State of Oregon: Pesticides and PARC - Frequently Asked Questions

General questions

Can a Pesticide Apprentice or an Immediately Supervised Pesticide Trainee working for a public entity also be supervised by a commercial entity?Yes. An Apprentice or Trainee can work with any fully licensed supervisor who is willing to take on the responsibility and training of the Apprentice or Trainee.
I am a Commercial Applicator with my own business. Do I also need a Commercial Operator’s License?Yes, you do need a Commercial Operator’s License if you work for yourself or own your own business. However, if you are a sole proprietor, you only have to pay for the Operator License and not the Operator License AND the Applicator License. Corporations and partnerships need to pay for the applicator license and the Operator license.
I have a Commercial Applicator’s license with categories of Agriculture-Herbicide, Agriculture-Insecticide, Turf & Ornamental—Insecticide/Fungicide and Turf & Ornamental-Herbicide. Can I switch to a Consultant’s license?No, you will need to take and pass the Consultant’s exam in order to apply for the Consultant’s license.
I have a Commercial Applicators license, but am unemployed. Can I still get my license?Yes, you can have a license, but you cannot make applications unless or until you begin work with a business that holds a Commercial Operators license. You will need to contact the ODA’s Pesticides Division before you begin working for a licensed business. If you choose to work for yourself, you also will need to be licensed as a Commercial Operator.
I have passed the new soil fumigation exam in Washington state. Is there reciprocity for that category in Oregon, or do I need to take Oregon’s soil fumigation exam?The new soil fumigation exam is an EPA-approved test. Reciprocity is covered for this category in Oregon if you have passed either the Washington or Idaho soil fumigation exam, so you do not need to take Oregon’s soil fumigation category exam. However, when you apply for the Oregon license, you will need to provide a copy of your Washington or Idaho license with proof that you passed the exam in the other state.
I own a landscape maintenance company and at times I make Roundup or other pesticide applications. Do I need a pesticide applicator’s license?Not necessarily. A pesticide applicator’s license, Commercial Operator’s license, or apprentice or trainee licenses are not needed by individuals doing primarily landscape maintenance work if all of the requirements are satisfied. The requirements are: 1) Applications are to small residential lawns or gardens only; no applications can be made to commercial properties; 2) only general-use pesticides may be used; 3) no use of fuel or electric-powered sprayers or spreaders and 4) the use of pesticides is not stated in advertisements, contracts or invoices.
I work for a public entity and have a Public Applicator’s license. Can I be hired to make pesticide applications in my own time outside of work?No, a public applicator’s license only allows a person to work for the public entity. If you want to make commercial pesticide applications for hire, you will need to be licensed as a Commercial Pesticide Applicator and/or Operator—and only make applications under licensed categories.
If a Commercial or Public Applicator with an active license also wants to get an Apprentice license to train in a category in which he or she isn't licensed, does this person need to take the Laws & Safety exam again?No, if applicators are current on their license, they can apply for an Apprentice license without taking the Laws & Safety exam again. However, in order to maintain the license for the following year, they will need to complete eight recertification credits—of which four hours of credit must be “Core.”
What category do I need on my Commercial/Public applicator's license if I am making herbicide applications in restoration sites? Restoration work does not fall neatly into a single licensing category, so the Oregon Department of Agriculture has instituted an Interim Guideline to address the issue of restoration work. Under the guideline, herbicide applications in all restoration areas may be conducted with either the Forestry category or the Agriculture: Herbicide category. Either category is acceptable. Herbicide applications to standing or running water will require the Aquatic category.
What license category would be needed to apply herbicides to the cracks and crevices of sidewalks or parking areas?There are two potential options for this type of treatment. If someone predominately is making herbicide applications to turf or ornamentals, and the sidewalk/parking areas are part of those treatments, applicators should have the Turf and Ornamental-Herbicide category. If the applications are part of an effort to clear out an area for safety or transportation related concerns, and there are no ornamental applications—then an applicator should have the Right-of-Way category on their license.

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Pesticides and PARC

Frequently Asked Questions

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License renewals via fax

Renew your license online

General questions