A Private Pesticide Applicator’s training for agriculture producers, from Hughes and Seminole counties, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 25, 2021, from 6:30 to 9 pm at the Seminole County OSU extension office, Wewoka OK.

2 hours of CEU for private pesticide applicators with existing certification

Study session with openbook test for attendees not already certified

“Following a yearlong run of open-book testing procedures since Covid-19 emerged last spring, the new ODAFF process of closed-book testing at designated sites to become a certified private applicator is scheduled to be re-instated June 1, 2021” according to OSU County Extension Ag Educator, Coy McCorkle.

“For anyone needing a new private pesticide applicator license, this is your last chance to do so in an open-book format.” These licenses are issued on a 5-year renewal cycle which expires on December 31, 2023.

The closed-book testing format also changes the opportunities for license renewal at the end of each 5-year period. For certified applicators, an alternative to having to retake the test in 2023 is to attend continuing education units (CEU’s) at meetings across the state.

These CEU’s must total 4 hours of credit for each year of certification

CEU’s must be obtained in at least 3 out of the 5 years

No year may exceed 10 hours of CEU credit

This means that all applicators hoping to recertify without testing must start accumulating CEU credits by the end of 2021.

McCorkle also said “OSU Extension is preparing to meet the CEU needs of private applicators in a frequent series of county-based meetings across Eastern Oklahoma. There should be plenty of opportunities for our clientele to get the credit they need.”

*Anyone involved in production agriculture must have a private applicators license to purchase and use restricted use pesticides.

If planning to attend, please call the Seminole County Cooperative Extension Office at 405-257- 5433 and be sure to designate if you are needing the CEU’s or if you are needing to test so a sufficient number of packets will be available at the seminar.