2304 COMMERCIAL APPLICATORS: STANDARDS FOR DETERMINATION OF COMPETENCY

2304.1 The standards prescribed in this section shall be used to determine the competency of each commercial applicator prior to his or her certification.

2304.2 A commercial applicator shall demonstrate practical knowledge of the principles and practices of pest control and safe use of pesticides.

2304.3 A commercial applicator shall demonstrate mastery of the principles of integrated pest management.

2304.4 Testing shall be based on examples of problems and situations appropriate to the particular category or subcategory of the applicator’s certification as well as the following areas of competency:

1. (a) Labels and labeling comprehension, including the following factors:
2. (1) The general format and terminology of pesticide labels and labeling;
3. (2) Understanding instructions, warnings, terms, symbols, and other information commonly appearing on pesticide labels;
4. (3) Classification of the product;
5. (4) Necessity for use consistent with the pesticide label; and
6. (5) Understanding that registered pesticides must be used in a manner consistent with applicable federal laws.
7. (b) Pests, including the following factors:
8. (1) Common features of pest organisms and characteristics of damage needed to recognize specific pests;
9. (2) Recognition of relevant pests and the importance of selecting the proper pesticide product(s) for effective pest control;
10. (3) Pest development and biology as it may be relevant to problem identification and control; and
11. (4) Verification that the pesticide label does not prohibit the use of the product to control the target pest(s).

(c) Safety, including the following factors:

(1) Acute and chronic pesticide toxicity, common exposure routes, and hazard to humans;

(2) Common types and causes of pesticide accidents;

(3) Precautions necessary to guard against injury to applicators and other individuals in or near treated areas;

(4) Need for and use of protective clothing and equipment;

(5) Symptoms of pesticide poisoning;

(6) First aid and other procedures to be followed in case of a pesticide accident; and

(7) Proper identification, storage, transport, handling, mixing procedures, and disposal methods for pesticides and used pesticide containers, including precautions to be taken to prevent children from gaining access to pesticides and pesticide containers.

(d) Environment, including the potential environmental consequences of the use and misuse of pesticides as may be influenced by factors such as the following:

(1) Weather and other climatic conditions;

(2) Types of terrain, soil, or other substrate;

(3) Presence of fish, wildlife, and other non-target organisms; and

(4) Drainage patterns.

(e) Pesticides, including factors such as the following:

(1) Types of pesticides;

(2) Types of pesticide formulations;

(3) Compatibility, synergism, persistence, and animal and plant toxicity of the pesticide formulations;

1. (4) Hazards and residues associated with use of pesticides;
2. (5) Factors that influence the effectiveness of pesticides, or that lead to problems such as a resistance to pesticides; and
3. (6) Pesticide dilution procedures.(f) Equipment, including the following factors:- (1) Types of equipment necessary to use and apply pesticides, and advantages and limitations of each type; and
4. (2) Uses, maintenance, and calibration of the equipment.(g) Application techniques, including the following factors:- (1) Methods and procedures used to apply various formulations of pesticides, such as solutions and gases, together with a knowledge of which technique of application to use in a given situation and which situations require specific certification, such as the use of a fumigant, aerial application, sodium cyanide, or sodium fluoroacetate;
5. (2) Relationship of discharge and placement of pesticides to proper use, unnecessary use, and misuse; and
6. (3) Prevention of drift and pesticide loss into the environment.(h) All District and federal laws and regulations applicable to pesticide use and application.(i) Professionalism, including the following factors:- (1) Maintaining chemical security for restricted use pesticides;
7. (2) How to communicate information about pesticide exposures and risks to customers and the public; and
8. (3) Appropriate product stewardship for certified applicators; and(j) Knowledge of the responsibilities of certified applicators supervising noncertified applicators as required under § 2312.

2304.5 In order to be certified in a particular category or subcategory, commercial

applicators shall demonstrate qualification in the particular category or subcategory according to the practical knowledge standards specified in Subsections 2304.6 through 2304.15.

