Structural pesticide applicator certificate
Last updated on July 26, 2023Get certified to use pesticides to:
- Manage pests in, near or on a structure
A separate category is available for wood preservation.
Structural – Integrated Pest Management:
- Manage pests (including insects, rodents and birds) invading or damaging structures, including all public buildings or private buildings where the applicator is working on a fee-for-service basis
Structural – Industrial Wood Preservation:
- Manage wood-destroying pests in wood poles and timbers
Graphic overview of the process to get your certificate
What study materials do I need?
The study materials are different for each category. Older editions of the study materials are not recommended.
Structural – Integrated Pest Management certificate study materials are:
- Canadian Pesticide Education Program Applicator Core Manual British Columbia Edition (2011)
- Supplementary Information for Structural Pesticide Applicator Certification (2011)
- Integrated Pest Management Manual for Structural Pests in B.C. (2007)
Structural – Industrial Wood Preservation certificate study materials are:
- Canadian Pesticide Education Program Applicator Core Manual British Columbia Edition (2011)
- Supplementary Information for Structural – Wood Preservation Pesticide Certification (2011)
Additional resources
An additional resource is available on best practices for rodenticide disposal.
This resource is not part of the study materials required to write the structural pesticide applicator certificate exams.
Required reading for reciprocity exams (for out of province certificate holders wishing to work in B.C.):
Which 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 pesticides to manage pests in and around structures, arrange to write the three-hour Structural - General exam
- If you will be using pesticides to manage wood-destroying pests in wood poles or timbers, arrange to write the three-hour Structural – Wood Preservation exam. This is the only option for this category
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 (only for Structural – Integrated Pest Management certificates)
- You have a valid five-year 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 – Landscape/Structural 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. structural – integrated pest management pesticide applicator certificate. 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?
Option 1) Recertify by exam
- Structural – Integrated Pest Management pesticide applicator certificates can recertify by writing the Structural - General exam
- Structural – Industrial Wood Preservation pesticide applicator certificates must recertify by writing the Structural – Wood Preservation exam. This is the only option for this category
- The cost to write the exam is $90
Option 2) Recertify by CECs (only for Structural – Integrated Pest Management certificates)
- If you held a five-year Structural – Integrated Pest Management 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 five years
- The cost to recertify by CECs is $25
- Recertification credits for Structural – Integrated Pest Management certificates are managed by the following private industry association:
BC Structural Pest Management Association
- Melanie Johnston
- Email: info@spmabc.com