Pesticide licence in Colorado: categories, exam and renewal

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. The source is the Colorado Department of Agriculture, which licenses applicators under the Pesticide Applicators' Act. The parent page, pesticide licences by country, has the national background.

At a glance

Item	What the department says
Agency	Colorado Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Applicator Certification and Licensing Program
Business license	Commercial Applicator, US$350 for the calendar year
Individual licenses	Qualified Supervisor and Certified Operator, US$100, valid three years
Categories for trees and turf	206 Turf Pest Control; 207 Ornamental Pest Control
Exam	General Core plus at least one category, online at proctor locations, US$41.50 per test
Insurance	Proof of liability insurance of at least US$400,000 for the business
Renewal	By continuing education credits or by retesting

Business and individual licenses

The department's certification and licensing program page says a commercial applicator is anyone other than a private applicator who applies pesticides for hire, and all commercial applicators are licensed with the department at US$350. A limited commercial applicator applies on property it or its employer owns or leases, such as golf courses and HOA communities, and registers for US$50. A Qualified Supervisor evaluates pest problems, recommends controls, mixes, loads or applies, sells application services or supervises others without supervision. That license needs the general exam, exams in all categories used, the experience set by rule and a US$100 fee. A Certified Operator uses restricted-use pesticides without a qualified supervisor on site, with no experience requirement and a US$100 fee.

The department's commercial applicator FAQ says a business must link a licensed qualified supervisor licensed in each category the business uses, provide proof of liability insurance in a minimum amount of 400,000, and, if incorporated, a certificate of good standing from the Colorado Secretary of State. It also says the license runs for the calendar year, expires December 31 and is not pro-rated. A late renewal between January 1 and January 31 adds a US$35 fee, and from February 1 a new application is needed. Unlicensed applicator technicians must be trained under the Rules and work under a licensed supervisor. Businesses licensed in Turf, Ornamental and certain structural categories must notify people on the pesticide-sensitive registry whose property abuts or is the treated site.

Categories for trees and turf

The department's license categories page defines Category 207 Ornamental Pest Control as applying pesticides to ornamental trees, shrubs, beds, flowers and other ornamental plants, except turf or indoor plants, to control invertebrate pests such as insects, mites, slugs, snails and nematodes, or plant diseases. Category 206 Turf Pest Control covers managed turf, weeds in ornamental beds, mulched areas and paved areas. Category 106 Forest Pest Control says that applications in forested areas within 50 feet of a residential or commercial structure also need the Ornamental category.

Exam

The department's testing information page says a candidate passes a General Core exam on laws and regulations, safety and pesticide use, plus at least one pest management category. Exams are online at proctor locations across Colorado, scheduled through Metro Institute with Colorado State University Extension. The fee is US$41.50 per test, paid and scheduled online at least two days before testing, with photo ID and no reference materials. Results stand for one year. Study guides come from the Colorado State University Colorado Pesticide Education Program. Adding a category or upgrading carries no fee.

Renewal and continuing education

A qualified supervisor or certified operator license lasts three years and renews for US$100 by submitting a renewal application. The department's continuing education page lists the credits needed before expiry to renew without examination: 2 in laws and regulations, 1 each in pesticides and their families, applicator safety, public safety, environmental protection and use of pesticides, and for each licensed category 1 credit in pest management, except Turf and Ornamental, which need 2. There is no grace period for credits. A late renewal within 30 days adds US$10, and a reinstatement from 30 days up to six months adds US$100.

Reciprocity

The department says a person certified or licensed as a commercial applicator elsewhere may obtain a Certified Operator reciprocal license without examination, for the unexpired term of the other license. The fee is US$150. The application includes a letter of good standing from the issuing agency, and the department does not reciprocate at the Qualified Supervisor level or for business licenses. Credits for a reciprocal license must be earned in the original state.