Individuals who apply Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs) must be certified to do so under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticides Act (FIFRA) and the Wyoming Environmental Pesticide Control Act of 1973. Amendments to FIFRA require that applicators be continually re-certified. Safety Education programs are conducted by the University of Wyoming Extension. Licensing is conferred by the Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA), which enforces FIFRA and the state act (statutes) in Wyoming.
A Private Pesticide Applicator is an individual sixteen (16) years of age or older who is licensed to apply or supervise the application of RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDES (RUP) to their own properties, either owned or leased, or who may apply restricted-use pesticides for other individuals on their properties, owned or leased either for no charge, or as an exchange of services, but not for pay, in the production of an agricultural commodity. Applicator classification is not related to either the amount of pesticides applied, or to the amount of acreage treated.
Application Fees
There are no license application fees for Private Applicators.
Licensing Options
- Self-Study and Proctored Exam. (List of county Extension offices https://www.uwyo.edu/uwe/county/)
- Complete a UW Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) — contact your county’s Extension office for more information. 2023 educational programs listed below.
Option 1. Self-Study and Proctored Exam
The training materials consist of these documents:
- Wyoming Pesticide Applicator Certification CORE manual (required). This document can be checked out from your local UW Extension Office, your local county library, or it can be ordered from UW Ag Communications (instructions below).
- UW Bulletins for Commercial and Private Applicator Education (recommended, not required). This document (referred to as the MP-124) can be checked out from your local UW Extension Office, or it can be ordered from UW Ag Communications
Steps to become certified a) Acquire and read the documents listed above; b) Contact your local UW Extension office and make an appointment to take the exam; c) Must pass the exam with 70% or better; d) Complete the WDA Private Applicator License Application; e) Allow UW Extension representative to photocopy your driver’s license; f) UW Extension will forward your application and drivers license information to the Wyoming Department of Agriculture.
The electronic Private Applicator EXAM is only available through your local UW Extension Office. It must be completed under the supervision of a UW proctor. The Exam is 50 questions, closed-book, no electronic devices allowed (including cell phones). Upon confirmation of passing the exam, by choosing this option, you will be issued a temporary license that will be accepted to purchase RUPs immediately.
Option 2. Complete a UW Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP)
Steps to become certified a) Attend a local Pesticide Safety Education Program for Private Applicators session conducted by UW Extension; b) Complete the WDA Private Applicator License Application; c) UW Extension will forward the application to the WDA.
Private Applicator Education Program will consist of the following:
A minimum of two (2) hours of training is required to certify Wyoming private applicators. The training session format is as follows:
- An overview of the certification requirements for Wyoming private pesticide applicators.
- An overview of pesticide laws and regulations.
- Education programming on the use of pesticides that includes safety, handling, groundwater contamination, misuse, public concerns, and disposal.
- Educational programming on the safe use of pesticide equipment and calibration.
The balance of the educational program session is comprised of presentations developed by the Pesticide Applicator Training Coordinator. Electives may include such items as weed, insect, or disease control and could include presentations by specialists in the pesticide business such as Extension personnel, Weed & Pest Supervisors, or others involved with pesticides.
No exam. It will take at least two weeks to receive your license. You will not be able to purchase RUP’s until you receive your license.
Certification
When Must I Be Certified?
Private applicator re-certification runs in five (5) year blocks of time and the license expires on April 30 after the fourth year of issue (for example, If your license is issued on October 15, 2015, it will expire on April 30, 2020). Your local Extension Educator can help you determine if your license has expired.
How Do I Become Certified?
When your license expires you will be required to complete one of the options under Licensing (above).
Most private applicators choose to attend the training session. Contact your UW Extension Office for more details on re-certification and training opportunities.
Reciprocal Licensing
Licensed private applicators from other states are not allowed a reciprocal license in Wyoming. A Wyoming Private applicators license is not valid in any other state.