Individuals holding a private pesticide and/or fertilizer license from ODA are required to renew (recertify) every 3 years by attending training or by re-testing. Most individuals prefer to recertify by attending training sessions with OSU Extension over re-taking the exam. Obviously, COVID-19 has caused a lot of disruptions. So, a few changes are listed below for those needing to renew their applicator license.
Per Ohio and OSU guidelines, all individuals attending an in-person training must pre-register. Only 47 individuals will be allowed to register for each event. There will be no walk-ins allowed and pre-registration must be completed 3 days before the scheduled training. Health guidelines including social distancing and wearing of face masks will be followed. No refreshments will be provided this year. If your selected training extends over a mealtime, please bring your own food.
In addition to in-person trainings, there are 3 other options for private applicators.
- OSU Extension Self-Paced Online Re-certification Course
- State-Wide Live Online Webinar Options
- Self-reading of print materials with test questions after each section. (3-hour time limit)
OSU Extension Self-Paced Online Re-Certification Course
Applicators can complete their re-certification by completing a self-placed online re-certification course. The cost of this course is $35 for pesticide re-certification and $15 for fertilizer re-certification. This course is now open for enrollment online: https://pested.osu.edu/onlinerecert
State-Wide Live Online Webinar Options
OSU’s Pesticide Education Program will be offering online webinar options to help producers obtain their pesticide & fertilizer re-certifications. These offerings will be held on Thursday, March 25th. Register at: https://pested.osu.edu/OnlineRecertPrivate for both pesticide and fertilizer sessions. $35 for pesticide and $15 for fertilizer courses.
Self-Reading of Printed Pesticide Materials and Questionnaire
Friday, April 16 from 8:30AM to 12:30PM at the Sprunger Building, Kidron Auction Grounds, 13071 Emerson Road, Apple Creek, OH. The registration and packet cost is $35.
In-Person Training Offerings for 2021
For all Wayne/Holmes county in-person trainings, call the Wayne County Extension office, (330) 264-8722, to register and check for session availability. Registration on a first call first served basis. Each training is limited to the first 47 people. You need to arrive 15 minutes before the trainings begin to get signed in and receive your paperwork. Cost for the training sessions will be $35 for pesticide licenses renewal and $15 for fertilizer. They are payable at the door. Checks and cash only, no credit cards can be accepted. If you have not done so, you can send the license payment ($30) along with the paperwork you received to ODA now.
Holmes County Offerings
March 19 – (Friday) Mt Hope Auction (sale ring), 8076 St. Rt. 241, Mt Hope, OH 44660
Pesticide 9:00am to 12:00pm - Fertilizer 1:00pm to 2:00pm
March 26 – (Friday) Oasis Youth Center, 3460 Twp. Road 159, Baltic, OH 43804 (East of Keim Lumber in Charm)
Pesticide 9:00am to 12:00pm - Fertilizer 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Wayne County Offerings
March 11 – (Thursday) Fisher Center at OARDC, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691
Pesticide 9:00am to 12:00pm - Fertilizer 1:00pm to 2:00pm.
March 12 – (Friday) Fisher Center at OARDC, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691
Pesticide 9:00am to 12:00pm - Fertilizer 1:00pm to 2:00pm.
March 16 – (Tuesday) Fisher Center at OARDC, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691
Pesticide 9:00am to 12:00pm - Fertilizer 1:00pm to 2:00pm.
March 29 – (Friday) Kidron Community Park Center, 4434 Kidron Road, Kidron OH 44636
Pesticide 1:00pm to 4:00pm - Fertilizer 4:30pm to 5:30pm
Pesticide (Evening) 6:00pm to 9:00pm
New Fertilizer Licensing
If you do not already have a fertilizer certification and would like to obtain it, you will have one opportunity in 2021. The training will be a webinar held Thursday, February 25 for the three-hour training. After completing this course, you will receive a certification card from the Ohio Department of Agriculture. For those without internet access, register for the in-person option by calling (330) 264-8722. To use the online option register at: https://pested.osu.edu/OnlineRecertPrivate
In-person location: Fisher Center at OARDC, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691 from 8:30am to 12:15pm
If you have questions you can contact either Gary Graham at the Holmes County Extension office at (330) 674-3015 or Matthew Nussbaum at the Wayne County Extension office at (330) 264-8722.