Pesticide licence in Wyoming: 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 Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Technical Services Division, which runs the pesticide program. The parent page, pesticide licences by country, has the national background. The wording below comes from the Act and rules document the department posts on its statutes, rules and regulations page.

At a glance

Item	What the department says
Agency	Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Technical Services Division
Credential for work for hire	Commercial applicator license, required before any commercial application of a pesticide
Category for trees and turf	Category 903, Ornamental and Turf Pest Control, with subcategories for weed control, insect control and disease control
Exam	Written exam, with performance testing where suitable; the department sets the time and place; minimum score 70 percent
Fee	US$25.00 for a new commercial license and US$25.00 for renewal, both non-refundable; government employees using the license in their duties are exempt
Renewal	License runs to January 31 of the year that is 25 months after the issue year; renewal by 24 hours of approved training, the annual re-certification short course, or re-examination
Insurance or bond	Named only for nonresident commercial applicators: financial security or proof of liability insurance
Reciprocity	Possible without an exam for applicators licensed in another state, but only with states that accept Wyoming certification

The commercial license

The posted rules say any person making a commercial application of a pesticide needs a commercial applicator license before doing it. The Act's classification section says licenses include a commercial applicator license and a private applicator license. A commercial applicator must tell the department about a change of address or a change of employment within 30 days.

The ornamental and turf category

The rules list the categories by number. Category 903, Ornamental and Turf Pest Control, covers applicators who use or supervise the use of pesticides in the maintenance and production of ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers and turf. It has subcategories for weed control, insect control and disease control, and a rodent control subcategory for the same plants. Category 902 is separate and covers forests, forest nurseries and forest seed producing areas. Category 906 covers the maintenance of public roads, electric power lines, pipelines and railway rights of way.

The exam

According to the rules, competence is judged by written exam and, as suitable, performance testing. Every applicant is tested on general standards: label comprehension, safety, environment, pests, pesticides, equipment, application techniques and laws. That includes how to prevent drift. The applicant is then tested on the extra standards of each category chosen. The minimum score is 70 percent on the general exam and on every category tested. A failed category is retaken only for that category. After two failed attempts in a row the applicant must attend an approved training program for new applicators before a third try. Results are sent in writing within 30 days. Testing can happen at the Cheyenne office or at other places agreed with the department or a proctor it names. The department's online training page sends applicants to the pesticide applicator training section, which it says covers applications, training and testing, a license check-list, renewals and continuing education.

Fee and renewal

The rules set a US$25.00 license fee for a new commercial applicator after the exam is passed and a US$25.00 renewal fee. Both are non-refundable. A license is issued for the rest of the calendar year of issue plus 25 months and expires on January 31. To be re-certified, the Board of Certification allows one of three routes: 24 hours of approved training during the years the license is valid, attendance at the annual re-certification short course, or re-examination in all categories. The department also lists a continuing education page for commercial applicators on its pesticide program page, which links a searchable list of licensed commercial applicators.

Suspension

An applicator whose license was suspended must pass all the exams again before working and is on probation for one year. A violation during probation is cause for revoking the license for up to three years.

Insurance and nonresidents

The Act's reciprocity section says the director may issue a license or certification to a nonresident without an exam when the person is licensed in another state under substantially the same rules. Financial security or proof of liability insurance must be sent in by nonresident commercial applicators. Before a nonresident is licensed, the person must appoint the director to receive legal papers served in Wyoming. The rules add that a nonresident who meets Wyoming requirements and presents an applicator license and a letter of verification may be issued a license in the right category, with reciprocity extended only to states that accept Wyoming certification. The Act names no insurance amount for residents on the pages read.