WAC 16-228-1545   What are the pesticide licensing requirements?  (1) All individuals licensed or required to be licensed as commercial pesticide applicators, commercial pesticide operators, private-commercial applicators, demonstration and research applicators, public operators, structural pest inspectors, pest control consultants and public pest control consultants must be certified, through examination, in all pest control classifications defined in subsection (3)(a) through (x) of this section in which they operate, inspect or consult. Additionally, commercial pesticide applicators must be licensed in all classifications that the business operates. Licensed applicators may directly supervise unlicensed applicators only in those classifications in which they have a valid certification.

     (2) To qualify for any pesticide license listed in subsection (1) of this section, applicants, except the structural pest inspector, must pass a "laws and safety" examination or equivalent, that includes, but is not limited to, the following: The state and federal laws governing pesticide use and the regulating agencies; general pesticide uses and application techniques; safe use of pesticides; general pesticide labeling comprehension; environmental fate of pesticides, and appropriate storage and disposal of pesticides and their containers. Individuals holding valid, passing scores on the private applicator or dealer manager exam are exempt from this examination requirement. Structural pest inspectors conducting complete wood destroying organism inspections must pass a "structural pest inspector laws and standards" examination or equivalent that includes, but is not limited to, the legal requirements governing structural pest inspectors and the standards for conducting complete wood destroying organism inspections.

     (3) License classifications.

     (a) Agricultural weed: The control of weeds, except with soil fumigants, in all agricultural crops including forest environments, and in former agricultural lands now in a noncrop status.

     (b) Rights of way weed: The control of weeds, including cut stumps, on, but not limited to, terrestrial rights of way locations such as roads and/or highways, railroads, power lines and irrigation ditches and to industrial sites, including, but not limited to, airports, industrial parks, and large parking areas.

     (c) Turf and ornamental weed: The control of weeds (and moss), including cut stumps, in ornamental and turf situations, which includes, but is not limited to, golf courses, parks, schools, lawns, yards, gardens, hospitals, vacant lots and open noncrop waste areas.

     (d) Structural and turf demossing: The control of moss on structures and turf.

     (e) Stump treatment: The use of herbicides on cut stumps to control resprouting.

     (f) Soil fumigation: The use of soil-applied fumigants on agricultural crops and noncrop land to control pests including weeds, insects and diseases.

     (g) Sewer root: Control of roots in sewer lines.

     (h) Agricultural insect and disease: The control of insects and diseases, except with soil fumigants, in agricultural crops including forest environments.

     (i) Ornamental insect and disease: The control of insects and diseases in ornamental, turf and rights of way situations including, but not limited to, golf courses, parks, schools, lawns, yards, gardens, greenhouses, hospitals and rest homes. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of insecticides, miticides, fungicides, bacteriocides, molluscides and nematocides.

     (j) Interior plantscaping: The control of insects and diseases in interior plantscapes.

     (k) PCO general: The control of insects, spiders, birds, rodents and animal pests in and around, but not limited to, the following situations: Residences, public buildings and grounds, commercial buildings and grounds, disposal sites, animal feed lots and farmsteads, including buildings and transportation equipment.

     (l) PCO structural: The control of structurally destructive pests including, but not limited to, fungus, termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees and wood-boring beetles. This classification allows a licensee to perform specific wood destroying organism inspections.

     (m) Structural pest inspector: Allows for the commercial inspection of buildings for structurally destructive pests, their damage and conditions conducive to their development. This classification is required to perform complete wood destroying organism inspections.

     (n) Stored grain: The use of pesticides (including fumigants and rodenticides) in grain storing facilities and railcars.

     (o) Fumigant: The use of fumigants only (such as methyl bromide and aluminum phosphide) on stored commodities.

     (p) Seed treatment: The application of pesticides to seeds to control destructive insects and diseases.

     (q) Sprout inhibitor: Use of a pesticide to control sprouting in stored potatoes.

     (r) Livestock pest: The control of external and internal pests of animals, with the exception of viruses, including, but not limited to, beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, horses, goats and poultry, and also treatment of livestock premises.

     (s) Pest animal: The control of pest animals in agricultural situations.

     (t) Aquatic: The control of aquatic pests in water areas including, but not limited to, canals, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, marshes and pipe lines.

     (u) Aquatic irrigation: Limited to the control of aquatic pests in irrigation district water delivery systems where the pesticide is applied directly into the water or enters the water due to the application of the pesticide. Pests include, but are not limited to, moss, algae, cattails, pond weeds and other emersed and submersed aquatic weeds.

     (v) Public health: Application of pesticides by governmental employees and certain others in public health programs such as, but not limited to, mosquito control, rodent control and insect control in situations having medical and public health importance.

     (w) Aquatic antifouling: Use of antifouling paints to control fouling organisms on marine vessels.

     (x) Wood treatment: Use of wood preservatives for the control of wood damaging pests.

     (4) All examinations required under this section shall be written and taken without the aid of any materials that contain information relevant to the exam content. Reading of exams by an individual other than the applicant is not permitted.

     (5) A passing score of seventy percent is established for all the examinations required under this section. The department may establish separate passing scores for the examinations if a validated process is used. Passing scores are valid for obtaining a license in the calendar year in which the examination is taken plus the following calendar year.

     (6) The department may waive any of the examination requirements contained in this section for any person holding a valid certification with similar classifications from an EPA or Canadian approved federal, state or provincial certification program with comparable examination and recertification standards.



[Statutory Authority: Chapters 17.21, 15.58, 34.05 RCW. 03-22-029, § 16-228-1545, filed 10/28/03, effective 11/28/03. Statutory Authority: Chapters 15.58 and 17.21 RCW. 00-24-013, § 16-228-1545, filed 11/27/00, effective 12/28/00.]