(a)        Certified Applicator. – All applicants for a certified applicator‘s identification card shall demonstrate practical knowledge of the principles and practices of pest control and safe use of pesticides. Competency shall be determined on the basis of written examinations to be provided and administered by the Committee and, as appropriate, performance testing. Testing shall be based upon examples of problems and situations appropriate to the particular phase or subphase of structural pest control for which application is made and shall include, where relevant, the following areas of competency:

(1)        Label and labeling comprehension.

(2)        Safety factors associated with pesticides – toxicity, precautions, first aid, proper handling, etc.

(3)        Influence of and on the environment.

(4)        Pests – identification, biology, and habits.

(5)        Pesticides – types, formulations, compatibility, hazards, etc.

(6)        Equipment – types and uses.

(7)        Application techniques.

(8)        Laws and regulations.

An applicant for a certified applicator’s identification card shall submit an examination fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each phase or subphase of structural pest control in which the applicant chooses to be examined. An examination for more than one phase or subphase may be taken at the same time at any regularly scheduled examination. Frequency of such examinations shall be at the discretion of the Committee, provided that a minimum of two examinations be given annually. The examination will cover each phase or subphase of structural pest control for which application is being made.

(b)        License. – Each applicant for an original license must demonstrate upon written examination, to be provided and administered by the Committee, his competency as a structural pest control operator for the phase or subphase in which he is applying for a license. Frequency of such examinations shall be at the discretion of the Committee, provided that a minimum of two examinations shall be given annually. The examination will cover each phase or subphase of structural pest control for which application is being made. All applicants for a license shall register with the Division on a prescribed form. A license examination fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be charged for each phase or subphase of structural pest control in which the applicant chooses to be examined. An examination for more than one phase or subphase of structural pest control may be taken at the same time.

(c)        A license, certified applicator’s identification card or registered technician‘s identification card is not transferable from one person to another. A licensee or certified applicator may change the name of his business or employer’s business on his license certificate or certified applicator’s identification card upon application to the Division.

(c1)      When there is a transfer of ownership, management, operation of a structural pest control business or in the event of the death or disability of a licensee there shall be not more than a total of 90 days during any 12-month period in which said business shall operate without a licensee assigned to it; provided that, in the event of the death or disability of a licensee, the Committee shall have the authority to grant up to an additional 90 days within the 12-month period in which a business may operate without a licensee assigned to it.

The owner, partnership, corporation, or other entity operating said business shall, within 10 days of such transfer or disability or within 30 days of death, designate in writing to the Division a certified applicator who shall be responsible for and in charge of the structural pest control operations of said business during the 90-day period. If the owner, partnership, corporation, or other entity operating the business fails to designate a certified applicator who shall be responsible for the operation of the business during the 90-day period, the business shall cease all structural pest control activities upon expiration of the applicable notification period and shall not resume operations until a certified applicator is so designated.

During the 90-day period the use of any restricted use pesticide shall be by or under the direct supervision of the certified applicator designated in writing to the Division. The designated certified applicator shall be responsible for correcting all deviations on all existing contracts and for all work performed under his supervision.

The new licensee shall be responsible for correcting all deviations on all existing contracts and for all work performed under his supervision.

(d)       The Committee shall by regulation provide for:

(1)        Establishing categories of certified applicators, along with such appropriate subcategories as are necessary, to meet the requirements of this Article;

(2)        All licensees licensed prior to October 21, 1976, to become qualified as certified applicators; and

(3)        Requalifying certified applicators thereafter as required by the federal government at intervals no more frequent than that specified by federal law and federal regulations. ?(1955, c. 1017; 1967, c. 1184, s. 6; 1973, c. 556, ss. 5, 6; 1975, c. 570, s. 7; 1977, c. 231, s. 6; 1989, c. 725, s. 3; 1999-381, s. 5; 2010-31, s. 11.2(a).)