What is the course content?

Our company offers a course to help candidates prepare to write the examination.  This course is usually held at college campuses in the Okanagan and Southern B.C. regions.

The three-day course reviews the safe handling of pesticides, including pesticides used in organic production, for pest problems caused by insects, diseases, weeds and rodents.  There is a strong focus on Integrated Pest Management and non-chemical methods of control.

The following topics are covered during the course:
- What's new in pest management?
- Interpreting labels
- Safe handling and environmental safety
- Toxicity and first aid
- Protective equipment and clothing
- Integrated Pest Management
- Spray equipment
- Calibration, including practical problems for the calibration of products and equipment.

Who requires a certificate?

In British Columbia, two sets of legislation apply to persons using pesticides.  The requirements are slightly different depending on the location of application:

- For a workplace,
- For a farm, or
- For the use of low toxicity pesticides.

Disclaimer:

Please note the following information is intended only as a guideline.  For an accurate assessment of your situation, please review the appropriate legislation or consult the appropriate agency (B.C. Ministry of Environment or the Worker's Compensation Board).

For a workplace:

In a workplace registered with the Worker's Compensation Board, all employees must hold a certificate to handle, mix or spray pesticides of moderate or high toxicity.
The situation is different when using pesticides of low toxicity and is explained later in this text.

The Worker's Compensation Board issued the Occupational Health & Safety Regulation in 1998.  Regulation 6.77 states:

"The employer must ensure that a worker or applicator who mixes, loads or applies a moderately or very toxic pesticide for use in a workplace or who cleans or maintains equipment used in the operations
(a) is 16 years of age or over, and
(b) holds a valid applicator certificate issued pursuant to the Pesticide Control Act and Regulation."

For more information about this regulation, or to order a copy, visit the website of the Worker's Compensation Board at www.worksafebc.com/
and follow the links to "OHS Regulation", then "6.70 Pesticides".





For a farm:

On farms registered with the Worker's Compensation Board, all employees must hold a certificate to handle, mix or spray pesticides of moderate or high toxicity.

The situation is different for employees handling pesticides of low toxicity or for farms not registered with the Worker's Compensation Board.  Those situations are explained later in this text.

In 1993, the Worker's Compensation Board issued the Regulations for Agricultural Operations.  Regulation 26 states:

"The employer shall ensure that workers who mix, load or apply moderately or very toxic pesticides for use in fields or who clean or maintain equipment used in these operations
(a) are over the age of 16, and
(b) hold, after March 31, 1994, a valid applicator certificate issued pursuant to the British Columbia Pesticide Control Act and the Pesticide Control Act Regulation."

For more information about this regulation, or to order a copy, visit the website of the Worker's Compensation Board at www.worksafebc.com/
and follow the links to the publications.





For the use of low toxicity pesticides:

For situations not covered by the Worker's Compensation Board, the use of pesticides should be in accordance with the Integrated Pest Management Act and Regulation, under the authority of the B.C. Ministry of Environment.

The following are examples of situations where the Integrated Pest Management Regulation comes into effect:

- Farms not covered by the Worker's Compensation Board
- Worksites covered by the Worker's Compensation Board, but the employees are handling low toxicity pesticides
- Private properties and the use of pesticides on private land.

In general, the provincial legislation stipulates the following:
- An applicator certificate is required to purchase and use restricted pesticides (usually the more toxic pesticides);
- An applicator certificate is required to use pesticides on public land, or for a fee-for-service basis (such as with landscape maintenance companies applying pesticides on private properties);
- A certified applicator can supervise up to 4 uncertified assistants.

The Integrated Pest Management Regulation (B.C. Reg. 604/2004), consolidated December 31, 2004) states in Section 11:
"A service licensee shall ensure that every service that he sells or provides is performed or supervised by an applicator who
(a) is in continuous attendance at the service,
(b) has available with him proof of his certificate in an appropriate category,
(c) supervises no more than 4 uncertified assistants at one time, and
(d) maintains continuous contact, auditory or visual, or a combination of both, with the uncertified assistants."

The Integrated Pest Management Regulation states in Section 46:
(1) "...a licensee providing a service using a class of pesticides prescribed in section 15 [pesticides prescribed in relation to certified individual] must ensure are performed by a certified individual are the following:
(a) be present when the service is provided;
(b) either
   (i) perform the use, or
   (ii) supervise not more than 4 uncertified individuals who perform the use.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) (b) (ii), the certified individual must not be more than 500 m from and must maintain continuous visual or auditory contact with each individual being supervised.

For more information about this regulation, or to order a copy, visit the website of the B.C. Ministry of Environment (Environmental Protection Division) at www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/ipmp/ and follow the link to
Integrated Pest Management Regulations.

What are the different certificates?

There are various certification categories, which are based on the type of work by the applicant.

