Pesticide Certification | Hancock County

Private Applicators

A private applicator is an applicator who applies restricted-use pesticides by ground application for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity on property owned or rented by the applicator or the applicator’s employer. Most private applicators are farmers, greenhouse and/or nursery operators. All other applicators who use restricted-use pesticides are considered commercial applicators.

Minimum age for all pesticide applicators is 18 years including those applying restricted-use pesticides. An exception is made for those of a minimum age of 16 years being supervised by a certified private applicator who is a member of their immediate family.

Individuals wishing to obtain a private applicator certification must complete a training course provided by University of Tennessee Extension on the proper use of restricted-use pesticides. For more information about in-person training sessions, please contact our office or continue to check this section of the website for updates.

The private applicator recertification period runs January 1 – June 30 of the last year in a certification cycle. Recertification must be completed within the allotted timeframe to roll your certification into the new certification cycle. The current certification cycle will be July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026.

If you do not complete recertification training within the recertification time period, you may attend an initial certification training to keep your certification current.

Initial private applicator certification is $50. When initial training is successfully completed, applicants must submit a triplicate form to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) that has been signed by the extension agent verifying completion of the training course. An additional fee of $25 must be sent to TDA with the triplicate form to obtain a certification card.

Private applicator recertification training is $25.

Private applicators are required to keep records of restricted-use pesticide applications for at least 2 years. If workers/handlers are employed, records of applications made by those individuals must be maintained for 2 years as well. The list below contains resources on pesticide recordkeeping requirements.

Beginning July 1, 2023, private applicators will be required to obtain 3 points and attend a recertification meeting to maintain their certification into the 2026 certification cycle. This will amount to approximately 3 hours of additional training within the entire 3 year certification cycle. If points are not obtained before the end of the certification cycle, applicators will be required to repeat the initial certification training and pass the exam. If you have additional questions about points/continuing education credits, please contact our office.

Breaking News

If you have not received your pesticide applicator card in the mail from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA), please reach out to the local Extension Office so we can get in contact with the proper staff at TDA to get you a card.

Private applicators are now required to have continuing education credits (CEUs) to maintain their pesticide certification. More information about this change will be added to this webpage soon.

If you have any further questions regarding pesticide certification, application, or safety, please contact our office and we will be glad to assist you.