COLUMBUS, Ohio -- For lawn care businesses, school districts and more, spring weather often results in the hiring of new employees to help keep the grounds in superb condition. Therefore, it is exam time for anyone planning to become a licensed commercial pesticide applicator.
In the state of Ohio, you must take a series of exams to become a commercial pesticide applicator. Commercial applicators include anyone who operates or works for a pesticide application company, public agency, school district or other entity where the application of pesticides is supervised.
“Although not required, there are several upcoming training opportunities for those applying to become commercial applicators,” said Joanne Kick-Raack, state coordinator, Pesticide Safety Education Program, Ohio State University Extension.
Kick-Raack encourages new applicators to take advantage of this additional training to help prepare for the state pesticide licensing exams.
Sponsored by OSU Extension’s Pesticide Safety Education Program, the training class is a one-day program offered multiple times this year at the Ohio Department of Agriculture. The class will be the same each time to allow every new applicator the chance for additional training.
The course will take applicators through a step-by-step overview of pesticide safety, Ohio regulations, label interpretation and other information that could be part of the licensing exam. Special instruction will be offered in turf, ornamental weed control, industrial vegetation and agricultural weed control categories.
Registration for the 2011 Pesticide Safety Training classes will be available on-site, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Pre-registration is available at the Pesticide Safety Education Program website, http://pested.osu.edu. Registration fees include materials for the day and a boxed lunch.
The upcoming training class dates are as follows: March 30, April 20, May 18, Aug. 24 and Sept. 28.
For more information, visit http://pested.osu.edu or call the Pesticide Safety Education Program at 614-292-4070.