Mo. Code Regs. Ann. tit. 2, § 70-25.110
PURPOSE: This rule contains the general standards of competence for applicators and operators on which the contents of examinations will be based. It also contains the category specific standards of competence on which the category examinations will be based. This rule is necessary in order to convey to the applicant a knowledge of the standards for which s/he will be required to demonstrate an acceptable level of competence.
(3) General Standards of Competence for the CORE Examination. The applicant shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of—
(A) Pesticide labels and labeling, including—
labeling, and an understanding of instructions, warnings, terms, symbols, and other information commonly appearing on pesticide labels;
use and that a pesticide may be unclassified;
supervising noncertified applicators who are working under the direct supervision of a certified applicator;
applicator must be physically present at the site of the application;
mandatory and advisory labeling language; and
restrictions and directions for use found on the label and labeling, including being certified in the certification category appropriate to the type and site of application and that it is a violation of state and federal law to use any registered pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling;
(B) Applicator pesticide safety, including—
routes;
precautions necessary to guard against injury to applicators and other individuals in or near treated areas;
toxicity, as well as the long-term effects of pesticides;
equipment;
pesticide accidents; and
mixing procedures, and disposal methods for pesticides and used pesticide containers including precautions to be taken to prevent children from having access to pesticides and pesticide containers;
(C) Environment, including—
the misuse, of pesticides as may be influenced by such factors as weather and other climatic conditions; types of terrain, soil, and other substrate; the presence of fish, wildlife, and other nontarget organisms; and drainage patterns;
(D) Pests and pest recognition, including—
characteristics of pest damage as a means of pest recognition;
of pests, as may be relevant to problem identification in pest control; and
effective pest control and verifying the labeling does not prohibit the use of the product for the control of the target pest(s) or use site;
(E) Pesticides, including—
compatibility, synergism, persistence, and the toxicity of various pesticides and pesticide formulations to animals and plants;
to such problems as resistance to pesticides; and
(F) Pesticide equipment, including—
limitations of each type;
equipment; and
(G) Application techniques, including—
formulations of pesticides and the application technique to use in a given situation;
and use of a pesticide may result in proper use, unnecessary or ineffective use, and misuse;
into the environment; and
and that use of a fumigant or aerial application requires additional certification;
(I) Responsibility of certified applicators supervising noncertified applicators, including—
certified applicators who supervise noncertified applicators using general use and restricted use pesticides and the regulatory requirements for recordkeeping for noncertified applicators who have demonstrated competency in the safe use of all pesticides;
applicators prior to using general use and restricted use pesticides under the direct supervision of a certified applicator; and
for explanation to noncertified applicators who use general use and restricted use pesticides under the direct supervision of certified applicators; and
(J) Professionalism, including—
chemical security for all pesticides and how to communicate information about pesticide exposure and risks with the public; and
(4) Specific Standards of Competence for Certification of Commercial Applicator, Noncommercial Applicator, and Public Operator Categories. The applicant shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of at least one (1) of the following categories:
(A) Category 1—Agricultural Pest Control, including—
including—
vals, reentry intervals, phytotoxicity due to a wide variety of plants to be protected, drift, persistence beyond the intended period of pest control, potential for environmental contamination, potential for injury to nontarget plants and animals, and potential for causing community problems resulting from the use of pesticides in agricultural areas;
including—
pesticides are applied and their associated pests;
for illegal pesticide residues when these animals are to be used for human or animal food; and
application techniques as they apply to animals of various ages, animals under various types of stress, and the extent of treatment;
(B) Category 2—Forest Pest Control, including—
the pests involved;
pesticide applications;
pesticides;
secondary problems such as the unintended effects on wildlife and which will minimize problems of pollution;
meteorological factors and adjacent land use;
to the pesticides to be applied;
plants to be protected, drift, and persistence beyond the intended period of pest control;
(C) Category 3—Ornamental and Turf Pest Control, including—
maintenance of ornamental trees, shrubs, plantings, and the production and maintenance of turf;
due to a wide variety of plant material involved;
period of pest control;
hazards to humans, pets, and other domestic animals; and
(D) Category 4—Seed Treatment, including—
against pests;