Persons who sell pesticides must hold a "dispenser certificate":

- Dispenser, Domestic pesticides
- Dispenser, Commercial pesticides

Persons who apply pesticides must hold an "applicator certificate":

- Agriculture, general (with slight differences for fields crops and greenhouse crops)
- Forestry management (for control of insects, diseases and weeds in forestry)
- Forestry non-broadcast (for control of weeds only in forestry)
- Forest seedling nursery and Forest seed cone orchard
- Industrial vegetation and noxious weeds
- Landscape general - Integrated Pest Management
- Structural - General Integrated Pest Management
- Structural - Wood preservative including pole treatment

If you wish to obtain more information on the certification categories, visit the website of the B.C. Ministry of Environment (Environmental Protection Division) at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/ipmp/certif-categ.htm. 

What books are required?

Each study package comes with a set of books.  Some books are the same for multiple certificates, while others are specific to one certificate.

The following study books are useful to prepare for examination in the following certificate categories:

Landscape General:

- Integrated Pest Management for Landscape Pests in British Columbia (2005 edition, 2000 edition is acceptable)
- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (2005 edition)
- Landscape Integrated Pest Management Certification Guide (with study guide and practice exam, 2006 edition, 2004 edition is also acceptable)

Agriculture general:

- Pesticide Applicator Course for Agricultural Producers (2005 edition, editions also accepted were printed in 2000,1992, 1991 and 1990: note the Integrated Pest Management Act has now replaced the Pesticide Control Act)
- Study Notes on the B.C. Crop Production Guides (includes a practice examination, 2007 edition, editions were printed in 2004, 2001, 2000 and 1999)
 

Agriculture - Restricted to the Use of Strychnine Gopher Baits:

- Strychnine Gopher Baits Pesticide Certification Guide (updated 2007)

Forestry Management:

- Forestry Management - Pesticide Applicator Certification (with study outline and practice questions, 2007 edition, 2006 edition is also acceptable)
- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (2005 edition)
- Forestry supplement (edition printed 1992: note a new supplement is in preparation)

Forestry Non-Broadcast:

- Pesticide Applicator Certification for Forestry Non-Broadcast Applications (edition printed in 1996 with minor update in 2002)
- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (2005 edition)

Forest Seedling Nursery and
Forest Seed Cone Orchard:

- Forest Seed Orchard and Seedling Nursery Pesticide Applicator Certification (with practice questions, edition printed 2001)
- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (2005 edition)

Industrial Vegetation and Noxious Weeds Control:

- Certification Guide (Industrial Vegetation and Noxious Weed Control)  (with study outline and practice questions, 2006 edition, 1998 edition is also acceptable)
- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (2005 edition)

Dispenser, Domestic pesticides:

- Integrated Pest Management Manual for Home and Garden Pests in B.C. (2007 edition, 2005 edition is also acceptable)
- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (2005 edition)
- Pesticide Dispenser Certification for Domestic Home and Garden Pesticides (with study guide and practice exam, 2005, 2001, 2000 or 1999)

Dispenser, Commercial pesticides:

- Study Notes on the B.C. Crop Production Guides (editions were printed in 2007, 2004, 2001, 2000 and 1999)
- Pesticide Applicator Course for Agricultural Producers (2005 edition, editions also accepted were printed in 2000,1992, 1991 and 1990: note the Integrated Pest Management Act has now replaced the Pesticide Control Act)
- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (2005 edition)
- Pesticide Dispenser Certification for Commercial Pesticides (with study guide and practice examination, 2007 edition, 2005 edition is also acceptable)

Structural - General:

- Integrated Pest Management Manual for Structural Pests in BC (2007 edition, editions also printed in 2000 and 1996)
- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (2005 edition)
- Structural - General Integrated Pest Management Certification (with study outline and practice questions, 2007 edition, 2005 edition is also acceptable)

Mosquito and Biting fly:

- Mosquito and Biting fly - Pesticide Applicator Certification (with study outline and practice questions, 2007 edition, 2005 edition is also acceptable)
- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (2005 edition, with major changes in the legislation chapter from 1995 and 1992 editions)

How can I order books?

The study materials must be purchased directly from the provincial Office Products Centre, telephone 1-800-282-7955 or fax 250-952-4442.

You must specify for which certificate category you require the books.

The Office Products Centre requires full payment before shipping the materials.  Payment can be made by credit card when ordering by phone, or by cheque when mailing the order.  Call the Centre for the total cost including tax and courier charge ($11 for courier).

Allow 1 to 2 weeks for delivery.

The order form is available on-line at the website of the B.C. Ministry of Environment at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/ipmp/pesticide_pdfs/orderform.pdf.

If you wish to verify that the books you presently have are current, use the same web site at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/ipmp/certif-editions.htm.

How can I arrange for the examination?

   - All applications to write exams must be submitted to the Government Office in Nelson at 1-866-205-2102 (or 250-354-6585).
   - You must specify at which locations you wish to write.  Examinations are held at the Government Agent Office or the B.C. Access Centre found in most localities.
   - Cost for the examination is $90.00.  Payment is by cheque, money order or credit card.
   - A person can write the examination at anytime during the year, but examination times are determined by each office.  Each study kit contains an application form with instructions.
   - The examination is open book and last 2 to 3 hours, depending on the certificate.
   - If you wish to obtain information on-line, visit the website of the B.C. Ministry of Environment at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/ipmp/pesticide_pdfs/application.pdf.