Pesticide Applicator Training

CSU Extension's course stands out for its comprehensive learning content, covering essential aspects of pest management strategies, pesticide properties, environmental and public safety considerations, applicator safety, and the relevant laws and regulations specific to Colorado. Our goal is not only to impart knowledge but also to prepare participants for the Colorado licensing exam by identifying and addressing the necessary training and licensing requirements.

Experience These Course Highlights:

Online Asynchronous Format
Learn at your own pace with our flexible, self-paced online format. No need to compromise your schedule – fit your education around your life.

Robust and Comprehensive Content
Delve into a wealth of knowledge curated by experts, ensuring you are well-versed in the intricacies of pesticide application and safety.

Career Opportunities
This certificate can help expand career opportunities and open up new doors for individuals.

Colorado-Specific Content and Application Regulations
CSU Extension’s course is tailored to Colorado's unique environment and regulations, providing practical insights for both agricultural and residential settings within the state.

This course is designed for commercial and private pesticide applicators in Colorado who are interested in becoming licensed pesticide applicators, supervisors, or operators and require test preparation for licensure. Moreover, this course may be used to fulfil Colorado technician classroom training requirements. Learners who complete all module quizzes are eligible to earn an electronic certificate of completion upon request.

Upon completing CSU Extension's training course, you position yourself for the role of a licensed pesticide applicator in Colorado, unlocking opportunities in agriculture, landscaping, and related industries. Moreover, the training course builds a fundamental knowledge base, equipping you for other pivotal roles such as:

A person working for or on behalf of a commercial, limited commercial, or public applicator, engaging in activities such as independently assessing pest issues, suggesting pest controls involving pesticides or devices and handling the mixing, is required to hold a license as a qualified supervisor. To qualify for this license, a Qualified Supervisor must fulfill specific on-the-job experience requirements tailored to each licensure category.

An individual employed by or representing a commercial, limited commercial, or public applicator, utilizing restricted-use pesticides without on-site supervision from a qualified supervisor, is required to hold a license as a certified operator. Obtaining this license does not entail any experience requirements.

An individual who utilizes or oversees the application of a restricted-use pesticide to produce an agricultural commodity on property owned or leased by the applicator or their employer, or, if the application involves no compensation other than the exchange of personal services between agricultural commodity producers, on another person's property, is required to obtain a license as a private applicator.

This course will review content in the Category 100: General Guide & Colorado Department of Agriculture Manual available for purchase on the National Pesticide Safety Education Center’s website. Learners are encouraged to purchase this guide, but it is optional. Additional Colorado guidebooks are also available for purchase by visiting the Colorado state section of the website.

Lisa Blecker

Lisa is the Colorado Environmental Pesticide Education Program (CEPEP) Manger and the Administrator for the Pesticide Regulatory Education Program (PREP). As a pesticide safety educator, she delivers pesticide safety Train-the-Trainer programs for those who train fieldworkers and pesticide handlers throughout the state. She oversees the revision of study guides and exams for applicators seeking their private and commercial applicator certificates and licenses, delivers continuing education programs for pest management professionals statewide, and teaches an undergraduate course, Understanding Pesticides.

Hannah Geisterfer

Hannah works for CEPEP on developing and editing educational content for pesticide applicators and agricultural workers. Before working for CEPEP, she was a course coordinator for a continuing education program and more recently coordinated agricultural research at one of CSU’s agricultural experiments stations.

For questions about curriculum, please contact: PesticideSafety@colostate.edu.

For questions about course registration, contact: Outreach_Team@colostate.edu.