Private Pesticide Applicator License

What is a Private Pesticide Applicator license and when is it required?

A Private Pesticide Applicator license authorizes or certifies you to purchase and use or supervise the use of Restricted-Use Pesticides (RUP) to produce an agricultural, horticultural, or forestry commodity.
Currently, there is no fee charged for the Private Applicator license.
All applications on property not owned, leased, or rented by you or your employer must be done as a personal favor or as an exchange of personal services.
No fee can be charged with a Private Applicator license!
To state it another way, a Private Pesticide Applicator license does not cover commercial pesticide applications.

How do I obtain a Private Pesticide Applicator license?

Step 1: Purchase course access (cost is $25.00) for the interactive Private Applicator training program though the Georgia Professional Certifications storefront. Dr. Allison Johnson (email: ajohns14@uga.edu website: psep.uga.edu) will enroll students twice per day, midmorning and late afternoon, and send you an enrollment notice by email with your username and a temporary password (you will be required to reset your password when you log in to gaprocerts.com for the first time). What follows are the steps that occur automatically once you submit your order. Dr. Allison Johnson will receive a notification of your order, including the name you entered on the Payment Methods page and your email address. Dr. Johnson will enroll you in the courses that you have purchased sometime during each workday, typically around 10:00 AM or 4:00 PM. She will send you an email with your username and a temporary password. You will be required to change this temporary password when you log onto the gaprocerts.com site for the first time. You can no longer self-register on the gaprocerts.com website.
Step 2: Complete the new Private Applicator Training course on the Georgia Professional Certifications website, using the username and temporary password sent to you by Dr. Johnson. Please follow the instructions included in your welcome e-mail carefully! You must pass the final test (a grade of 70 or higher) for each module in sequence (Module 1, then Module 2, followed by Module 3, and so on) before you will be allowed to proceed to the next module. If you complete a module and there is no check mark in the box for that Module, click on the Module again to open the enter screen. Click the box beside “Start a new attempt” and then click the “Enter” button. Quickly click through the slides and quizzes to get to the final exam. Passing the exam again will put the check mark in the box and allow you to proceed to the next module. The time to complete the course will be approximately 4-5 hours for novice farmers.
Step 3: When you have completed the training course, print the Certificate of Completion and take it with you to your county Extension office ( 3225 Harris Rd Waycross Ga 31503).
Step 4: Certify to your county Extension agent that you are engaged in the production of an agricultural, horticultural, or forestry commodity by completing the Private Pesticide Applicator License Application and complete the Verification of Lawful Presence if needed for forwarding by your county agent to the Georgia Department of Agriculture Pesticide's office. These documents can be obtained at your local County Extension office.
Step 5: The GDA Pesticides office will review your application and, when approved, send it to the Licensing Division, who will print and issue your license (usually in 3-4 weeks).

Please call us at 912-287-2456 with any other questions you may have.

How long does a Private Pesticide Applicator license last and how do I renew it?

The initial Private Applicator license is good for five years.
Currently three hours of recertification credits must be earned no later than 90 days before your license expires.
If you fail to earn sufficient recertification credits before your license expires, you must repeat the Private Applicator Training Program.
To renew a Private Applicator license, you must earn three (3) hours of recertification credits every five years. No more than 1 hour may be from webinar attendance.
Recertification credits can be earned by attending certain growers' meetings given by county Extension offices or by attending short courses and other meetings or viewing video recordings of those meetings that have been approved by the Georgia Department of Agriculture's Pesticides office.

A searchable database available through the Georgia Department of Agriculture where you can search by applicator last name, license number, or commercial license category. Approved online classes are listed on this web page as well. In addition, there is a searchable database for recertification courses by course title, course date, or commercial category.

Home and Garden Edition

Beginning in 2022, the Home & Garden Edition will be updated biennially. When purchasing a product based on a first-year recommendation of the Handbook, check the current product label before purchase to be sure it is still labeled for the use for which you are buying it. For pesticide products you have on hand from earlier purchases, you are allowed to use them until they are depleted without penalty under the law. Always follow label instructions before use. Contact the product's manufacturer for the most up-to-date label.

This edition has non-commercial recommendations for pest control around homes, on pets, for pests of home garden vegetables, lawns, fruits and ornamentals, and for pests of public health interest associated with our homes. Cultural, biological, physical, and other types of control methods are recommended where appropriate.

How to Order Print Copies

The 2022-2023 Home & Garden edition is $20 and can be ordered online or via check/money order.

Online: Order the 2022-2023 Home & Garden edition online from the UGA Extension Store.

Check/Money Order: Make check or money order payable to The University of Georgia.

Send payment and a completed Publications Order Form to:

Rock Eagle 4-H Center
ATTN: Publication Sales
350 Rock Eagle Road
Eatonton, GA 31024

Delivery Info:

The price includes shipping and handling for orders within the 48 contiguous states. Delivery by UPS will occur 7-14 business days from when the order is processed. Please provide a physical address for shipping as UPS does not deliver to P.O. boxes.

Return Policy: Sales of books and data are considered final. Materials returned due to damage in shipping will be replaced.

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