Vermont pesticide applicators who need to obtain their initial certification can attend a review session and take the written exam at one of four locations on April 8.
University of Vermont (UVM) Extension and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) will offer a morning review and the afternoon exam at the UVM Extension Office in Brattleboro (130 Austine Dr., Ste. 300); UVM Extension Office in Rutland (271 North Main St.); Vermont Department of Health Office, St. Johnsbury (107 Eastern Ave.); and the Robert Miller Community Center, Burlington (130 Gosse Ct.,). Sessions will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.
The registration fee is $40 or $60 after April 1. Space is limited, and no walk-ins will be allowed. Lunch is not included, so participants should plan to bring or buy their own.
To register, go to https://go.uvm.edu/core25. To request a disability-related accommodation, contact UVM Student Accessibility Services at access@uvm.edu or (802) 656-7753.
In addition, participants will need to purchase the Northeast Pesticide Applicator Core Manual (third edition) and required inserts (pdf downloads) to study in advance. Copies can be ordered for $49 at https://go.uvm.edu/vaafm-manuals.
Anyone who uses, supervises, recommends or sells pesticides and/or trains Worker Protection Standard handlers and workers in Vermont needs to be certified. This includes farmers, foresters, orchardists, nursery and greenhouse growers, landscapers, pest control operators and others who apply pesticides as part of their work.
The exam covers a range of topics, among these state and federal pesticide laws and regulations, ecology and environmental considerations, pest identification and management, pesticide formulations, equipment calibration, protective equipment, personal safety and proper handling and storage of pesticides.
No category exams will be given on April 8 but can be scheduled with VAAFM for a future date at https://go.uvm.edu/vaafm-exams.
For more information about the pesticide applicator program, go to www.uvm.edu/extension/psep or contact Sarah Kingsley-Richards at sarah.kingsley@uvm.edu.