PURPOSE: This rule is necessary in order to provide categories for the certification of applicators and operators due to the wide diversity of areas of knowledge which has evolved within the pest control industry. These categories are necessary in that no individual should be expected to demonstrate a practical knowledge of all facets of the pest control industry, nor is this demonstration necessary. This rule contains information regarding the number of categories in which applicators or operators may be certified, a special stipulation regarding the category of demonstration pest control, the necessity of certification by examination and a description of the activities of those individuals required to be certified in the various categories. (1) To qualify for a certified commercial applicator license, a certified noncommercial applicator license or a certified public operator license, applicators of pesticides shall be certified in one (1) or more of the following pesticide applicator categories: Category 1— Agricultural Pest Control, Subcategory a— Agricultural Plant Pest Control, Subcategory b—Agricultural Animal Pest Control; Category 2—Forest Pest Control; Category 3—Ornamental and Turf Pest Control; Category 4—Seed Treatment; Category 5— Aquatic Pest Control; Category 6—Right-of- Way Pest Control; Category 7—Structural Pest Control, Subcategory a—General Structural Pest Control, Subcategory b— Termite Pest Control, Subcategory c— Fumigation Pest Control; Category 8—Public Health Pest Control; Category 9—Regulatory Pest Control; Category 10—Demonstration and Research Pest Control; and Category 11—Wood Products Pest Control.

1. (2) Commercial applicators, noncommercial applicators and public operators must be certified in at least one (1) of the categories provided in section (1) and may be certified in any number of or any combination of those categories.
2. (3) Those individuals who wish to obtain a certified commercial applicator license, a certified noncommercial applicator license or a certified public operator license as authority to conduct demonstrations involving pesticides and devices must be certified in Category 10—Demonstration and Research Pest Control. In addition, those individuals must be certified in the category, or those categories, which relate to the areas of expertise in which they wish to conduct these demonstrations.
3. (4) Commercial applicators, noncommercial applicators and public operators shall be certified in the respective categories only after they have passed an examination based on the standards of competence as provided in 2 CSR 70-25.110.

4. (5) Description of Commercial Applicator, Noncommercial Applicator and Public Operator Certification Categories.

   1. (A) Category 1—Agricultural Pest Control.

      1. 1. Subcategory a—Agricultural Plant

Pest Control. This category is provided for public operators, noncommercial applicators and commercial applicators who use or supervise the use of pesticides to agricultural commodities, including, but not limited to, tobacco, peanuts, cotton, corn, cereal grain, feed grains, soybeans, forages and forage crops, vegetables, small fruits, tree fruits and nuts, grassland and noncrop agricultural lands, greenhouse products, Christmas tree plantings, sod nurseries and plant nurseries and who apply pesticides for the conversion of forested areas to agricultural lands.

1. 2. Subcategory b—Agricultural Animal

Pest Control. This category is provided for public operators, noncommercial applicators and commercial applicators who use or supervise the use of pesticides to animals, including, but not limited to, cattle, swine, sheep, furbearing animals, horses, goats, poultry and other livestock and wild animals in captivity and to places on or in which animals are confined with the exception of aquatic harborages. This includes those agricultural animals used as work or draft animals and those used as pleasure animals.

1. (B) Category 2—Forest Pest Control. This category is provided for public operators, noncommercial applicators and commercial applicators who use or supervise the use of pesticides in forests, forest nurseries and forest seed producing areas for the purpose of the propagation and maintenance of those forests, forest nurseries and forest seed producing areas.
2. (C) Category 3—Ornamental and Turf Pest Control. This category is provided for public operators, noncommercial applicators and commercial applicators who use, supervise the use of or determine the need for the use of pesticides to control pests in the care and maintenance of ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers and turf.
3. (D) Category 4—Seed Treatment. This category is provided for public operators, noncommercial applicators and commercial applicators who use or supervise the use of pesticides to seeds.
4. (E) Category 5—Aquatic Pest Control. This category is provided for public operators, noncommercial applicators and commercial applicators who use or supervise the use of pesticides purposefully to standing or running water for the control of aquatic pests with the exception of health-related pests.
5. (F) Category 6—Right-of-Way Pest Control. This category is provided for public operators, noncommercial applicators and commercial applicators who use or supervise the use of pesticides in the maintenance of public roads, electric power lines, pipelines, railroad rights-of-way or similar areas.

6. (G) Category 7—Structural Pest Control. This category is provided for public operators, noncommercial applicators and commercial applicators who use or supervise the use of pesticides in, on or around any structure.

   1. 1. Subcategory a—General Structural 2 CSR 70-25

Pest Control. This subcategory is provided for public operators, noncommercial applicators and commercial applicators who use, supervise the use of or determine the need for the use of pesticides for the control of general structural pests with the exception of wooddestroying organisms.

1. 2. Subcategory b—Termite Pest Control.

This subcategory is provided for public operators, noncommercial applicators and commercial applicators who use, supervise the use of or determine the need for the use of pesticides for the control of wood-destroying organisms, including, but not limited to, termites, carpenter ants and powder post beetles.

1. 3. Subcategory c—Fumigation Pest

Control. This subcategory is provided for public operators, noncommercial applicators and commercial applicators who use or supervise the use of fumigants for pest control. Certification in this category is not required for those applicators certified in the category of General Structural Pest Control who use calcium cyanide dust for limited rodent fumigation.

1. (H) Category 8—Public Health Pest Control. This category is provided for public operators, noncommercial applicators and commercial applicators who use or supervise the use of pesticides in public health programs for the management and control of pests having medical and public health importance.
2. (I) Category 9—Regulatory Pest Control. This category is provided for state or federal employees who use or supervise the use of pesticides in the control of regulated pests.
3. (J) Category 10—Demonstration and Research Pest Control. This category is provided for individuals who demonstrate to the public the proper use and techniques of application of restricted use pesticides or supervise the demonstration. It is also provided for individuals conducting field research with pesticides, and in doing so, use or supervise the use of restricted-use pesticides.
4. (K) Category 11—Wood Products Pest Control. This category is provided for public operators, noncommercial applicators and commercial applicators who use or supervise the use of pesticides to control or prevent wood-degrading organisms, including, but not limited to, insects and the fungi or bacteria causing surface molding, surface staining, sap staining, brown rot, white rot, dry rot and soft rot.

AUTHORITY: sections 281.035 and 281.045, RSMo Supp. 1988.* Original rule filed May 12, 1976, effective Oct. 21, 1976. Amended: Filed Sept. 6, 1977, effective Dec. 11, 1977. Amended: Filed March 13, 1978, effective June 11, 1978. Amended: Filed Aug. 14, 1989, effective Jan. 1, 1990. *Original authority: 281.035, RSMo 1974, amended 1977, 1988; 281.045, RSMo 1974, amended 1977, 1988.