(a)  No commercial applicator shall purchase, acquire, possess, apply, or supervise the application of any pesticide classified for use only by or under the direct supervision of a certified applicator by EPA or by the director without first becoming certified under this section and regulations adopted under this section, except that the pesticide purchase, acquisition, possession, or application may be made without certification if done under the direct supervision of a certified applicator.

(b)  The director is authorized to adopt regulations, including but not limited to regulations:

(1)  Establishing procedures for filing an application for certification and determining prior experience and qualifications of applicants, their proposed operations, categories, and subcategories, or special pesticide uses for which the applicant wishes to qualify for certification, and setting annual expiration dates and type of documentation verifying certification if qualified;

(2)  Requiring written examinations and, as necessary, other types of examinations designed to enable the applicant to demonstrate his or her knowledge, in accordance with the standards established under § 23-25-10, of pesticides and their effects, and his or her competency to handle and use the restricted use and/or limited use pesticides he or she may apply under the categories, subcategories, or special uses for which he or she is being examined;

(3)  Establishing an annual certification fee not to exceed forty-five dollars ($45.00) and requiring certified commercial applicators to keep records of their purchase and use of restricted use and/or limited use pesticides;

(4)  Establishing limits of liability covering the applicant’s spraying operations;

(5)  Requiring the display of a decal, indicating that the applicant has met the requirements of this chapter, in a prominent place on any vehicle used in the applicant’s spraying operations.

(c)  If the director finds the applicant qualified to apply pesticides in the categories, subcategories, or special uses he or she has applied for, the director shall issue a certified commercial applicator‘s certificate limited to the categories for which he or she is qualified which shall expire on an annual expiration date as determined by regulation unless it has been revoked or suspended prior to the expiration by the director for cause. The director may limit the certificate to the use of certain pesticides, or to certain areas, or to certain types of equipment if the applicant is only so qualified. If a certificate or renewal is not granted as applied for, the director shall inform the applicant in writing of the reasons for not granting it and, if requested, provide opportunity for a hearing before the director.

(d)  The director shall send a renewal application to each certified commercial applicator at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date, and the director may renew any applicant’s certification under the classification(s) for which the applicant is certified subject to reexamination or other requirements imposed by the director by regulation to ensure that the applicator continues to meet the requirements of changing technology and to assure a continuing level of competence and ability to use pesticides safely and properly.

(e)  Certified commercial applicators who in any year fail to file a renewal application, even though they did not receive a mailed renewal application, prior to an expiration date established by regulation shall lose their certification as of sixty (60) days later and prior to that date shall be notified in writing. Those applicators may regain certification under this section by reexamination.

(f)  Any commercial applicator certified under this section shall not be required to obtain a commercial applicator’s license under § 23-25-12 as long as his or her certification remains in effect.