2304.6 Ornamental and Turf Pest Control - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of pesticide problems associated with the production and maintenance of ornamental trees, plantings, shrubs, and turf, including cognizance of potential phytotoxicity due to a wide variety of plant material, drift, non-target exposures, and persistence beyond the intended period of pest control. Because of the frequent proximity of human habitations to application activities, applicators shall be knowledgeable about the various application methods that will minimize or prevent hazards to humans, pets, and other domestic animals.

(a) Exterior Ornamental Plants - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of pesticide problems associated with the production and maintenance of ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers, and plantings, along with selecting and safely applying the appropriate restricted use pesticide to mitigate the pest problems.

(b) Lawns and Turf - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of weeds and their growth habits, along with the different types of restricted-use herbicides available and how to properly use application equipment safely and effectively.

(c) Interior Ornamental Plants - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of interior ornamental plants and the insects and diseases they are susceptible to, along with selecting and safely applying the appropriate restricted use pesticide to mitigate the pest problem.

2304.7 Aquatic Pest Control - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of the secondary effects that can be caused by improper application rates, incorrect formulations, and faulty application of restricted use pesticides used in this category. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of various water use situations and the potential of downstream effects. Further, applicators shall have practical knowledge concerning potential pesticide effects on plants, fish, birds, beneficial insects, and other organisms that may be present in aquatic environments. These applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of the principles of limited area application.

(a) Swimming Pool - applicators shall demonstrate knowledge of swimming pool microbes, swimming pool disinfectants, how to calculate swimming pool volume, how to interpret labels and labeling information, and how to apply pesticides to maintain acceptable residual levels in pool water.

(b) Cooling Tower - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of how to identify cooling water organisms, how to interpret labels and labeling information, the factors governing the selection and safe handling and application of biocides, and how to evaluate results after treatment.

(c) Antifouling Paint - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of how to identify fouling organisms on watercraft, how to interpret labels and labeling information, the factors governing the selection and safe handling and application of biocides, and how to evaluate results after treatment.

2304.8 Right-of-Way Pest Control - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of a wide variety of environments, since rights-of-way can traverse many different terrains, including waterways. These applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of problems of runoff, drift, and excessive foliage destruction related to pesticide use, and have the ability to recognize target organisms and be knowledgeable of techniques to minimize non-target exposure. They shall also demonstrate practical knowledge of the use of herbicides, the need for containment of herbicides within the rights-of-way area, and the impact of herbicide application activities in the adjacent areas and communities.

(a) Utility Pole - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of the varieties of weeds growing on utility poles, the most effective restrictive use herbicides for control of the weeds, how to calibrate herbicide application equipment, and how to interpret herbicide label information.

2304.9 Industrial, Institutional, Structural, and Health-Related Pest Control - applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of a wide variety of pests, including their life cycles, signs of their presence, habitats, types of pesticide formulations appropriate for their control, and methods of pesticide application that avoid contamination of food, minimize damage to and contamination of areas treated, minimize acute and chronic exposure of people and pets, and minimize environmental impacts of outdoor application. Since human exposure, including exposure to babies, children, pregnant women, and elderly people, is frequently a potential health problem, applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of the specific factors that may lead to a hazardous condition, including the impact of continuous exposure to pesticides in the various situations encountered in this category. Because health-related pest control may involve outdoor applications, applicators shall also demonstrate practical knowledge of environmental conditions that are particularly related to this activity and all other requirements under 40 C.F.R. § 171.103(d)(7).

(a) General Pest - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of pests (including mosquitoes) and their life cycles, biology, and behavior as it may

be relevant to problem identification and control and the types of restricted use pesticides used for effective control. The required knowledge shall also include how to interpret the labels and labeling information.

(b) Wood-Destroying Organisms - applicators shall demonstrate knowledge of wood-destroying organisms, their life cycles, and signs of their presence. This knowledge shall include types of building construction, types of application equipment, how to select the most effective restricted use pesticide and how to interpret labels and labeling information.

(c) Wildlife Control - applicators shall demonstrate knowledge of nuisance birds, mammals, reptiles, and other wildlife not covered by the Rodent Control category. This knowledge shall include how to select the most effective restricted use pesticide and how to interpret labels and labeling information.

