COMMERCIAL APPLICATOR LICENSE

Commercial Applicators apply or supervise the application of any pesticide - including herbicides and unrestricted, over-the-counter pesticides - for any purpose on someone else's property for compensation. The four basic steps to earning a commercial applicator license are:

1. Apply for the license.

The application form is on the web site.

2. Document application experience.

In order to qualify for a Commercial Applicator license you must be able to document 2 years' experience applying pesticides, or 20 hours of college credits in biological and/or agricultural sciences plus 1 year experience. Examples of acceptable documentation may include:

• A pesticide applicator's license from another US state;
• Another type of NM applicator license (pest control operator, private applicator, public applicator, or noncommercial applicator) for at least 2 years; or
• A letter from an employer describing your duties with regards to pesticide use in the course of employment.

This experience requirement can also be met by successfully completing one of several specific distance education courses offered by Purdue, Colorado State, etc.  These are formal college courses that require tuition payment and take several months to complete. For more information on documenting experience go here.

3. Pass required exams.

Commercial Applicators become certified by passing exams covering general pesticide information, NM laws and rules, and at least one specific application category. License holders in other US states may apply to have some certifications recognized by NMDA and may only need to pass the NM laws test.

4. Document proof of financial responsibility.

Commercial Applicators must also provide proof of financial responsibility in the form of a liability insurance policy or a surety bond. The minimum coverage required is $25,000 each aggregate bodily injury and property damage for ground applications and $50,000 each aggregate bodily injury and property damage for aerial applications. See 21.17.50.22 NMAC for details.

5. Pay the license fee.

Commercial Applicator licenses are $50 each year.

COMMERCIAL OPERATOR/TECHNICIAN LICENSE

Operator/Technicians are employees of Commercial Applicators who apply pesticides. Any employee of a Commercial Applicator who applies any pesticides, whether or not the pesticide is classified as Restricted, must be licensed.

Operator/Technicians must pass written exams covering general pesticide information and NM laws and rules but do not take Category exams. To be licensed as an Operator/Technician an individual must:

1. Submit an application. The Operator/Technician application form must be signed by the supervising Commercial Applicator employer.
2. Pass the General and Operator exams.
3. The Commercial Applicator employer then submits the license fee of $25.

Operator/Technicians may only perform the types  of pest control in which their Commercial Applicator employer is certified.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WOOD-DESTROYING PEST CONTROL (Category 7D)

Any Commercial Applicator who wishes to apply pesticides for the control of wood destroying organisms (primarily termites) must document one year of specific WDO experience and attend four hours of approved training before he is eligible to take the Wood Destroying Pest Control Category exam (Category 7D). Operator/Technicians must also attend approved training and pass a Wood Destroying Pest Control exam before they can perform any WDO pest control.

In addition, any person who wishes to conduct inspections for wood destroying organisms must be licensed as a Commercial Applicator, Commercial Operator, or Pest Management Consultant and must be certified in Category 7D.

PUBLIC APPLICATOR LICENSE

Public Applicators work for a government agency where their duties include applying pesticides. Public Applicators are not required to pay testing or licensing fees, but must pass the General Pesticide exam, the Laws & Rules exam, and category exams for any type of pest control they will be doing.

To apply, complete the Public Applicator application form and pass the required exams.

NONCOMMERCIAL APPLICATOR LICENSE

Noncommercial Applicators use pesticides only on their property or their employer's property. Examples of noncommercial applicators are owners or managers of apartment complexes or other property, nursery growers, etc. Noncommercial Applicators must meet the same requirements as Commercial Applicators except for the financial responsibility requirement. To apply, complete the Noncommercial Applicator application form, pass all required exams, and pay the license fee of $50.

Noncommercial Applicators may NOT apply pesticides commercially.

PEST MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT LICENSE

Pest Management Consultants (PMCs) are individuals who are certified to provide recommendations and advice for using restricted use pesticides. PMCs may NOT apply pesticides. Home inspectors who wish to inspect property for termites and other wood destroying pests may be licensed as PMCs with the 7D category (refer to the additional requirements for 7D certification above). Agricultural consultants and employees of pesticide dealers who provide recommendations for using pesticides but never actually apply pesticides may also hold this license.

PRIVATE APPLICATOR LICENSE

Private Applicators use or supervise the use of restricted agricultural pesticides to produce agricultural commodities on property they or their employers own or rent. To become licensed as a private applicator you must pay the $15 fee and pass a written exam. The Private Applicator exam is administered at all regularly-scheduled test sessions.

DEALER LICENSE

Pesticide Dealers are individuals who sell restricted use pesticides. A business that sells restricted use pesticides must have a Dealer license for each sales outlet in the state. Out-of-state businesses that distribute restricted use pesticides in New Mexico must license their principle out-of-state location or outlet. The completed Dealer License application form must be sent in with the $50 license fee.

NOTE

Always refer to the Pesticide Control Act and the rules authorized under it for details. For more information and for study material recommendations, exam schedules, application forms, etc., visit the web site, www.nmda.nmsu.edu/pesticides or call the Pesticide Compliance group at 575-646-2134.