UMaine Extension: Insect Pests & Plant Diseases

Pesticide Safety Education Program - Private Pesticide Applicators

A private license is necessary for anyone who wishes to purchase, apply or supervise application of a restricted or limited use pesticide with the intent of producing a commodity. These pesticides may be used only on property owned, leased or rented by the licensee or licensee’s employer.

Certification Exams(two are required):

1. Core Exam – In addition to exams covering each category of application, all commercial applicators must pass an exam based on the Core Manual. The Core exam includes basic subjects including pesticide labeling, safety, environmental concerns, pest organisms, pesticides, equipment, application techniques, and applicable laws and regulations. Also required shall be knowledge of current methodology and technology for the control of pesticide drift to non-target areas, the proper meteorological conditions for the application of pesticides, and the potential adverse effect of pesticides on plants, animals or humans.
2. Commodity Exam – All Private Applicators must demonstrate knowledge of the general principles of pest control for their major commodity, including specific pests of the crop, their life cycle, and proper timing of control measures to be efficacious.

Recertification. All private licensees, regardless of commodity, are required to obtain 6 recertification credits in order to renew their license every 3 years. Also, private pesticide applicators will not be able to renew their licenses if they fail to apply for license renewal within one year of the expiration date of the previous license, even though the required number of recertification credits has been accumulated. For more information visit the Maine Board of Pesticides Control (BPC).

Training Manuals. Private Commodity exams are based on the following training manuals. All manuals are available in print. Manuals indicated are available free of charge in PDF format. To request PDF manuals send an email to donald.barry@maine.edu

Requests for printed manuals and Logbooks should include a note indicating which manuals you wish to purchase, and a check or money order for the proper amount made out to Cooperative Extension.
Mail to:
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Pest Management Office
491 College Ave.
Orono, ME 04473-1295

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More information:

James Dill
PSEP Program Coordinator
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Pest Management Office
491 College Ave. Orono, ME 04473-1295
Phone: (207) 581-3880 or 1-800-287-0279 (in Maine)

Don Barry
PSEP Program Assistant
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Pest Management Office
491 College Ave.
Orono, ME 04473-1295
Phone: (207) 581-3880 or 1-800-287-0279 (in Maine)

For information on Certification & Licensing, Pesticide Laws & Regulations,
and the Worker Protection Standard,
visit the Maine Board of Pesticides Control,

or contact:
Gary Fish
Manager of Pesticide Programs
Board of Pesticides Control
State House Station #28
Augusta, ME 04333-0028
(207) 287-2731

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