Applicators
Assistance for applicators seeking information on getting certified in Virginia or just seeking pesticide regulatory and safety information.
Responsibilities of All Pesticide Applicators in Virginia
All pesticide applicators must apply pesticides responsibly. These guidelines apply to all pesticide applications in Virginia. Additional responsibilities apply to certified private or commercial applicators.
Uncertified Applicators
If you have never been certified as a private or commercial applicator (including registered technicians) and would like to obtain the information to do so, please review the information provided below for private and commercial applicators. Even if you choose not to become certified, you should still seek pesticide safety education to help you apply pesticides correctly. Many uncertified applicators attend our training courses and obtain our manuals for this purpose, yet never seek certification. Review the columns on each side of this paragraph for more information. To help you further, we also offer the following information:
Certified Private Applicators
Certified private applicators are applicators who apply or purchase restricted-use pesticides for use on lands owned or leased by them for agricultural production (farm, forest, ranch, greenhouse, nursery, etc.).
Certified Commercial Applicator & Registered Technicians
An applicator who applies pesticides for hire or for an employer whose primary business is commercial in nature, a government entity, or whose pesticide use impacts the public, must be certified as a commercial applicator in Virginia. If an applicator in this business has less than one year experience, he or she is required to be registered technician.
Pesticide Businesses
For requirements of businesses involved with pesticide sale, use, or recommendation in Virginia.
Regulatory & Certification Information for Virginia Pesticide Applicators
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Office of Pesticide Services is the lead agency in Virginia that regulates pesticides and certifies pesticide applicators. Go to this website for details on these topics.
