category. Older editions of the study materials are not recommended.

Mosquito and Biting Fly pesticide applicator certificate study materials are:

  • Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (2005)
  • Mosquito and Biting Fly – Pesticide Applicator Certification Guide (2007)

Aerial – Restricted to Granular Bacterial Pesticide applicator certificate study material is:

  • Aerial Application of Granular Pesticides for Mosquito Control Certification Guide (2007)

Mosquito – Ground Application of Bacterial Pesticides and Growth Regulators applicator certificate study material is:

  • Ground Application of Bacterial Pesticides and Growth Regulators for Mosquito Control Certification Guide (2009)

Required reading for reciprocity exams (for out of province certificate holders wishing to work in B.C.):

 

What exam should I write?

Option 1) Write the exam 

Get the study materials listed above for the category you wish to get.

  • If you will be using ground-based methods to apply adulticides and/or larvicides (including bacterial pesticides and growth regulators) for mosquito or biting fly control, arrange to write the three-hour Mosquito and Biting Fly exam
  • If you will only be applying bacterial pesticides by helicopter to control mosquitoes, arrange to write the one-and-a-half-hour Mosquito – Aerial – Granular exam
  • If you will only be using ground-based equipment to apply bacterial pesticides and growth regulators to control mosquitoes, arrange to write the one-and-a-half-hour Mosquito – Ground Application exam

To arrange writing the exam, contact Service BC.

The cost to write the exam is $90.

Your exam mark will determine the term of your certificate:

  • 5 year (75% and above)
  • 1 year (60% - 74%)

Option 2) Reciprocity for out-of-province certificates

  • You have a valid five-year pesticide applicator certificate in a similar category from another Canadian province
  • Read the required reading for reciprocity exams listed above
  • Arrange to write the one-hour IPM Act and Regulation – Forestry/Mosquito exam by contacting Service BC
  • The cost to write the exam is $90
  • You must receive at least 75% on the IPM Act and Regulation exam to be issued a B.C. mosquito pesticide applicator certificate in the corresponding category. Your B.C. certificate will be valid for five years from the date the out-of-province pesticide applicator certificate was issued
 

How do I recertify?

  • Mosquito and Biting Fly pesticide applicator certificates recertify must by writing the Mosquito and Biting Fly exam
  • Aerial – Restricted to Granular Bacterial Pesticide applicator certificates must recertify by writing the Mosquito – Aerial – Granular exam
  • Mosquito – Ground Application of Bacterial Pesticides and Growth Regulators applicator certificates must recertify by writing the Mosquito – Ground Application exam
  • The cost to write the exam is $90.