surface active agents which influence pesticide binding and may affect germination;
mixing of treated seed;
pesticides, such as the introduction of treated seed into food and feed channels;
avoid harm to nontarget organisms;
(E) Category 5—Aquatic Pest Control, including—
application rates, incorrect formulations, and the faulty application of those pesticides used in this category;
downstream adverse effects;
plants, fish, birds, beneficial insects, and other organisms which may be present in aquatic environments; and
(F) Subcategory 5b—Sewer Root Pest Control, including—
pesticide products used for sewer root pest control;
protective equipment, including problems and mistakes leading to exposure and the signs and symptoms of human and environmental exposure;
applications; and
disposal including the disposal of excess material, waste, and containers;
(G) Category 6—Right-of-Way Pest Control, including—
way pest control;
run off, pesticide drift, and excess foliage destruction;
right-of-way pest control;
within the right-of-way area;
communities;
plants and pests to be controlled; and
(H) Category 7—Structural Pest Control, including—
including—
their presence, life cycles, biology, and behavior as it may be relevant to problem identification and control;
of these pests;
damage to the structure, contamination of food, contamination of the structure and surrounding area, and exposure of people and pets;
condition, including continuous exposure in the various situations encountered in this category; and
applications of pesticides used in this category;
2. Subcategory b—Termite Pest Control, including—
practical knowledge of termite damage;
cluding but not limited to powderpost beetles, carpenter ants, and other wood-destroying insects;
humans, domestic pets, and other nontarget organisms;
associated problems; and
3. Subcategory c—Fumigation Pest Control, including—
the pesticide labels and labeling for products used to perform non-soil fumigation, including labeling requirements specific to non-soil fumigants;
including all of the following:
certified applicators, and bystanders can become exposed to fumigants;
direct exposure to fumigants;
fumigants;
applicators to wear respirators or to exit the work area entirely;
sensory irritation;
and where and when to take samples;
zone monitoring and who is allowed to be in a buffer zone; (VIII) First-aid measures to take in the event of exposure to a fumigant; and
spill clean up, and emergency response for non-soil fumigants, including safe disposal of containers and contaminated materials, and management of empty containers;
teristics of non-soil fumigants including all of the following:
fumigants;
a gas;
and
and other equipment;
ods and timing, including all of the following:
used for non-soil fumigation;
sure;
fumigant application, such as air stability, air temperature, humidity, and wind currents, and labeling statements limiting applications under specific conditions;
tion equipment and the site to be fumigated;
the area to be fumigated, including the factors that determine which sealing method to use;
specific treatment area;
ing non-soil fumigant application equipment; and (VIII) Understanding when and how to conduct air monitoring and when it is required;
activity, including all of the following:
the area being fumigated and into the air;
ing they can be controlled with fumigation;
density and application rate; and
timing;
personal protective equipment is necessary and how to use it properly, including all of the following:
protective equipment;
and disposing of personal protective equipment;
when using specific non-soil fumigants and how to use them properly, including medical evaluation, fit testing, and required replacement of cartridges and canisters; and
to medical evaluation for respirator use, fit tests, training, and recordkeeping;
summaries. Information about fumigant management plans and when they are required, including all of the following:
effect, how long it must be kept on file, where it must be kept during the application, and who must have access to it;
and resources available to assist the applicator in preparing a fumigant management plan;
fumigant management plan is accurate; and
application summary, who must prepare it, and when it must be completed; and
requirements, including all of the following:
fumigated or after fumigation and who is prohibited from being in such areas;
and treated area posting, including the pre-application and post-application posting time frames for each; and
(I) Category 8—Public Health Pest Control, including—
influences, pesticide application problems;
including the life histories and habits of these pests;
health pest control, which range from streams to those conditions found in buildings;
nonchemical control methods as sanitation, waste disposal, and drainage;
treated;
(J) Category 9—Regulatory Pest Control, including—
quarantine and other forms of pest regulation, and the potential impact on the environment of pesticides used in suppression and eradication programs; and
dynamics of relevant pests;
(K) Category 10—Demonstration and Research Pest Control, including—
of pesticide uses;
demonstration or research situation;
and the importance of integrating pesticide use with other control methods;
nontarget organisms; and
category of Demonstration and Research Pest Control and must also be certified in the proper category(ies) of use;
(L) Category 11—Wood Products Pest Control, including—
used to prevent or control the degradation; and
