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 Water, Land and Air Protection 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 a new set of "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.wcb.bc.ca
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.wcb.bc.ca
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 Pesticide Control Act Regulation, under the authority of the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (formerly the Minister of the Environment, Lands and Parks).

The following are examples of situations where the Pesticide Control Act 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 Pesticide Control Act Regulation (B.C. Reg. 319/81, consolidated April 16, 1992) states in Section 4:

"(1) No person shall
(d) use a pesticide on public land unless he is an applicator or is supervised by an applicator in attendance,
(e) use a pesticide on private land other than in accordance with the Act and this regulation,
(g) use a RESTRICTED pesticide as scheduled in Annex 1 unless he is an applicator".

The Regulation 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."

For more information about this regulation, or to order a copy, visit the website of the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection at  http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/ipmp/index.html and follow the links to "Integrated Pest Management Program", then "Regulatory Information".

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 Water, Land and Air Protection at http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/ipmp/certif-categ.htm and follow the links to "Integrated Pest Management Program", then "Regulatory Information".

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:

Dispenser, Domestic pesticides:

- Integrated Pest Management Manual for Home and Garden Pests in B.C. (1999)

- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (1992 or 1995 editions)

- Pesticide Dispenser Certification for Domestic Home and Garden Pesticides (with study guide and practice exam, 1999)

Agriculture general:

- Pesticide Applicator Course for Agricultural Producers (1990, 1991 or 1992 versions)

- Study Notes on the B.C. Crop Production Guides (includes a practice examination, 1999)

Landscape General:

- Integrated Pest Management for Landscape Pests in British Columbia (2000)

- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (1992 or 1995 editions)

- Landscape Integrated Pest Management Certification Guide (with study guide and practice exam, 2000)

Forestry Management:

- Forestry Management - General Pesticide Applicator Certification (with study outline and practice questions, 1992 or 1996)

- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (1992 or 1995 editions)

- Forestry supplement (1992)

Forestry Non-Broadcast:

- Pesticide Applicator Certification for Forestry Non-Broadcast Applications (1996)

- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (1992 or 1995 editions)

Forest Seedling Nursery and Forest Seed Cone Orchard:

- Forest Seed Orchard and Seedling Nursery Pesticide Applicator Certification (with practice questions, 1992 or 1997)

- B.C. Nursery Production Guide (or sections on conifer seedling nurseries and seed orchards, 1988 edition)

- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (1992 or 1995 editions)

Industrial Vegetation and Noxious Weeds Control:

- Industrial Vegetation and Noxious Weed Control Pesticide Applicator Certification (with study outline and practice questions, 1998)

- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (1992 or 1995 editions)

Structural - General:

- Integrated Pest Management Manual for Structural Pests in BC (1996)

- Handbook for Pesticide Applicators and Dispensers (1992 or 1995 editions)

- Structural - General Integrated Pest Management Certification (with study outline and practice questions, 1997)

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 for.

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.

Allow 2 to 3 weeks for delivery.

If you wish to obtain information on-line, visit the website of the B.C. Ministry Water, Air and Land Protection at http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/ipmp/certif-main.htm and follow the links to "Integrated Pest Management Program", then "Regulatory Information".

If you wish to verify that the books you presently have are current, use the same web site at http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/ipmp/certif-editions.htm and follow the links to the "Current Editions of Study Kits".

How can I arrange for the examination?

In February 2001, new procedures were introduced for the written exam in the Kamloops region, which includes all the Okanagan, west to Lillooet, east to Grand Forks, north to Valemount:

   - All applications to write exams must be submitted in writing to the Kamloops office of the Ministry of Water, Air and Land Protection at 1259 Dalhousie Drive, Kamloops, V2C 5Z5.

   - Send a cheque or money order for $25.00.  Specify which exam you wish to write and where. The Kamloops office will send a confirmation letter  by mail.

   - This procedure is much longer than in the past.  Expect a delay of two to three weeks between your request for an examination and the actual date of examination.  If you are having difficulties, contact the "Processing Staff" at the Kamloops office, 250-371-6200.

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 usually held at a local government office.  Consult the application form for the office nearest you.

The examination is open book and last 2 to 3 hours, depending on the certificate.

The fee is $25 per exam.

If you wish to obtain information on-line, visit the website of the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection at http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/ipmp/certif-main.htm and follow the links to "Integrated Pest Management", then "Regulatory Information".