Pesticide licence in New Mexico: 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 New Mexico Department of Agriculture, Agricultural and Environmental Services Division, which licenses applicators under the New Mexico Pesticide Control Act and rule 21.17.50 of the state's administrative code. The parent page, pesticide licences by country, has the national background.

At a glance

Item	What the department says
Agency	New Mexico Department of Agriculture, Agricultural and Environmental Services Division
Licence for work for hire	Commercial applicator license, US$100, expiring each January 31
Categories for trees and turf	3A Ornamental and Turf Pests; 3B Ornamental and Turf Weeds
Exam	National core exam plus category exams; computer-based testing through a vendor at US$55 per exam, or paper exams on a pre-arranged basis; 70 is passing
Technicians	Operator/technician license, US$75 a year; 60 day training permit for new employees
Recertification	Continuing education units through approved workshops; the number of units is not on the pages read
Insurance or bond	Surety bond of US$100,000, or liability insurance: ground or manual single limit US$50,000; aircraft single limit US$100,000; deductible at most US$1,000

Who needs a licence

The department's pesticide licensing page says a license is needed to buy, use, sell or recommend restricted-use pesticides, to apply any pesticide, including general-use ones, for hire, and to inspect structures for wood-destroying organisms. Its license types page lists commercial applicators, commercial operator technicians who are employees of commercial applicators, private applicators, public applicators, noncommercial applicators at US$100, pest management consultants and dealers. Noncommercial applicators may not apply pesticides for hire, and noncommercial applicants are exempt from documenting experience and the financial responsibility requirement.

The categories that cover trees and turf

The department's certification categories page splits the work in two. Category 3A, Ornamental and Turf Pests, covers using pesticides in ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers and turf to control invertebrates, plant diseases, nematodes and similar pests. Category 3B, Ornamental and Turf Weeds, covers using pesticides in the same plantings to control weeds. Category 2 covers forest pests and weeds and 6B covers right-of-way and industrial weeds. Applicators must be certified in the categories they work in.

Applying and the exam

The department's applying for a license page sets out the order: open a customer account with the testing vendor's online services, apply for the license, wait for the department's approval email with a Pesticide Application ID, wait 48 hours, then schedule and pay for exams. Computer-based testing centers are in Albuquerque, Farmington, Hobbs, Las Cruces, Portales, Los Lunas and Santa Fe. The vendor charges US$55 per exam, and the license types page says the department does not collect it. Scores come out immediately after the exam. Paper exams at department sessions can be arranged by phone. All requirements must be finished within 60 days of approval or the applicant starts again. Rule 21.17.50.18 says a grade of 70 is passing on all examinations and names a state exam fee of US$20 per examination in its fee section.

Fees and expiry

Rule 21.17.50.25 sets an annual commercial applicator license fee of US$100 and an annual operator, agricultural pilot or serviceman license fee of US$75. Under rule section 9 the annual commercial license expires on January 31 following issuance. Rule 21.17.50.20 lets a new employee of a licensed commercial applicator work up to 60 calendar days under an operator/technician training permit, while another applicator or technician licensed in New Mexico for at least six months is on the site. The permit cannot be extended and the exams must be taken before it ends.

Insurance

Rule 21.17.50.21 says a commercial applicator license is not issued until the applicant gives proof of financial responsibility: a certificate of liability insurance, a certified policy copy or a surety bond, covering liability from handling, storage, disposal, application, use or misuse of any pesticide. The insurer must be authorized in New Mexico and must tell the director in writing 10 days before any reduction or cancellation. Rule 21.17.50.22 sets the minimums: a surety bond of US$100,000, or liability insurance. For ground or manual application that is bodily injury of US$10,000 per occurrence and US$25,000 aggregate with property damage of US$25,000 per occurrence, or a single limit of US$50,000. For aircraft the single limit is US$100,000. The maximum deductible is US$1,000.

Recertification

The department's continuing education page says approved workshops are posted in a searchable listing. The department does not manage sign-up or control the fees sponsors charge. The pages read do not give a unit count or a renewal cycle for commercial certification.