REGULATORY SERVICES

What kinds of pesticide applications does my Government certification allow?

• Your Government certification is only valid when you are using or supervising the use of pesticides for your employing agency. If you are a commercial applicator, you must hold the correct category for the kind of application you are making. If you are a registered technician, you must have received training in the kind of application you are making.

Can I use my Government certification to work part-time for a local pest control firm?

• No. Performing work for-hire, or for a private employer requires you to have a separate commercial applicator or registered technician certificate. As long as you have an active certificate, you will not need to retake your exams, but you will need to request and pay the certificate fee for the additional certificate.

What happens to my Government certification when I am no longer employed by my agency, or I retire?

• When VDACS is notified that you are no longer employed by a governmental agency, your certification will become “Inactive”. You will be issued another card using your same certificate number followed by the letter “I” which means you are Inactive instead of the letter “G” for Government. If you take no other action, your certificate will expire according to the expiration date on your certificate.
  
• If you wish to keep your certification, but are not employed, you can maintain your inactive certificate by paying the required certificate fee, returning your renewal notices when they are sent out, and continuing to attend recertification classes.
  
• If you plan to work for a non-governmental employer, you will need to pay the appropriate certificate fee, and your new employer must notify us of your change of status and request a new certificate for you.

What if I want to apply pesticides on my farm after I retire from the government?

• If you are using “general use” pesticides, no certification is required.
  
• If you want to be able to use “restricted use” pesticides on your agricultural land, you will need to become certified as a “private applicator” This requires that you pass an exam, but there is no certificate fee.