The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Bureau of Licensing & Pesticide Operations regulates the certification and licensing of commercial pesticide applicators in the State. Once any commercial pesticide applicator satisfactorily completes the requirements for Core certification and training, they may become certified in one or more commercial categories or subcategories. Section 7:30-6.3 (PDF) of the NJDEP pesticide regulations describes each of the categories and subcategories. See below for descriptions of current Commercial Pesticide Applicator categories; these descriptions are verbatim from the regulations.
There are cases where the NJDEP may establish a new ‘special’ category or subcategory which incorporates concepts not covered by the existing categories. For example, the NJDEP established a new category 13 for ‘Integrated Pest Management in Schools’ that addresses the specialized concepts required under the School IPM Act and corresponding regulations.
A person may apply pesticides in the ‘special’ category or subcategory without licensing in that special category for a period of time which does not exceed 90 days after the date that the examination for the ‘special’ category or subcategory has become available. After that time, the applicator must have met all training, certification, and licensing requirements that NJDEP specifies for the new category. Contact the NJDEP to inquire further.
1. Agricultural pest control:
i. Category 1A – Plant: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides in the production of agricultural crops, including, but not limited to, tobacco, peanuts, cotton, feed grains, soybeans, and forage; vegetables, small fruits, tree fruits and nuts, as well as on grasslands and non-crop agricultural lands. This subcategory also includes the commercial fumigation of soil and agricultural products on agricultural establishments and the commercial use of chemigation.
ii. Category 1B – Animals: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides on animals, including, but not limited to, beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, horses, goats, poultry, and livestock, and to places on or in which animals are confined.
2. Category 2 – Forest pest control: This category includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides in forests, forest nurseries, and forest seed producing areas.
i. Category 3A – Ornamental: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides to control pests in the maintenance and production of ornamentals. This subcategory also includes tick control in brush areas only.
ii. Category 3B – Turf: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides to control pests in the maintenance and production of turf. This subcategory also includes vegetation control on commercial and residential sites only; flea and tick control in turf areas only; and soil fumigation for turf only. Vegetation control on industrial sites, airport runways, dams or other embankments requires category 6A, General vegetation management.
iii. Category 3C – Interior plantscaping: This subcategory includes commercial applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides to control pests in the maintenance of interior plantscapes.
4. Category 4 – Seed treatment: This category includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides on seeds.
5. Category 5 – Aquatic pest control: This category includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of any pesticide purposely applied to standing or running water, excluding applicators engaged in public health related activities included in (a)8 below, public health pest control.
6. Vegetation management:
i. Category 6A – General vegetation management: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides for vegetation control at industrial sites, airport runways, dams and other embankments.
ii. Category 6B – Right of Way: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides in the maintenance of public roads, industrial weed control on driveways, electric power lines, pipelines, railway rights-of-way, fence lines or other similar linear areas that cross boundaries and includes the application of insecticides to control pests of turf and ornamental plants in these settings (NJAC 7:30 6-30 revision May 2008).
7. Industrial, institutional, structural pest control:
i. Category 7A – General and household pest control: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides to control general household pests including, but not limited to, roaches, ants, bees, ticks (inside and outside the structure), fleas (inside and outside the structure), rodents, other vertebrates and birds. Control for these pests may take place at residential, commercial, industrial and institutional sites including retail sales outlets where food is prepared, served, or stored.
ii. Category 7B – Termites and other wood destroying pests: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides to control termites or other wood destroying pests.
iii. Category 7C – Fumigation pest control: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides which may be classified as true fumigants.
iv. Category 7D – Food manufacturing and processing: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides in and around food manufacturing, packaging and processing establishments including, but not limited to, meat packing plants, dairy product operations, canning, grain, milling, bottling, and coffee roasting plants, not including retail sales outlets. This is a composite subcategory which covers the types of pest control work found in categories 3A, 3B, 6A, 7A and 7C for food manufacturing plants.
v. Category 7E – Wood preserving pest control: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides to control fungi, insects, bacteria, marine borers and other wood destroying pests.
vi. Category 7F – Antifoulants: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use antifouling paints or other agents on boat hulls and other areas to control barnacles, algae, and other marine pests.
8. Public health pest control:
i. Category 8A – General: This subcategory includes, but is not limited to, State, Federal, or other governmental employees using or supervising the use of pesticides in public health programs for the management and control of pests having medical and public health importance. This subcategory also includes flea and tick control inside and outside structures.
ii. Category 8B – Mosquito control: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides for the management and control of mosquitoes.
iii. Category 8C – Campground pest control: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides in locations having area(s) specifically designated for the purpose of erecting temporary shelters such as tents and cabins. These locations may or may not include areas which are used for recreational activities. This is a composite subcategory which covers the types of pest control application found in categories 3A, 3B, 7B (except termites), 8A and 8B.
iv. Category 8D – Cooling water pest control: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides to control microbial and other pests of cooling waters in cooling towers or other related areas.
v. Category 8E – Sewer root control: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of root control agents applied in sewer lines.
vi. Category 8F – Pet grooming: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of pesticides to control pests on animals normally kept as pets, including but not limited to fleas, ticks, or mites.
9. Category 9 – Regulatory pest control: This category includes State, Federal, or other governmental employees who use or supervise the use of pesticides in the control of regulated pests.
10. Category 10 – Demonstration and research pest control: This category includes:
i. Individuals who demonstrate to the public the proper use and techniques of application of pesticides or supervise such demonstrations;
(1) Included in the group in (a)10i above are such persons as extension specialist and county agents, commercial representatives demonstrating pesticide products, and those individuals demonstrating methods used in public programs; and
ii. Persons conducting field research with pesticides.
(1) The group in (a)10ii above includes: State, Federal, commercial and other persons conducting field research on or utilizing pesticides.
iii. A person applying for certification in this category will be required to pass at least two examinations, for this category as well as an examination and training in any category or subcategory which is related to the specific type of demonstration or research to be carried out by the applicant.
11. Category 11 – Aerial pest control: This category includes all pilots responsible for agricultural and other pest control. A person applying for certification in this category will be required to pass at least two examinations in addition to the Core examination. These shall include a general examination of this category, as well as an examination in any category or subcategory which is related to the specific type of aerial application to be carried out by the applicant. However, the 40 hours of training pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:30-6.2(a)3ii will be required for category 11 only.
12. Category 12. Antimicrobial pest control:
i. Category 12A – Water sanitization: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use antimicrobial agents for sanitizing water. This includes, but is not limited to, sanitizing water in swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, whirlpools, and in industrial, commercial, and manufacturing processes.
ii. Category 12B – Sterilization: This subcategory includes commercial pesticide applicators using or supervising the use of restricted use pesticides for sterilization of medical supplies and instruments. All of the following are considered to be a “use” of a restricted use sterilant and require certification:
(1) Changing supply tanks;
(2) Service persons using a sterilant to test the proper functions of a sterilizing chamber;
(3) Loading of the sterilization chamber;
(4) Monitoring during all parts of the chamber’s automated cycle, with the exception of the aeration portion of the cycle; and
(5) Unloading the chamber.
13. Category 13 – IPM in Schools: This category includes commercial pesticide applicators making applications on school buildings and grounds pursuant to the provisions of N.J.A.C. 7:30-13.
i. A person certified in this category shall also satisfactorily complete the requirement for certification in the category or subcategory related to the specific type of pest control the person will perform.
ii. An applicant for certification in this category is not subject to the requirement at N.J.A.C. 7:30- 6.2(a)3ii.