(d) Rodent Control - applicators shall demonstrate knowledge of the different species of rodents, their life cycles, and signs of their presence. This knowledge shall include how to select the most effective restricted use rodenticide and how to interpret labels and labeling information.

(e) Industrial Weed Control - applicators shall demonstrate knowledge of the different types of weeds growing at industrial sites and the restricted use herbicides for effective control. Applicators shall also be knowledgeable about how to interpret labels and labeling information.

2304.10 Public Health Pest Control - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of vector-disease transmission as it relates to and influences pesticide application programs, including recognizing pests and signs of their presence and their habitats, life cycles, biology, and behavior as it may be relevant to problem identification and control, and how to minimize: damage to and contamination of areas treated; acute and chronic exposure of people and pets; and non-target exposures. A wide variety of pests may be involved, and it is essential that all varieties of pests in the affected area be known and recognized, and that appropriate life cycles and habitats be understood as a basis for developing a control strategy. Applicators shall have practical knowledge of the variety of environments in which pesticides may be used, ranging from streams to conditions found in buildings. They also should have practical knowledge of the importance and employment of nonchemical control methods such as sanitation, waste disposal, and drainage.

2304.11 Regulatory Pest Control - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of regulated pests, applicable laws relating to quarantine and other regulation of pests, and the potential impact on the environment of restricted-use pesticides used in

suppression and eradication programs. They shall demonstrate knowledge of factors influencing introduction, spread, and population dynamics of relevant pests. Their knowledge shall extend beyond that required by their immediate duties, since their services are frequently required in other areas of the country where emergency measures are invoked to control regulated pests and where individual judgments must be made in new situations.

2304.12 Demonstration and Research Pest Control - persons demonstrating the safe and effective use of pesticides to other applicators and the public or conducting research shall meet comprehensive standards reflecting knowledge of a broad spectrum of pesticide uses. Many different pest problem situations will be encountered during activities associated with demonstration or research; and practical knowledge of potential problems, relevant pests, and population levels occurring in each demonstration situation is required. Further, applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of the effects of restricted use pesticides on target and non-target organisms, an understanding of pesticide-organism interactions, and the importance of integrating pesticide use with other control methods. Applicators doing demonstration or research pest control work shall possess practical knowledge of all of the standards detailed in Subsection 2304.4 of this section. In addition, applicators shall meet the specific standards required for the categories listed as Subsections 2304.6 through 2304.15 as may be applicable to the particular activity in which they are engaged.

2304.13 Aerial Pest Control - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of problems and pest control practices associated with performing aerial application of restricted use pesticides, including knowledge of all requirements of 40 C.F.R. § 171.103(d)(15).

2304.14 Fumigation - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of the pest problems and pest control practices associated with performing the following soil fumigation applications:

(a) For soil fumigation applications - knowledge of all requirements in 40 C.F.R. § 171.103(d)(13).

(b) For non-soil fumigation - knowledge of all requirements in 40 C.F.R. § 171.103(d)(14). Certification in sewer root control is also required for applicators using a fumigant to control sewer roots.

2304.15 Sewer Root Control - applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of how to identify sewer lines with root problems and how to control sewer roots safely and correctly. They shall know at least four (4) different methods of chemical sewer line root control other than metam sodium. They shall demonstrate practical knowledge in sewer root control, including the use of a fumigant, in the following

areas: label comprehension and familiarity with labels for products used; safety measures to minimize adverse effects on health and the environment; chemical characteristics; application methods, timing, and equipment; and proper selection and use of personal protective equipment. Applicators who use or supervise the use of a non-soil fumigant to control roots in sewer lines must also be certified in the non-soil fumigation category.

SOURCE: The Pesticide Operations Act of 1977, effective April 18, 1978 (D.C. Law 2-70; 24 DCR 6867 (February 17, 1978)); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 25 DCR 3044 (October 6, 1978), incorporating the text of the Proposed Rulemaking published at 25 DCR 2118 (August 25, 1978); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 30 DCR 2204 (May 13, 1983); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 3340 (March 20, 2015); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 73 DCR 001173 (February 6, 2026).