wood, including a knowledge of solution formulations, application techniques, hazards to man, domestic animals, and the environment, and the safe and proper means of container storage and disposal;
(M) Category 12— Soil Fumigation Pest Control, including—
pesticide labels and labeling for products used to perform soil fumigation, including all of the following:
fumigant handlers, and fumigant handler activities, and the safety information that certified applicators must provide to noncertified restricted use pesticide applicators using fumigants under their direct supervision;
application scenarios;
containing certain active ingredients;
including all of the following:
RUP applicators using fumigants under direct supervision of certified applicators, field workers, and bystanders can become exposed to fumigants;
direct exposures to fumigants;
applicators wear respirators or exit the work area entirely;
sensory irritation;
and where and when to take samples;
monitoring and determining who is allowed to be in the buffer zone;
a soil fumigant; and
spill cleanup, and emergency response for soil fumigants, including safe disposal of containers and contaminated soil, and management of empty containers;
of soil fumigants including all of the following:
a gas;
and
other equipment;
and timing, including all of the following:
water-run and non-water-run applications, and equipment commonly used for each soil fumigant;
impact on soil fumigant application;
fumigant application, such as air stability, air temperature, humidity, and wind currents, and labeling statements limiting applications during specific weather conditions;
equipment;
sealing, including the factors that determine which soil sealing method to use;
of tarps available, how to seal tarps, and labeling requirements for tarp removal, perforation, and repair;
specific treatment area; and
soil fumigant application equipment;
fumigant activity, including all of the following:
movement within the soil profile;
the soil profile and into the air;
affect the success of a soil fumigant application, assessing soil moisture, and correcting for soil characteristics that could hinder a successful soil fumigant application;
they can be controlled with soil fumigation;
and application rate; and
timing;
personal protective equipment is necessary and how to use it properly, including all of the following:
protective equipment;
disposing of personal protective equipment;
using specific soil fumigants and how to use them properly, including medical evaluation, fit testing, and required replacement of cartridges and canisters; and
medical evaluation for respirator use, fit tests, training, and recordkeeping;
summaries. Information about fumigant management plans, including all of the following:
effect, how long it must be kept on file, where it must be kept during the application, and who must have access to it;
resources available to assist the applicator in preparing a fumigant management plan;
management plan is accurate; and
application summary, who must prepare it, and when it must be completed; and
buffer zones and posting requirements, including all of the following:
the buffer zone period and who is prohibited from being in a buffer zone during the buffer zone period;
determine the size of the buffer zone;
application scenarios and calculating buffer zones using credits;
posting, including the pre-application and post-application posting time frames for each; and
(N) Category 13—Aerial Pest Control, including—
to aerial application of pesticides including—
maintain manned and unmanned aircraft equipment, either fixed or rotary wing, for aerial application, including all of the following:
equipment to ensure it is in proper operating condition prior to beginning an application;
operating condition prior to beginning an application;
application system, including pesticide hoppers, tanks, pumps, and types of nozzles;
pesticide output using nozzle flow rate chart, aircraft speed, and swath width;
uneven dispersal due to uneven airflow from wingtip vortices, helicopter rotor turbulence, and aircraft propeller turbulence;
droplet size;
repair, including pressure gauge accuracy, filter cleaning according to schedule, and checking nozzles for excessive wear;
timing, known distance, or a flow meter; and
demonstrate knowledge of factors to consider before and during application, including all of the following:
affecting aircraft engine power, take-off distance, and climb rate, or by promoting spray droplet evaporation;
density at the application site; and
inversions on aerial pesticide application;
knowledge of methods to minimize off-target pesticide movement, including all of the following:
a smoke generator;
to assess wind direction, speed, and concentration;
movement out of the area to be treated; and
flight patterns used to reduce off-target pesticide drift;
demonstrate competency in performing an aerial pesticide application, including all of the following:
and off-target pesticide drift;
bystander safety and proper application;
precisely when entering and exiting a predetermined swath pattern;
positioning systems and flags; and
applications including application conditions if applicable; and
the category of Aerial Pest Control, but must also be certified in the proper category(ies) of use.
AUTHORITY: section 281.025, RSMo Supp. 2024.* 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. Amended: Filed May 15, 2024, effective Jan. 1, 2025.
*Original authority: 281.025, RSMo 1974, amended 1977, 1988, 1993, 1995, 2021.