Washington???s Pesticide Pre-License Training: Federal FY2012

Recipient Organization
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
HULBERT 411
PULLMAN,WA 99164-6248

Performing Department
Cooperative Extension

Non Technical Summary
The Federal Insecticide Fungicide Rodenticide Act requires any person using a restricted-use pesticide be a certified private or commercial applicator. In addition, regulations in Washington State require any person applying pesticides to the properties of others or any public employing using powered equipment to apply general use pesticides must be certified applicators.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
211	2499	1130	15%
212	2499	1130	15%
214	2499	1130	10%
215	2499	1130	10%
213	2499	1130	50%

Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 214 - Vertebrates, Mollusks, and Other Pests Affecting Plants; 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 215 - Biological Control of Pests Affecting Plants; 213 - Weeds Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
2499 - Plant research, general;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;

Keywords

Goals / Objectives
Using a combination of support dollars from USDA and WSU Urban IPM and Pesticide Safety Education Program, WSU will sponsor 9 pre-license training classes for people interested in a review class prior to taking the certification exams for the appropriate license type and pest control endorsement for their job function. WSU will offer 5 courses in Eastern Washington in February 2013 and 5 courses in Western Washington between January and April 2013. Locations of these classes will largely cover the geography of the state to encourage participation by interested parties.

Project Methods
The training is intended to provide basic knowledge and skills in order for entry-level applicators to become certified (if they can demonstrate the basic knowledge and skills) in order to protect human health and the environment from the judicious use of pesticides. Training programs are heavily focused on regulations and safety.

Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: pesticide applicator candidates for state certification of pesticide use Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Pre-license training was conducted in 10 cities over a total fo 25 days and reaching 653 potential pesticide applicators for over 10,000 contact hours. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Exam scores were sent out to candidates by Washington State Dept. of Agriculture What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? There is NO longer any support by USDA for Pesticide Safety Education. To have a robust Intergrated Pest Management program, there must be education for users of both organic and synthetic pesticides. Even low toxicity organic products have risks. Most states have requirements for folks using low risk pesticide in schools, public grounds, waterways, etc to be certified, but there is only product registration dollars ($500k annually) put foward to education of pesticide users. This should be addressed.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Pre-license training was conducted in 10 cities over a total fo 25 days and reaching 653 potential pesticide applicators for over 10,000 contact hours. This supports a wage base of $20,739,280 in Washington State referencing the Bureau of Labor Statistics for pesticide control jobs. Two study manuals were revised: Introduction to Insect and Disease Management. Washington State University, EM051, 62 pp and Los Principios de Manejo de las Malezas en Cesped y Plants Ornamentales: incluye las leyes y la seguridad con los plaguicidas, Washington State University, EM023S, 170 pp.

Publications